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Katie: And she messaged me afterwards to apologize that she'd said too much. And I was like, please do not apologize. this is what people need to talk about it. And I think that's what's so important about the community that you can be open and you can, you know, hopefully find someone that's going through it too.
James O'Donnell: Welcome to the Bishop's Stortford Community Podcast, the show where we shine a light on the incredible businesses, community leaders, and local legends shaping our town. I'm your host, James O'Donnell, and today we are joined by Katie. Katie, welcome to the podcast.
Katie: Thank you so much, I'm really excited to be here.
James O'Donnell: Katie for those of us who don't know you yet, who are you and what do you do here in the Bishop's Stortford? community?
Katie: Well, first of all and foremost, I am a mum to two little boys who are now four and six and I have set up two local parenting groups and communities for parents which came from basically my need as a parent. I really wanted to do something when I had my children that wasn't going to village halls and paying £2.50 and drinking rubbish coffee and also getting the support that parents need. I think you've got three children of your own, you know what it's like. It's mine-field, every day is different, and just being able to find that local support and local community. So I run two communities, Mamas Who Brunch and Mama's Little Black Book.
James O'Donnell: So what do those communities look like?
Katie: So Mamas Who Brunch is a monthly brunch club that we do in Bishop's Stortford At each brunch we have kind of a different expert to support parents, anything from sleep, midwives, women's health, fitness, basically anything kind of to support the mom or the baby. And then I also have... set up Mama's Little Black Book is where you can find all these experts because I think as a parent, you don't really know where to go to find this support. I had both my children during COVID, one in the middle of it and one kind of at the end of it. And I think it's really hard to know who to trust, especially with the most precious thing in your life, trying to work out that there is that support out there. I really struggled with breastfeeding, with sleep, and there's some amazing local experts and it's just giving that back to the community. so that they know where to go to find these experts to support them on their parenting journey. So Mama's Little Black Book is kind of your local parenting directory and community, and we do events in Bishop's Stortford and surrounding areas. And really excited that we've got our first kind of family festival coming up, which is a free event where you can get to meet all these amazing experts that can support you and your family.
James O'Donnell: How do you or do you vet the experts that go into the the community there?
Katie: Yes, so mainly the people that I've ever worked with myself or someone within the community. So it's not that just anyone can join because I want to make sure that they're actually trusted and recommended. So I'd say I've had lots of problems with my children, everything from allergies, sleep, breastfeeding. Pretty sure I had postnatal depression that wasn't diagnosed and then obviously supporting me. I've worked with some great fitness professionals in Bishop's Stortford and Women's Health. So I think a lot of it has come from my need, but I'm meeting all these parents monthly and just finding out who's supporting them locally, just because I think that's better than going on Google and finding out you don't know who it is that you Google and you get up a name. Like it may be that it's worked for one family, then it's not. And that's really exciting about Mama's Little Black Book is that we bring these experts to meet. the families because I think what works for one family might not work for another.
James O'Donnell: So you're bringing parents and experts together. as you say, each
Katie: Yeah.
James O'Donnell: child is completely different. One thing I always say to parents is not to read too many books about parenting because you find your children haven't read those books, so we'll act completely
Katie: Yep.
James O'Donnell: different. that's out there. Do you do you find that y you're spotting different kind of journeys that parents and children go on as you're as you're running these businesses, the w the way that they interact with different experts.
Katie: Yes, definitely. And I think this morning I was running a Weening workshop with one of our experts and it was the whole talk about Instagram and social media and what it tells you should be weaning your child like and everyone's got a different view on how it should be done. And there's no right or wrong way. Your child is your child and whatever's right for your family might not be for another. But yeah, there is so much outside pressure that it should be done. And as you say, these children aren't reading that I should be sleeping. nine till nine. I think that's one of the things I worked with a sleep consultant. again, there's a lot of bad press out there about sleep consultants, but I had a child that didn't sleep for two and a half years. And I think you've probably been through similar dramas and trauma of it. And then you just get to a point that you really do need some help. And I just think it's if it works for your family, just make sure you're checking the qualifications of these people. And that's one of the things, as I say, within Mama's Little Black Book, we check qualifications, we check their experience. and they really are trusted and recommended and vetted professionals. And the best thing the sleep consultant said to me, because I was like, I want my 12 hours sleep again. And she was like, do you sleep 12 hours? And I was like, well, no. She was like, do you get to go to the toilet in the night? She was like, well, how do you expect a child to do this? And I think you're right.
