Sense by Meg Faure: Real Life Parenting

Becoming a mother can be one of life's greatest joys, but it can also bring unexpected grief, anxiety and a profound loss of identity. And sometimes, the hardest part is admitting that motherhood isn't feeling the way you imagined it would.
In this episode, Meg Faure chats to South African actress, writer and producer Lara Toselli about her deeply personal journey into motherhood, her experience of perinatal anxiety and depression, and how it inspired her one-woman theatre production, Mother Load.
With honesty, humour and a healthy dose of perspective, this is a conversation about the parts of motherhood we don't always talk about, and a reminder that you don't have to suffer in silence.
IN THIS EPISODE YOU'LL LEARN
Why becoming a mother can bring an unexpected sense of grief and loss of identity.

How losing her own mother as a child shaped Lara's experience of becoming a mom.

Why being told to 'count your blessings' can make struggling mothers feel even more alone.

How social media and unrealistic expectations can influence our perceptions of motherhood.

Why seeking professional mental health support, including medication, is nothing to be ashamed of.

How humour can help us process difficult experiences once we're through them.

Why partners and family members need to understand the realities of perinatal mental health.

Lara's advice to mothers: be honest about how you're feeling, ask for help early and remember that nothing lasts forever.

CHAPTERS
00:00 Meet Lara Toselli: From YoTV to motherhood and the stage
01:05 The story behind Mother Load
03:25 The grief and identity shift that comes with motherhood
04:02 Becoming a mother without having a mother
05:14 Recognising the signs of perinatal anxiety and depression
08:07 The pressure of social media and perfect motherhood
10:14 Turning a deeply personal experience into a theatre production
12:31 Bringing the raw reality of motherhood to the stage
14:42 Finding humour in the darkest moments
15:11 When 'count your blessings' isn't helpful
17:28 Why professional mental health support matters
19:58 Using comedy to open up difficult conversations
20:58 The hidden realities of perinatal mental health
21:28 What is Mother Load and where can you see it?
23:10 A message of hope for mothers who are struggling
24:14 Lara's advice: seek help, allow yourself to grieve and embrace change
26:08 Losing your old identity and accepting the new you
27:16 Learning that difficult feelings are temporary

ABOUT THE GUEST
Lara Toselli is a South African actress, writer and producer, best known for presenting on YoTV for 10 years and for her role as Gabby in Tali's Wedding Diary. Her international acting credits include productions alongside Daniel Radcliffe, Idris Elba and Matthew McConaughey.
Beyond her acting career, Lara is the creator of Mother Load, an autobiographical one-woman theatre production exploring the realities of becoming a mother, including perinatal anxiety and depression, grief, identity and the unexpected challenges of early motherhood.
Follow Lara:
Instagram: @laratoselli
Instagram: @motherload.play

ABOUT THE SENSE BY MEG PODCAST
Sense by Meg is the parenting podcast from occupational therapist, parenting expert and Parent Sense founder Meg Faure.
With more than 20 years of experience in occupational therapy and a special focus on infant regulation, sensory processing, attachment and early relationships, Meg brings together leading experts, researchers and parents to explore the science behind raising happy, healthy and resilient children.
The podcast is part of Parent Sense, a science-backed parenting solution designed to help parents understand their children and feel more confident in their parenting journey.
Download the Parent Sense app and use code SENSE50 for 50% off.

FOLLOW US
Meg Faure
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Parent Sense
Instagram | LinkedIn | Website

What happens when decades of parenting expertise meet artificial intelligence? In this episode, Meg Faure and Tove de Chazal Gant are joined by Bertha Kgokong to take us behind the scenes of aiah, Parent Sense's AI parenting companion.
They unpack how the idea began, why generic AI tools aren't enough when it comes to parenting advice and how the team is building a more reliable, expert-led solution using a carefully curated knowledge base and rigorous testing.
From supporting parents at 2 am to making trusted guidance more accessible to families who might otherwise go without it, this is a conversation about the possibilities, and responsibilities, of AI in parenting.
IN THIS EPISODE YOU'LL LEARN:
How the idea for aiah began, long before ChatGPT became mainstream.

Why generic AI tools can be unreliable when answering parenting and health-related questions.

