Lissy, Rebecca, Kim, Anke, Tammy & Heather are back again post-Halloween with a wee Halloween recap and a giggle.  Who else is guilty of eating some of the kids' candy?  The mums are raising their hands.  The ladies then move on to the main topic for the week... a very difficult one which hits the ladies hard: Bullying.  Did you know that 66% of Britons say they have been bullied at some point in their lives, with 59% being bullied as a child and 21% as an adult?  Sadly in 2025, bullying goes way beyond the school yard!  On the subject of tackling toxic behaviour, the ladies talk strategies: everything from communicating and enforcing boundaries, preparing non-emotional statements, and creating a paper trail if the bullying is at work. Next the ladies discuss how to support your kids if they are being bullied, including staying calm, creating emotional safety, listening and believing and then taking action together.  Do you think that smart phones have made bullying worse?  What do we do if we get the call that it’s OUR child doing the bullying? The ladies dig deep in the discussion to move to how to change the culture.  How do we change the culture to prevent bullying and squash the toxic comments immediately?Ideas range from leading by example, challenging behaviours we encounter to make others' lives better, and encouraging children to point out toxic behaviour.   You need to listen to the end of this podcast for the final real-life unbelievable segment which happened to one of the mums recently... What happens when your school bully contacts you YEARS later? Stand by for some laughs and some good mum chat on this difficult subject.  Disclaimer: the mums DO NOT support punching bullies though admittedly some of us may fantasize about it occasionally.   #motherhood #bullying #imperfectlyperfect #visitscotland #visitedinburgh #scotland # edinburgh #keepedinburghthriving #moms #ukmoms

Rebecca, Anke, Tammy, Lissy and Heather are back with Part 2 of the Edinburgh Society of Unapologetically Imperfect Mothers 2025 Halloween Guide... and this week's episode is not to be missed!  The mums are talking all things CREEPY, SCARY, GHOSTLY.  Stand by for some truly creepy stories that take place at Edinburgh landmarks.... and even in the Mums' own homes! The ladies discuss the Ghostly Piper and the Grey lady of Edinburgh Castle, the MacKenzie Poltergeist of Greyfriar's Kirkyard, the Banshee of the Underground Vaults, the ghost of Mary King's Close, and the Last Drop Pub... where condemned prisoners took their last pint. Moving on to personal ghost stories, Lissy and Rebecca have some absolutely shocking stories to share.  Do you believe in ghosts?  You may start believing after these terrifying stories from some of the mums! Shout out to The Nursery & Schools Guide for Edinburgh & The Lothians for the gorgeous feature in their online Newsletter and on their Socials... as well as a shout to the mum's photographer!  Be sure to check out her gorgeous photos of Edinburgh on Insta at @EdiEnthusiast.  Also a big Shout to to Nashy & the Team behind Keep Edinburgh Thriving for sharing  our Podcast and our story on Social Media....be sure to check them out onInstagram. Also...Nashy has a podcast for Dads!! Dads and Dudes! #halloween #edinburgh #visitscotland #visitedinburgh #keepedinburghthriving #edienthusiast #nurseryandschools_edinburgh #motherhood #imperfectlyperfect #mothers #scotland #marykingsclose #edinburghcastle #greyfriarskirk_official

Lissy, Rebecca and Heather are back and ready to chat about Halloween Events for families and adults around Edinburgh!  Edinburgh has a uniquely creepy connection to Halloween with a rich history of ghouls and spooky architecture.  Burke and Hare history is discussed as are the atmospheric Old Town and the famous Edinburgh Vaults.  Did you know that the vaults used to be workshops under the South Bridge which were  subsequently abandoned due to damp and they were then used sometimes by criminals... and are VERY HAUNTED? The mums go on to chat about Costumes (make them or buy them?), local pumpkin patches (Craigie Farm and Conifox), and family and adult activities around and outside of the city during the Halloween season.  In particular the mums discuss the ancient tradition of the Samhuinn Fire Festival: a unique, major local event that ties directly into the season on Calton Hill.  Will the mums shed their clothes and their inhibitions enough to participate this year?  Stay tuned. Classic Edinburgh Haunts and Event are discussed including The Real Mary Kings Close, the Edinburgh Dungeons, and the Ghost Tour.   What Edinburgh and environs Halloween events do you recommend?  Please send us your recommendations!  Also any adult Halloween themed cocktail recipes would be greatly appreciated. As always, stand by for laughs, chat and setting the world to rights on this Halloween podcast!  Photo by #edienthusiast #marykingsclose #edinburgh #visitscotland #keepedinburghthriving #visitedinburgh #motherhood #craigies_farm_shop #halloween #morphcostumes #edienthusiast      

