1 00:00:04,120 --> 00:00:07,560 Speaker 1: Christmas can be a time of well, celebration and excitement 2 00:00:07,560 --> 00:00:10,440 Speaker 1: of course, but also anxiety, frustration, and stress for a 3 00:00:10,440 --> 00:00:13,320 Speaker 1: whole lot of parents. Joining me for a conversation about 4 00:00:13,360 --> 00:00:16,760 Speaker 1: the I guess the negative, the downside. I've a bit 5 00:00:16,800 --> 00:00:20,079 Speaker 1: of a down up. But it's real right about Christmas 6 00:00:20,079 --> 00:00:25,080 Speaker 1: holidays kids and the just the challenges associated with kids 7 00:00:25,079 --> 00:00:27,000 Speaker 1: having six weeks off school and what we're supposed to 8 00:00:27,040 --> 00:00:30,200 Speaker 1: do about it. Is Rebecca Dredge. Rebecca is the CEO 9 00:00:30,600 --> 00:00:34,199 Speaker 1: of the Kiddo App, and I'm really grateful that she 10 00:00:34,320 --> 00:00:36,839 Speaker 1: takes us some time out of her extraordinarily busy schedule 11 00:00:37,120 --> 00:00:39,000 Speaker 1: to have a chat with me right now about why 12 00:00:39,040 --> 00:00:43,480 Speaker 1: ouzsie parents are feeling anxious about the school holidays. Hey, Beck, 13 00:00:43,600 --> 00:00:45,720 Speaker 1: nice to have you along tell me about this survey. 14 00:00:46,040 --> 00:00:48,800 Speaker 2: Thanks for having me justin So the Kiddo App, we've 15 00:00:48,800 --> 00:00:51,400 Speaker 2: got such a big community. We've got twenty three thousand 16 00:00:51,400 --> 00:00:53,559 Speaker 2: people that use our app, so we really wanted to 17 00:00:53,560 --> 00:00:56,840 Speaker 2: dive in and understand you know, what parents are feeling. 18 00:00:57,880 --> 00:01:00,800 Speaker 2: We all know the school's coming to an end. Some parents, 19 00:01:00,800 --> 00:01:04,399 Speaker 2: it's about starting the new year. It's orientation days, it's 20 00:01:04,480 --> 00:01:07,080 Speaker 2: Christmas shopping, it's putting up the trees, you know. So 21 00:01:07,120 --> 00:01:10,200 Speaker 2: we just wanted to understand how parents actually felt, and 22 00:01:10,240 --> 00:01:11,959 Speaker 2: it's quite alarming. You know. There's a lot of us 23 00:01:11,959 --> 00:01:14,880 Speaker 2: that look forward to the holidays for some quality downtime 24 00:01:14,880 --> 00:01:17,720 Speaker 2: with our children. But at the same time, up to 25 00:01:17,800 --> 00:01:21,199 Speaker 2: a third of parents are really having that anxiety about 26 00:01:21,360 --> 00:01:23,600 Speaker 2: worrying what they're going to do on the school holidays, 27 00:01:23,760 --> 00:01:26,279 Speaker 2: how they're going to juggle work and entertaining the kids. 28 00:01:26,360 --> 00:01:28,280 Speaker 3: So, yeah, it's a lot for parents. 29 00:01:28,840 --> 00:01:32,399 Speaker 1: I remember some years ago when we started to have 30 00:01:32,480 --> 00:01:34,880 Speaker 1: to deal with this ourselves, and we've got six kids, right, 31 00:01:35,720 --> 00:01:37,800 Speaker 1: maybe ten twelve years ago, we kind of went hang 32 00:01:37,880 --> 00:01:40,720 Speaker 1: on school holidays is meant to be fun, except we're 33 00:01:40,760 --> 00:01:44,039 Speaker 1: juggling work, and we're juggling the financial commitments, and we're 34 00:01:44,080 --> 00:01:46,800 Speaker 1: juggling Now we've got to like entertain the kids and 35 00:01:46,840 --> 00:01:48,559 Speaker 1: we don't want to leave them staring at the screen 36 00:01:48,600 --> 00:01:52,280 Speaker 1: all day. When you've got other commitments that are not flexible, 37 00:01:52,640 --> 00:01:54,040 Speaker 1: it becomes a stressful time. 38 00:01:55,080 --> 00:01:55,920 Speaker 3: Yeah, it really is. 39 00:01:55,960 --> 00:01:57,440 Speaker 2: I mean I talked to a lot of mums and 40 00:01:57,480 --> 00:01:59,840 Speaker 2: there's mums that have literally got Excel spreadsheets for the 41 00:02:00,200 --> 00:02:03,240 Speaker 2: six weeks and it's you know, husband's got these