Beanstalk Mums

A certain kind of quiet lands a few months after a separation. The group chat is still there. The invitations just stopped arriving, and nobody announced it. If you're wondering what to do about your married friends after separation, here's the short version. Most of these friendships don't end because someone stopped caring. They fade because catching up got harder and nobody said so out loud. What brings them back is usually smaller than you'd expect.

Welcome to Beanstalk Mums’ new Mental Health hub. This space has been created to provide single mums with practical, compassionate guidance on emotional wellbeing. We’ll explore topics including anxiety, stress, burnout, grief, confidence, healing and building resilience. New articles and trusted resources are coming soon, all designed to help you feel understood, supported and better equipped to take your next step forward. Keep reading

There's a specific kind of tired that has you standing at the bathroom mirror at 11pm, doing the maths on whether any of this is worth it. I've been that mum. Most nights, if I'm honest. So let's skip the scolding. The 7 sins of skincare are the habits that quietly undo the effort you're already making.

Most parents have heard of the ATAR. They know it is the score their teenager needs to get into university. But very few parents actually understand how it is calculated - and that lack of understanding creates a lot of unnecessary anxiety for both students and families heading into Year 12. Here is a plain-language breakdown of how the ATAR works and what you can do as a parent to support your child through it.

There is a particular kind of pressure that comes with being the only adult in the house when your teenager is doing Year 12. You are managing the household, the finances, the emotional load and your own schedule. And then there is this other enormous thing happening at the kitchen table every night, full of subjects you may not have studied in decades, a grading system that feels opaque, and a teenager who oscillates between needing you desperately and wanting you to disappear entirely.

As we charge through the highs and lows of parenting, you may be oblivious to different parenting styles. Yet, you are probably following one of them without even knowing it! Ok, here it comes: The worry and the obligatory mum guilt. “Am I using the right parenting style?” “Should I in fact change my style?” “And if so which one should I use?” I know, it’s exhausting just thinking about it.

Navigating a separation is one of the most overwhelming chapters of life. Between managing the emotional well-being of your children, keeping the household running, and worrying about your family’s future financial stability, the weight can feel entirely consuming. Historically, the legal system didn't always make this easier; dividing property was often treated as a cold, retrospective accounting exercise.

Solo travel can be one of the best ways to see the world. You get to set your own pace, change your plans on a whim, eat wherever you fancy and spend your days exactly how you want. It can also be a wonderful chance to learn more about new places and, surprisingly, yourself. Of course, a great solo trip doesn't rely on luck. A little planning and a few sensible habits can make a huge difference when you're travelling on your own.

If you are lying awake at 2 AM panicking about housing after a separation, you need to know that single mum mortgages are entirely possible. You are not locked out of the property market just because you are surviving on a single income. The truth is that lenders do not care about your relationship status; they only care about your overall financial picture.

You know the moment. Your kid comes apart in the Woolies queue, you crouch down to their level, and you can feel the woman behind you forming a view. Then at a family lunch someone says it out loud. You're too soft on them. And because you're the only adult making these calls, there's nobody at home to check it with afterwards. So here's the plain answer. Gentle parenting doesn't spoil kids, as long as the boundaries stay firm.