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They don't read these books, that they should be. Yes, we'll do this, this, and this. think every month is something different, isn't it, with children?
James O'Donnell: You see the connections Do you see the connections between I hope that you see the connections between the
Katie: Hi Matilda!
James O'Donnell: the different parents building up and and that's actually one of the most valuable things that you can help to construct?
Katie: Well, I think that's probably the number one thing in the communities is meeting other families. I had my first child during COVID and obviously you weren't allowed to see anyone. So I literally spent the first 12 months of my life with a thing that just cried, pooed, was sick on me. And I didn't see anyone else for 12 months. And I just used to walk. We were living in London at the time. You can probably see Clapham Junction behind me. But that's where we were living. And I just used to walk around Clapham Common on my own. And when I moved here, I didn't know anyone. And I just think it's really, really important that, yes, you can get this support, but you need other families. You need people that are going on the same journey. Yes, everyone's journey is different, but just being able to talk to someone and say, yes, I had a really crap night last night. I haven't had any sleep. it may be that, my gosh, I've had an amazing day. Just being able to share that of someone that gets it. And I think until you've had children, no one can prepare you for it. So yeah, I think the community side is the most important part of what. I'm doing and what I love about both Mama's Little Black Bucket Book and Mama's Who Brunch. And I love meeting different people. Like I just think, as I say, like every parent, parents differently. And what might be right for you might not be right for another one. And I'm not going to lie, I'm a shouty mum. So it's nice when you meet another shouty mum. It makes you feel a bit more normal.
James O'Donnell: I one thing that I always thought found find nice when you're building those communities is is not just someone to talk to, but someone that you can be tired and actually not communicate. That you don't have to be your best self in those situations because
Katie: Yeah.
James O'Donnell: everyone's going through the same thing. They kind of you're allowed to be authentic, your tr your true self and whinge and complain and you know talk about what's not going well.
Katie: Yeah, and I think it is, and I think one of the things I love about brunch is it's okay if you come and you've got weeter bits in your hair, you've got no makeup on, you've not had chance to have a shower or those kind of things. It is very much about being your authentic self. And on the other hand, it's really nice sometimes, I'm going to brunch or I'm going to an event. Let's get dressed up, if you can find the time or whatever. So everyone is welcome, no matter what you're going through. And there's some days when people
come and they're really happy and there's other days you'll come and it's... someone might just burst into tears on arrival and it's like, okay, well, that's fine, that's okay, that can happen here. Like it's a safe judgment free space and you come along and meet someone else that's probably going through similar to what you're going through. And I had a lady actually the other day who we were talking about, basically she'd had a bit of a journey to have her baby and she wasn't enjoying it and she'd felt so guilty that she'd been on such a journey to get it and then. like get the baby and then wasn't enjoying it and that's not spoken about enough. And she messaged me afterwards to apologize that she'd said too much. And I was like, please do not apologize. this is what people need to talk about it. And I think that's what's so important about the community that you can be open and you can, you know, hopefully find someone that's going through it too.
James O'Donnell: So if people are listening in and they would be really keen to reach out and come along to one of your events, what how's how could they reach out and follow along with everything that you're doing, Katie?
Katie: So we do events once a month at Home and Eat for Mama's Who Brunch and that's on the first Monday of every month. In addition, with Mama's Little Black Book, we have a wonderful lady, Emma, from Hushaboo Sleep, who I think you might have interviewed. She does a free walk for us in Birchhanger Park and you can find more details about that on our social media, which is at Mama's Little Black Book and then Mama's Who Brunch is at mamas who underscore brunch. And then as I say, we've got our first free family festival where we've got, I think nearly 10 experts coming along, everything from weaning, tutors, sleep. We've even got a dad coach coming, which I think is lovely, because although they've got mamas and mums, I think it's really important that the dads are supported too. And we've got career coaches, first aid. therapists and an early years consultant as well as lots of entertainment. Again, I think you've probably spoken to or interviewed. Tappy Toes are going to be doing free entertainment for us all day. And also Jess from the Little Arts Workshop is going to be doing Gruffalo story time and some pottery printing as well. And the other thing that we've got, which I think is amazing because families love doing this, is little free family photo shoots. So we've got Jodie Wilson Photography is gonna be offering free photo shoots for families. So I just want to be able to give back to the community really and just make sure that they know that there's so much support out there, which is why it's great that we've got so many local businesses coming together for our first family festival. It's really exciting. And that's at Jackson Square on the
James O'Donnell: That's fantastic.