three 42 00:02:03,320 --> 00:02:05,680 Speaker 2: days off, Grandma can do these two days. 43 00:02:05,720 --> 00:02:07,360 Speaker 3: You know, this week is you know. 44 00:02:07,600 --> 00:02:10,760 Speaker 2: Osh at school, we've got time off then, and then 45 00:02:10,800 --> 00:02:12,200 Speaker 2: what are we going to do in that time off? 46 00:02:12,200 --> 00:02:14,799 Speaker 3: But yeah, it is it's a real straining time. 47 00:02:14,960 --> 00:02:18,040 Speaker 1: Yeah, and then you had the pressure of and we're 48 00:02:18,080 --> 00:02:20,520 Speaker 1: having the family Christmas party at our place in the 49 00:02:20,560 --> 00:02:22,560 Speaker 1: morning from ten thirty till two. But then we've got 50 00:02:22,560 --> 00:02:24,320 Speaker 1: to go to the in laws for their one from 51 00:02:24,360 --> 00:02:27,520 Speaker 1: a three till seven, and we've got to do all 52 00:02:27,520 --> 00:02:30,639 Speaker 1: the cleanup and the tidy up and the setup and 53 00:02:30,040 --> 00:02:33,079 Speaker 1: the backdown and the all the money that's got to 54 00:02:33,120 --> 00:02:37,519 Speaker 1: be spent. I mean, it really is pretty hard core. So, Beck, 55 00:02:37,600 --> 00:02:41,760 Speaker 1: when you looked at this data two and five, forty 56 00:02:41,800 --> 00:02:45,640 Speaker 1: three percent of Australian parents really do love school holidays 57 00:02:45,760 --> 00:02:47,840 Speaker 1: and love getting quality time with their kids. But like 58 00:02:47,880 --> 00:02:50,120 Speaker 1: you said, more than a third almost the same about 59 00:02:50,160 --> 00:02:52,320 Speaker 1: thirty five percent say no, this is this is hard work. 60 00:02:52,320 --> 00:02:55,600 Speaker 1: There's anxiety around this, there's a lot to juggle. What 61 00:02:55,600 --> 00:02:58,320 Speaker 1: what do you think parents, when you look at what 62 00:02:58,360 --> 00:03:02,359 Speaker 1: they told you, what seems to be useful for parents 63 00:03:02,360 --> 00:03:05,000 Speaker 1: so that they can get the balance right, so that 64 00:03:05,120 --> 00:03:08,400 Speaker 1: it actually feels nice to have Christmas, even with all 65 00:03:08,440 --> 00:03:10,399 Speaker 1: of the pressure that's on so many families. 66 00:03:11,240 --> 00:03:15,720 Speaker 2: Yeah, I think, look, it's about prioritizing what you need 67 00:03:15,800 --> 00:03:19,160 Speaker 2: to do, trying not to get too overwhelmed with everything. 68 00:03:19,520 --> 00:03:20,239 Speaker 3: If there are. 69 00:03:20,160 --> 00:03:22,480 Speaker 2: Things that you don't need to do, just say no, 70 00:03:22,760 --> 00:03:25,000 Speaker 2: Like if there's just you know, if there's too many commitments, 71 00:03:25,040 --> 00:03:25,320 Speaker 2: say no. 72 00:03:25,760 --> 00:03:29,400 Speaker 1: The power of no is enormous, and so often we 73 00:03:29,440 --> 00:03:30,480 Speaker 1: forget that is an option. 74 00:03:30,720 --> 00:03:30,880 Speaker 2: Right. 75 00:03:30,919 --> 00:03:34,000 Speaker 1: We feel completely obligated to go to the neighborhood Christmas 76 00:03:34,040 --> 00:03:36,720 Speaker 1: party and the surf club or the Scout group or 77 00:03:36,760 --> 00:03:39,160 Speaker 1: the church or the whatever community thing that you're involved, 78 00:03:39,160 --> 00:03:40,480 Speaker 1: and you've got to go to there one as well. 79 00:03:40,640 --> 00:03:43,040 Speaker 1: And then there's the work one plus your partner's work one, 80 00:03:43,080 --> 00:03:46,240 Speaker 1: and there's like, there are so many events, there's so 81 00:03:46,600 --> 00:03:48,240 Speaker 1: much to do. It's okay to say no. 82 00:03:48,600 --> 00:03:51,560 Speaker 2: It's okay to say no, and it's okay just to prioritize, 83 00:03:52,280 --> 00:03:55,480 Speaker 2: you know, and you kiddo's there if you need a babysitter, 84 00:03:55,480 --> 00:03:58,320 Speaker 2: but it is you know, outsourcing and just it can 85 00:03:58,360 --> 00:04:01,560 Speaker 2: even be stressful having to ask family to babysit during 86 00:04:01,600 --> 00:04:03,600 Speaker 2: this time because that's another add of pressure. Then you 87 00:04:03,720 --> 00:04:06,280 Speaker 2: go oh, then I've got parents in law staying for 88 00:04:06,320 --> 00:04:09,680 Speaker 2: a night. So it is about, you know, saying no 89 00:04:10,160 --> 00:04:11,960 Speaker 2: limiting the amount of invites. 