How aiah draws on a curated library of trusted parenting resources rather than the unrestricted internet.

What Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) means, and how it helps AI provide more grounded answers.

Why aiah is designed to say “I don't know” when it cannot find a reliable answer.

How the team tests and evaluates aiah's responses against Meg's expert knowledge.

How AWS Bedrock provides an enclosed environment for the AI system.

How AI could make trusted parenting support more accessible, particularly for underserved and isolated parents.

What the future of personalised AI parenting support could look like.

Why human expertise and robust safeguards remain essential as AI becomes part of family life.

CHAPTERS
00:00 Introducing aiah and the story behind its development
02:00 Where the idea for an AI parenting companion began
05:00 Why generic ChatGPT wasn't enough for parenting advice
08:00 Building a trusted, curated knowledge base
11:00 What is Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG)?
14:00 Why aiah needs to know when it doesn't know
17:00 Testing, evaluating and refining aiah's answers
20:00 Keeping the AI environment secure with AWS Bedrock
23:00 The potential of AI to make parenting support more accessible
26:00 The future of personalised AI parenting support
29:00 The meaning behind the name aiah

ABOUT THE GUEST
Bertha is a serial tech entrepreneur, advanced software developer and AI innovator, with 14 AWS certifications and the prestigious AWS Golden Jacket. She is the founder of MobileGPT, Skhokho, Tati Software and Skolo Online Learning, with extensive experience in building complex software solutions and making technology accessible. As the technical mind behind aiah, she brings deep expertise in AI and software development to the creation of innovative, practical technology that helps parents navigate modern parenting.
FOLLOW BERTHA
Connect with Bertha on LinkedIn.

ABOUT THE SENSE BY MEG PODCAST
Sense by Meg Faure is a weekly podcast for parents who want evidence-based guidance. Hosted by Meg Faure.
The podcast is proudly associated with ⁠Parent Sense⁠, the all-in-one parenting app for routines, sleep, nutrition and expert advice.
Parent Sense App: Your all-in-one baby care app with personalised support from pregnancy to five years including routines, nutrition and expert advice.
Download it ⁠⁠here⁠⁠ and use code SENSE50 for 50% off.⁠⁠ ⁠⁠

FOLLOW US
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Parent Sense 
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How do children learn to manage big emotions, and what can parents do to help?
In this episode of The Sense by Meg podcast, Meg Faure speaks with Kelli McDermott, a clinical social worker specialising in infant and early childhood mental health from Georgetown University, about how emotional regulation develops from infancy through the toddler years.
They explore why babies need responsive caregiving, how co-regulation lays the foundation for self-regulation, and why play, language and connection are essential to helping children manage their feelings.
Discover why your child doesn't need to manage every big feeling alone, how to respond when emotions run high and why reconnecting after a tantrum can be more powerful than punishment.

IN THIS EPISODE YOU'LL LEARN
What emotional regulation really means: How it goes beyond being calm to managing energy, feelings and responses

Co-regulation before self-regulation: Why children learn to regulate their emotions through safe, supportive relationships

Why meeting your baby's needs matters: How responsive caregiving in early childhood builds the foundations for independence.

Why your toddler can do something one day and struggle the next: How temperament, sleep, hunger, frustration and developmental demands affect a child's ability to regulate.

Self-soothing and baby sleep: How to think about sleep through the lens of regulation.

The role of play and language: How stories, songs, play and naming feelings help children practise emotional skills.

Gentle parenting versus permissive parenting: Why empathy and connection can coexist with firm, appropriate boundaries.

How to respond to toddler tantrums: Why connection comes before teaching, and how to help your child feel safe enough to reconnect after a difficult moment.

When your child needs space: How to stay emotionally available without overwhelming a child who needs time to calm down.