Lissy, Kim, Rebecca, Tammy, Anke and Heather are having a quick catch up right before the October school break.  The mums have had a photoshoot... which was AMAZING... and are looking fab for this wee chat!  Look for The Edinburgh Society of Unapologetically Imperfect Mothers featured soon in the School Guide Edinburgh & The Lothians! More Guilty Pleasures are discussed (listen in to last week's podcast for more... not to be missed!) including the merits of Married at First Sight vs. Love is Blind vs. the Real Housewives and Naked Attraction.  Find out what shows to watch (Married at First Sight Australia is extra spicy), and which shows were extra entertaining.  What would the mums prefer?  To meet and get engaged to someone in a pod?  Or reveal everything just to get a date?  Find out all about new rabbit holes the mums are willing to go down in the name of "research". The mums are heading to Corfu, Kos, Sardinia and the US... and the upcoming trips are discussed.  Edinburgh airport breakfast/prosecco stops are debated.  Travel tips are shared (pack the snacks!).  Join the mums pre-holiday as they laugh, chat, and set the world to rights! #visitedinburgh #visitscotland #scotland #perfectlyimperfect #motherhood #nurseryandschools_edinburgh  

What's the most unproductive thing you did this week that brought you pure, unadulterated happiness?  Lissy, Rebecca, Tammy & Heather are back and are chatting all about “guilty pleasures”.  Why should fun feel like a crime?  The ladies are calling this podcast session a judgment-free zone where lowbrow is the highest art. Why do mums, in particular, feel guilt over harmless fun? The mums discuss the constant feeling of doing 'productive,' 'educational,' or 'self-improving’ tasks instead of listening to the Eras Tour Soundtrack for the for the 10000th time. The ladies take a deep dive into TV/on demand media which gives us that feeling of “guilty pleasure”, such as XO Kitty, And Just Like That, Below Deck, Gilmour Girls, Friends, and island survival shows.  Whether the ladies are tired and fed up, need a good cry or a laugh, or need to tap into the nostalgia of youth, these shows do the trick.   Later on in the podcast the ladies talk our favourite rom-coms… stand by for a lot of guilt with the pleasure in this category.  How many times can we watch The Holiday?  Loads. What music do you secretly listen to?  Find out what tunes the Mums are listening to when no one else is listening… from Lil’ Kim to NYOTB to Vanilla Ice and Celine Dion power ballads (sung at FULL VOLUME), the Mums are dishing on what gives us that special jolt of happiness once in a while.  Question for our listeners: do power ballads hit differently in your 40s?  What books do you read which give you a feeling of guilty pleasure?  The ladies reveal what their choices are of books these days… everything from books with a historical backdrop, books about people and their wacky choices, books that allow us to relax… The ladies call them “brain candy”: everything from a good beach read, to a cheesy romance novel, to a spicy cowboy rom-com in book form.  They’re not exactly literary masterpieces and they’re not winning any Pulitzers, but they bring happiness and humour to our days! In terms of Food and Beverages… the Mums are sneaking biscuits from a closet stash, maintaining our own snack drawer (hands off kids!) and eating snacks directly out of the fridge (so the calories don’t count).  Who doesn’t love a bit of left over from big family celebrations?   Find out who is buying all of the Mulled Wine from Tesco and drinking it cold. Tammy coins the phrase “WWDD”… What Would Daddy Do… Is this what us Mums need to change these pleasures from "guilty" to "healthy"?  How can we flip the narrative to make these guilty pleasures self-care instead? Join the ladies for this group therapy session for guilty Mums.  Please let us know about your guilty pleasures and secret Mum behaviour too via our socials. #visitedinburgh #edinburgh #scotland #motherhood #friends #xokitty #gilmourgirls #NKOTB  