90 00:04:11,600 --> 00:04:12,520 Speaker 3: You put on your fridge. 91 00:04:12,600 --> 00:04:14,400 Speaker 2: You know, your freage doesn't have to be clutted with 92 00:04:14,480 --> 00:04:17,760 Speaker 2: every single invite, with every event that's happening. An outsource 93 00:04:17,800 --> 00:04:21,159 Speaker 2: where possible, so us parents, you know, we don't burn out, 94 00:04:21,240 --> 00:04:22,840 Speaker 2: we don't all get sick, and we're not you know, 95 00:04:22,960 --> 00:04:25,240 Speaker 2: we need to enjoy ourselves as well and be there 96 00:04:25,240 --> 00:04:28,440 Speaker 2: for our kids, not completely and utterly exhausted. 97 00:04:34,839 --> 00:04:36,320 Speaker 1: I'm going to add another couple of things to this 98 00:04:36,360 --> 00:04:38,920 Speaker 1: and feel free to fill in around the edges if 99 00:04:38,960 --> 00:04:42,440 Speaker 1: I miss anything. But in our family, what Kylie, my 100 00:04:42,480 --> 00:04:46,600 Speaker 1: wife has done, is essentially pulled together the calendar and 101 00:04:46,920 --> 00:04:50,280 Speaker 1: just jot down literally organize the day to day. Here's 102 00:04:50,279 --> 00:04:51,880 Speaker 1: what we're doing on this day. We're going to make 103 00:04:51,880 --> 00:04:53,719 Speaker 1: sure that we've got quality family time two or three 104 00:04:53,760 --> 00:04:55,520 Speaker 1: times this week. It might be a morning, it might 105 00:04:55,560 --> 00:04:57,400 Speaker 1: be an evening, it could be on the weekend. But 106 00:04:57,440 --> 00:05:00,400 Speaker 1: we're just putting in this stuff that really matters, and 107 00:05:00,440 --> 00:05:02,040 Speaker 1: then we can fill in around it with the other 108 00:05:02,080 --> 00:05:04,600 Speaker 1: stuff if it fits. But we're going to do the 109 00:05:04,600 --> 00:05:08,039 Speaker 1: stuff that matters for us. First, that organization. The intention 110 00:05:08,160 --> 00:05:10,400 Speaker 1: around that I've been so impressed with is she's done that, 111 00:05:10,520 --> 00:05:13,839 Speaker 1: and I love that. I love your point about booking 112 00:05:13,839 --> 00:05:17,719 Speaker 1: a babysitter in laws. But we just had a podcast 113 00:05:17,760 --> 00:05:22,039 Speaker 1: go out last week on Thursday about the challenges that 114 00:05:22,120 --> 00:05:25,040 Speaker 1: come with that. Do you have any I mean, maybe 115 00:05:25,040 --> 00:05:26,480 Speaker 1: there's an opportunity to give Kitto a little bit of 116 00:05:26,480 --> 00:05:28,240 Speaker 1: a plug. Tell me what Kiddo does and how that 117 00:05:28,279 --> 00:05:30,040 Speaker 1: can help in that in that vein. 118 00:05:30,800 --> 00:05:32,680 Speaker 2: Yeah, so kiddo. Look, we're an app. We're there are 119 00:05:32,720 --> 00:05:34,720 Speaker 2: twenty four to seven. You can download Kiddo from the 120 00:05:34,760 --> 00:05:38,040 Speaker 2: app store. You simply input the time and date you 121 00:05:38,080 --> 00:05:42,039 Speaker 2: need a babysitter for nanny, and we'll show you who's available. 122 00:05:42,120 --> 00:05:44,640 Speaker 2: So there's no having to go backwards and forwards to 123 00:05:44,680 --> 00:05:47,760 Speaker 2: being asked someone can help and then be rejected. You 124 00:05:47,800 --> 00:05:50,680 Speaker 2: simply log on, input your time and date. You can 125 00:05:50,720 --> 00:05:53,320 Speaker 2: preview profiles and book in the app. You can do 126 00:05:53,360 --> 00:05:55,279 Speaker 2: this at ten thirty at night. Is you know it's 127 00:05:55,320 --> 00:05:57,600 Speaker 2: the last thing on your mind and you're, oh, I 128 00:05:57,640 --> 00:06:00,360 Speaker 2: need to organize care for that Friday night and sit 129 00:06:00,400 --> 00:06:03,760 Speaker 2: there and you know doesn't matter if it's ten thirty night. 