CHAPTERS
00:00 Introducing Kelli McDermott and the importance of emotional regulation
03:23 What is emotional regulation, and how does it develop?
05:34 From soothing your baby to supporting an independent toddler
07:04 Co-regulation: When children borrow our calm
09:19 Why a child's ability to regulate changes from day to day
11:08 Building the foundations of emotional regulation from birth
13:04 Self-soothing, baby sleep and what the science tells us
17:19 Sleep, family needs and the realities of modern parenting
20:47 How play helps children develop emotional regulation
23:58 Why naming feelings and building emotional vocabulary matter
27:03 Connection, empathy and helping babies feel safe
28:06 Toddler tantrums, boundaries and gentle parenting
33:07 The ABC approach: Acknowledge, Boundary, Choice
35:13 Why connection comes before correction
36:10 Reconnecting after a tantrum without reinforcing unwanted behaviour
38:22 When to offer comfort and when to give your child space

ABOUT THE GUEST
Kelli McDermott is a clinical social worker and mental health clinician who specialises in infant and early childhood mental health from Georgetown University.
Follow Kelli on LinkedIn

Want to dig deeper into regulation? Join us for the next Parent Sense Lunch & Learn for professionals on 13 November 2026.
Kelli joins Meg and Beryl Smith to unpack Regulation before Education and why co-regulation has to come first. Register here.

ABOUT THE SENSE BY MEG PODCAST
Sense by Meg Faure is a weekly podcast for parents who want evidence-based guidance. Hosted by Meg Faure.
The podcast is proudly associated with Parent Sense, the all-in-one parenting app for routines, sleep, nutrition and expert advice.
Parent Sense App: Your all-in-one baby care app with personalised support from pregnancy to five years including routines, nutrition and expert advice.
Download it ⁠here⁠ and use code SENSE50 for 50% off.⁠ ⁠

FOLLOW US
Meg Faure 
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Parent Sense 
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What does “natural” really mean when it comes to your baby’s health? 
In this episode of The Sense by Meg Faure, Meg chats to Michele Carelse, clinical psychologist turned entrepreneur and founder of Feelgood Health. Michele shares how a growing need for natural health alternatives in her psychology practice inspired her to develop her own remedies, eventually building a business with more than 350 products for the whole family.
Together, they explore what parents should know about choosing natural products, supporting babies through common ailments and sleep challenges, and navigating the growing natural health market. 
Michele also opens up about the realities of motherhood and entrepreneurship, the importance of self-care and the lessons she has learnt over 25 years in business.
Whether you're a parent looking for more informed ways to approach your little one's wellbeing or an aspiring entrepreneur with an idea you can't let go of, this conversation offers plenty to think about.

IN THIS EPISODE YOU'LL LEARN
How Michele went from clinical psychologist to founder of a growing natural health business.

Why her first remedies focused on concentration, ADHD and hyperactivity in children.

What the word “natural” really means and why natural doesn't automatically mean safe or effective.

What parents should consider when reading product labels and choosing natural health products for their families.

Why babies need particular care when it comes to essential oils and herbal remedies.

How natural remedies fit into a broader approach to baby sleep, including routines, sleep hygiene and helping babies feel safe and comfortable.

What Michele's experience has taught her about juggling motherhood, family life and entrepreneurship.

Why being a “good enough” parent matters more than striving for perfection.

The entrepreneurial lessons of persistence, consistency, curiosity and being willing to reinvent yourself.

What's next for Feelgood Health as Michele looks to expand its reach in South Africa and internationally.

CHAPTERS
00:00 Welcome: Natural health, parenting and entrepreneurship
00:42 From clinical psychologist to natural health entrepreneur
04:47 Michele's first remedies for concentration and hyperactivity
06:10 Growing Feelgood Health into a family-focused brand
07:30 Building a business while raising children
10:05 What does “natural” really mean?
14:47 Choosing natural products for babies safely
17:42 When natural remedies aren't enough: trusting your instincts and seeking medical advice
19:23 Baby sleep: a holistic approach to settling and bedtime routines
23:47 Understanding Du-Du Drops and age-specific formulations
26:09 What parents should look for on product labels
29:36 Lessons from 25 years of entrepreneurship
32:30 What's next for Feelgood Health?
34:15 Closing thoughts

ABOUT THE GUEST
Michele Carelse | Founder of Feelgood Health
Michele Carelse is the founder of Feelgood Health, a natural health brand that grew out of her clinical psychology experience working with patients seeking alternatives to conventional approaches.
Explore Feel Good Health to discover their natural health product range and learn more about the brand. 
Shop now | Instagram |  Facebook

ABOUT THE SENSE BY MEG PODCAST
Sense by Meg Faure is a weekly podcast for parents who want evidence-based guidance. Hosted by OT, author and parenting expert Meg Faure, each episode brings together expert insight and real-world experience to help parents feel informed and supported. The podcast is proudly associated with Parent Sense, the all-in-one parenting app for routines, sleep, nutrition and expert advice.
Parent Sense App: Your all-in-one baby care app with personalised support from pregnancy to five years including routines, nutrition and expert advice.
Download it here and use code SENSE50 for 50% off.