We've been in a lunar eclipse portal, which means we haven't been sleeping... and so Anke, Kim, Rebecca, Lissy and Heather are back with a very cheeky topic: It's all about Pants! First the ladies have a wee historical overview of the evolution of underwear.  Everything from corsets to knickers are discussed, before the ladies move on to a very unusual, and very special item which was for sale on Antiques Roadshow.  Would you believe some of Queen Victoria's knickers were up for sale?  How much would you expect they were sold for? The ladies move on to global underwear (or lack thereof) traditions including, of course, Scottish traditions.  Find out the kind of high jinx that can happen at a Scottish wedding from the ladies... and gain some advice on what not to provide to wedding guests.   As you would expect, there are differing opinions on the comfort and fit of various kinds of pants from the ladies.. and the difference between what the ladies found acceptable when younger ("display thongs") vs. today (comfy granny pants) is also discussed. Finally, the ladies discuss a write-in letter -- what would you think if your mother-in-law gifted you granny pants?  Is it a sign of affection?  Or is it too uncomfortable to consider?  Opinions vary. Stand by for some hilarity, chatter, and good times from The Edinburgh Society of Unapologetically Imperfect Mothers! #motherhood #femalepodcasters #choreplay #perfectlyimperfect  

The ladies are back with the 20th podcast episode of The Edinburgh Society of Unapologetically Imperfect Mothers!  Cheers to that!  Anke, Kim, Tammy, Alisa and Heather catch up, firstly on the terrifying risk of getting locked in the office and what we could do to help a friend get out, before moving on to trips we have taken over the lovely, long September weekend: biking in the mountains and visiting Whinfell Forest Center Parcs in Cumbria.  Moving on, the girls take a deep dive into the world of "Love Languages". A concept developed by Dr. Gary Chapman, Love Languages explores how we express and receive love.  The ladies chat all about the five love languages: what they are, what it means to speak each of the love languages, and how they resonate to each of the ladies.  All of the ladies share personal stories, and discuss what about what makes each of the mums tick.   Grab your favourite drink, get cozy, and join the ladies as they laugh, chat, and set the world to rights!  #CenterParcsWhinfellForest #Lovelanguages # drgarychapman #visitscotland #visitedinburgh #imperfectmoms #ukmothers #motherhood #tinafey

The school year is off to a strong start, and Anke, Kim, Lissy, Heather and guest star Jessie are together again for a laugh and a catch up.  The ladies talk about putting into action making new friends at a parent's evening and at a 5k... friendship being the subject of last week's podcast... before moving on to chat about the latest news: the MacLean Brothers who rowed from Peru to Australia, the Women's Rugby Tournament (Scotland doing very well!), and the benefits and draw backs of Scream Therapy. The Edinburgh Society of Unapologetically Imperfect Mothers is unanimous in our opinion that the MacLean brothers are amazing... but don't forget how incredible their mum must be!  Stand by for loads of laughs and different perspectives as we find out who amongst the mums is worried about encouraging regular screaming in public and what other questions we have about the utility of screaming as a form of therapy.   Moving on, the ladies provide perspective and advice to a mum who is wondering whether she is failing her wifely duties because she is not always in the mood for sexting.  Opinions range from admiration that the mum has been able to do any sexting at all, to encouragement of couples to keep romance alive, to confusion around how one can find any energy or time to sext at all.  Kim brings up the revolutionary counter suggestion of "choreplay" which could (should) replace "foreplay"... where husbands/partners perform household chores to get their partner in the mood.  The mums also discuss whether or not we are already extremely attractive to our partners when we do chores and moan about how much we have to do as mums.   Join in for another hysterical, candid conversation amongst the Edinburgh Society of Unapologetically Imperfect Mothers! Please follow us on instagram: www.instagram.com/edinburghimperfectmumssociety And please rate us on whatever media you listen in on! #choreplay #visitedinburgh #visitscotland #motherhood   

