In this episode of It’s Good To Talk, I chat with Sophie Moskowitz, founder of Imperfect Parents, to unpack what it really means to parent in today’s world, without the pressure to be perfect.

Sophie shares how her experience as a mum of three and an early childhood teacher led her to create Imperfect Parents, an inclusive community offering antenatal classes, postnatal groups, and playgroups that focus on the well-being of parents, not just babies.

We explore the themes of equity at home, parental guilt, perfectionism, and the mental load of caregiving. We discuss how to share the load with partners, how to navigate returning to work, and why creating safe spaces for honest conversations can change everything for working parents.

From “maternal gatekeeping” to the myth of “baby brain,” Sophie offers a refreshing, compassionate take on modern parenting and the importance of building community around imperfection.

We speak about:

· Why “good enough” parenting is healthy for both parents and children

· How to navigate guilt, resentment, and perfectionism as a working parent

· The importance of shared caregiving and equitable partnerships

· How to advocate for yourself when returning to work after parental leave

· The power of inclusive parenting spaces and safe conversations

Resources Discussed

Follow or connect with Sophie: · Instagram: @imperfectparents.nz

Website: www.imperfectparents.co.nz/

You can also hear Sophie on the Why Do You Parent Like That? podcast, where she’s a regular contributor.

Connect with Emma

This podcast was funded and created by Emma Mclean, the founder of Works for Everyone.

Emma Mclean is a mum of three and founder of Works for Everyone, a professional development business that partners with NZ's leading corporates to help them retain and grow their working parent talent. She does this through innovative leadership programmes, executive coaching and keynote speaking. She founded her business in 2019 following a 20-year career in corporate strategy where she experienced first-hand how hard it was to have a career and a family.

As an impatient optimist when it comes to system change, she launched her successful podcast “How to Smash the Motherhood Penalty” in 2023 where she talks to humans who are actively working to change the system that creates financial penalties that only mothers pay. And in 2024 she launched the first NZ Part Time Power List – to shine a light on those senior roles in NZ that are career building, not side stepping." To work with Emma or enquire about speaking – [email protected] www.worksforeveryone.co.nz https://www.instagram.com/worksforeveryone/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/emma-mclean-9176217/