FOLLOW US
Meg Faure 
⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠Website⁠⁠⁠⁠
Parent Sense 
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What if one of the most powerful things you can do for your child happens around the dinner table?
In this episode of Sense by Meg, Meg Faure is joined by early childhood educator and parenting expert Sue Atkins to explore why family mealtimes matter far more than we might realise. From language development and emotional connection to building lifelong family rituals, they unpack how everyday moments around the table can help children feel that they belong.
They also discuss the impact of screens on mealtimes, how to navigate resistance when changing established habits, and simple ways to make eating together more enjoyable, from toddlers to teenagers.
No perfect parenting required. Just small, intentional moments that help families reconnect.
IN THIS EPISODE YOU'LL LEARN
Why family mealtimes support language, listening, turn-taking, emotional expression and a sense of belonging.

How to introduce shared mealtimes from an early age without creating pressure around food.

What screens can take away from family meals, including conversation, connection and opportunities for children to tune into their hunger.

Practical ways to make mealtimes playful, relaxed and engaging for children of different ages.

How to transition away from screens at the table without turning it into a battle.

Conversation starters that encourage children to share more than a one-word answer about their day.

Why consistent family rituals can help you stay connected to your children, even through the teenage years.

How to build better habits without guilt, perfectionism or a complete family routine overhaul.

CHAPTERS
00:00  Meet Sue Atkins: Parenting, Education and the Moments We Remember
01:37 The Golden Moments of Childhood
03:35 What Screens Take Away from Family Mealtimes
05:36 When Should Children Start Eating with the Family?
06:57 How Small Mealtime Rituals Become Lifelong Memories
09:15 Screens at the Table: What Are Children Missing?
11:51 Making Mealtimes Playful, Social and Enjoyable
12:59 Practical Mealtime Ideas for Babies, Young Children and Teens
15:49 Why Family Meals Matter During the Teenage Years
17:09 Start Small: Why Consistency Beats Perfection
18:10 How to Break the Screen-at-Mealtime Habit
20:01 From Distraction to Connection: Practical Ideas That Work
21:18 Conversation Starters That Get Children Talking
22:51 Sue Atkins' Parenting Resources and the Digital Jungle
24:35 Just One More Snake: Helping Children Navigate Screen Time
27:08 Autoplay, Online Safety and Protecting Childhood
29:00 Mindful Parenting Without the Guilt
29:58 The Takeaway: Be a Real Parent, Not a Perfect One
ABOUT THE GUEST
Sue Atkins is an experienced educator, headteacher and parenting expert with more than 22 years of teaching experience. Passionate about protecting childhood while helping families navigate an increasingly digital world, Sue creates practical resources that help parents turn research and good intentions into everyday action. Her work includes Navigating the Digital Jungle and Just One More Snake, her children's book addressing autoplay and the challenges of screen use.
𝗙𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄 𝗦𝘂𝗲 𝗔𝘁𝗸𝗶𝗻𝘀:LinkedIn | Website | Podcast: Listen to Navigating the Digital Jungle

ABOUT THE SENSE BY MEG PODCAST
Sense by Meg is a weekly podcast for parents who want evidence-based, compassionate guidance. Hosted by OT, author and parenting expert Meg Faure, each episode brings together expert insight and real-world experience to help parents feel informed and supported. The podcast is proudly associated with Parent Sense, the all-in-one parenting app for routines, sleep, nutrition and expert advice.
Parent Sense App: Your all-in-one baby care app for routines, nutrition, and expert advice. ⁠⁠⁠Download it here⁠⁠⁠ and use code SENSE50 for 50% off.⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠

FOLLOW US
Meg Faure 
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Parent Sense 
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