Katie: 4th of October.
James O'Donnell: You read my mind. Jackson Square, fourth of October. What we'll do is we'll put links to all your socials in that, but we'll also put
Katie: Yep.
James O'Donnell: a link for that event as well. Is it just a rock up and see, or do you have to book anything?
Katie: So you can just turn up. It would be great if you could book and the link is on all our social media and on our website, just so we know numbers for Jess, well both Jesses, they're both called Jessica. Jessica and Jess from Tappy Toes and Little Arts. So we know numbers wise who's gonna be coming to the entertainment, but it's completely free and it's a community event. So you can come and meet other families as well, which is great.
James O'Donnell: That's great. I Jess from the Little Art Workshop, I love she's really good at those that kind of community partnership work with lo lots of different
Katie: Yeah.
James O'Donnell: businesses. And I think it's a great way for small independent businesses to kind of make their mark is to build those partnerships up. So it's great that you're getting involved with with all of that all of those.
Katie: Yeah, I've been working with Jess for nearly four years now, so she comes along to a lot of my brunches. So we do lots together. But yeah, no, she's fabulous.
James O'Donnell: Are you ready for some Stortford spotlight questions now?
Katie: you. Yes, let's go for it.
James O'Donnell: Yeah, these are three super fast questions that we ask every guest that comes onto the Bishop's Stortford community podcast. First question If you could put one sentence on a billboard in Jackson Square, what would it say and who needs to hear it the most?
Katie: Ooh, parenting isn't meant to be done alone. So come along and meet your local parenting community and experts who can support you on that journey. I really think that parents shouldn't have to paint. it really does. It does.
James O'Donnell: Exactly. Parenting takes takes a village takes a village to raise a raise a child. Yeah, it does. I could do with a village popping round now to help me out. Question number two. Where do you go in Stortford that you secretly hope never gets too popular?
Katie: Okay, so I'm going to be biased here because I absolutely love it. And I think you'll appreciate this with having children. Trying to get children out of the car from car parks into places. I love home and eat in Stansted because you can drive, you can park outside and it's the most quirkiest place you could possibly go. It's where we do brunches as well, but you could go for breakfast. You could buy a hot tub. You could get a wedding dress and you could go fish, get the stuff to go fishing. It's the most random place, but for some reason it works and it's easy.
James O'Donnell: Okay, question number three. Who's doing something special in the community that more people need to know about?
Katie: Okay, so this one again is probably quite biased, but I don't think many people know the work that she does. And she's been so supportive over the family festival and it's Hayley Harris from Jackson Square. She's brilliant. And when I met her and told her what I wanted to do, she was like, yeah, it sounds great. And then I kept going and going and honestly, she's been so supportive and she's like really excited for us and she can see the value of it. She's like, this is amazing, go for it, go for it, go for it. And she's just been so, so supportive of everything.
James O'Donnell: Haley is great. When you next see her, give her an elbow. I've I've given her an elbow. Get her on the podcast because she's one of those people in Stortford She Like one of those unsung heroes. She's she's absolutely lovely. And more people should know about the work that she puts into those events and into Jackson Square in general. like it is is
Katie: Yep. Yep.
James O'Donnell: fantastic what she what she does. So let's let's get her on the podcast at some point. you can be my agent, Katie. again, where's the best place
Katie: Yes, definitely.
James O'Donnell: to find you online, Katie, and follow along with all the work that you're doing?
Katie: So it would be on Instagram at mamaslittleblackbook.
James O'Donnell: Easy. We will link to that so everyone can follow along and see all the work that you're doing. Katie, that's a wrap. Thank you so much for coming on the Bishop's Stortford Community Podcast today.
Katie: Thank you so much.
James O'Donnell: If you've enjoyed this episode, the best way you can support the show, the podcast is to hit follow, leave a quick review on YouTube, Apple or Spotify and share it on your socials or maybe share it with someone in town who you think should hear this episode, who's not on social media. Show them this episode. And if you've got a local legend, someone that's investing in Bishop Stortford community, that's running a club, a charity, starting a new business, that had been running a business for years. that you think we should feature on the podcast, drop their name in the comments below. I'll reach out to them and invite them on for a little chat. Again, thank you so much for joining us today on the Bishop's Stortford Community Podcast.