130 00:06:03,839 --> 00:06:05,440 Speaker 2: You can do that and that request will go across 131 00:06:05,480 --> 00:06:07,159 Speaker 2: to that babysitter and that wake up and they can 132 00:06:07,400 --> 00:06:10,080 Speaker 2: you know, confirm it for you. But it's just a 133 00:06:10,080 --> 00:06:13,440 Speaker 2: great go to, a great resource to just quietly go 134 00:06:13,480 --> 00:06:15,680 Speaker 2: and book some care if that's what you need to 135 00:06:15,760 --> 00:06:18,360 Speaker 2: get through the next few weeks to get through to Christmas. 136 00:06:18,640 --> 00:06:21,440 Speaker 1: Yeah, yep, sounds great. And we'll link to the Kiddo 137 00:06:21,560 --> 00:06:24,279 Speaker 1: app in our show notes for this. One last question 138 00:06:24,320 --> 00:06:27,000 Speaker 1: for you, how are you going to deal with the 139 00:06:27,040 --> 00:06:30,400 Speaker 1: stress and the challenge. I mean, you're running a business, 140 00:06:30,440 --> 00:06:33,040 Speaker 1: You've got all of your commitments across Christmas. How are 141 00:06:33,040 --> 00:06:34,120 Speaker 1: you going to get through it yourself? 142 00:06:34,320 --> 00:06:37,320 Speaker 2: Quite literally, I have prioritized normally, you know, I do 143 00:06:37,360 --> 00:06:39,280 Speaker 2: a big Christmas event. This year, I've just said, you 144 00:06:39,360 --> 00:06:40,840 Speaker 2: know what, I can't do it. We've had a big 145 00:06:40,880 --> 00:06:43,760 Speaker 2: year at Kiddo, We've gone national. I just can't do 146 00:06:43,839 --> 00:06:45,800 Speaker 2: too many things. You've got to look after your health. 147 00:06:45,839 --> 00:06:47,599 Speaker 2: You've got to look after number one. You've got to 148 00:06:47,600 --> 00:06:52,279 Speaker 2: be in great shape for your kids. Yeah, so it's prioritizing. 149 00:06:52,640 --> 00:06:54,880 Speaker 2: I've booked some babysitters so I've got that peace of 150 00:06:54,920 --> 00:06:57,560 Speaker 2: mind knowing Yep, I've got that extra sed of hands 151 00:06:57,560 --> 00:06:59,480 Speaker 2: when I need them, and I'm. 152 00:06:59,320 --> 00:07:01,440 Speaker 3: Just going to guide in Christmas Day and really enjoy it. 153 00:07:02,360 --> 00:07:04,880 Speaker 1: I love that work. I'm going to glide into Christmas Day. 154 00:07:05,360 --> 00:07:08,119 Speaker 1: That has just become my brand new goal. Fingers cross, 155 00:07:08,400 --> 00:07:10,760 Speaker 1: fingers cross. We can all glide through the next week, 156 00:07:10,840 --> 00:07:11,600 Speaker 1: Bie and all have it. 157 00:07:11,680 --> 00:07:13,880 Speaker 3: Cheers Christmas morning, go and we made it and we 158 00:07:13,960 --> 00:07:14,480 Speaker 3: feel good. 159 00:07:14,640 --> 00:07:19,280 Speaker 1: Yeah, sounds great. Rebecca Dritch, CEO of kiddoapp dot com 160 00:07:19,360 --> 00:07:22,120 Speaker 1: dot AU, really appreciate your sharing what you found from 161 00:07:22,160 --> 00:07:26,520 Speaker 1: your community of twenty three thousand parents about Christmas holiday anxiety. 162 00:07:26,760 --> 00:07:28,440 Speaker 1: Thanks for joining me on the Happy Families podcast. 163 00:07:28,720 --> 00:07:30,440 Speaker 3: Thanks for having me. Merry Christmas. 164 00:07:30,480 --> 00:07:32,840 Speaker 1: Merry Christmas to you too. The Happy Families Podcast is 165 00:07:32,840 --> 00:07:36,080 Speaker 1: produced by Justin Ruland from Bridge Media, and as always, 166 00:07:36,080 --> 00:07:37,840 Speaker 1: if you'd like more info about what we've talked about, 167 00:07:37,880 --> 00:07:40,400 Speaker 1: check the show notes for today's episode and visit us 168 00:07:40,440 --> 00:07:42,000 Speaker 1: at Happy Families dot com dot a