Anke, Lissy, Rebecca, Heather, and guest star Tammy are sitting down to catch up and dig down deep on how to navigate adult friendships.  First the ladies chat about the friends who have moved away, and how we are keeping in touch (visits to Edinburgh, visits to Copenhagen).   The ladies move on to the "friendship conundrum"... why making friends is often more challenging in adulthood vs childhood, the impact on us when good friends move away, and what happens when friends cut ties or disappoint us.  The grief is real... and the ladies have personal stories and thoughts to share that everyone can relate to. According to a 2022 report by the Office for National Statistics, 27% of adults in the UK reported feeling lonely often and always.  The ladies talk about how new mothers are particularly vulnerable to feeling lonely (and overwhelmed).. and discuss how societal changes, like the rise of social media and the decline of community-centric living, contributes to this sense of isolation for everyone... mums, singles, younger and older! So how do we build better bonds as mothers and as adults?  The Edinburgh Society of Unapologetically Imperfect Mothers has thoughts and ideas to share.. as well as loads of empathy for people experiencing loneliness.  We've all been there!   Join us for this thoughtful and empathetic chat.  You might find yourself nodding along... and may even get an idea about how to go out and make a new friend!   Please follow us on instagram: www.instagram.com/edinburghimperfectmumssociety/ and on Facebook...www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61575515288150 And please rate us on whatever media player you are listening to! #motherhood #mothers #ukmoms #friendship #visitedinburgh #visitscotland 

The Edinburgh Society of Unapologetically Imperfect Mothers is ranked #2 UK Mom Podcast by FeedSpot!!! Break out the bubbly!!! Kim, Anke, Rebecca, Tammy, Lissy and Heather are celebrating the no 2 UK Mom Podcast listing... apparently people really like us!  The ladies share their thoughts... everything from happy and surprised to gobsmacked.  A huge THANK YOU to all of our listeners... we are so happy that you are joining us on our weekly podcast filled with silliness, laughter and chatter.   The ladies go on to a "Weird and Wacky News Segment" just for laughs... discussing the potential of toothpaste made with hair, thousands of hotdogs spilled across a highway in Pennsylvania, and a discussions of whether aliens live among us.  Apparently Scotland used to be a hotspot for UFO sightings, so no surprise that many of the ladies believe that aliens have already moved in! Before the ladies move on to a bit of 90s fun and games (do you remember "PHAT", "As if" and "Buggin"?) Lissy and Rebecca receive the news about Taylor Swift's engagement live on the podcast.. .and in true Swiftie fashion, proceed to celebrate!   Thanks SO much to FeedSpot!!   Check out our no 2 Ranking here: https://podcast.feedspot.com/uk_mom_podcasts/ #friendship #visitedinburgh #visitscotland #motherhood #parenting #taylorswift      

The kids are back to school, and Lissy, Kim, Anke, Tammy and Heather are chatting about how we are feeling to be back in the school routine... the upside, and the downside are discussed.  How did the Mums do with meeting our summer goals?  Find out all about those long forgotten goals and how we did in the podcast! Lissy gets us up to speed on the Life of a Showgirl... Taylor Swift's 12th album coming out.  The other ladies get all the info on the launch, the podcast TS did with her beau Travis Kelce on New Heights... and enjoy the lovely orange cocktails Lissy made us in honour of the release. Fringe, fringe, fringe... Edinburgh is buzzing.  The ladies catch up on shows we have seen and recommendations for the next couple of weeks.  Lissy and Heather are heading to the Royal Mile this week to interview Mums and give them prizes!  Stay tuned for more content we will share and an update on the podcast next week. The ladies talk skincare: Quasi, collagen, and LED face masks... is the uglier you go to bed the better?   #edinburgh #elavatecollagen #quasi #visitscoltand #visitedinburgh #motherhood

Lissy, Rebecca, Kim, Anke and Heather finally get to catch-up after weeks away on summer holidays, and of course, the ladies have loads to chat about.  Trips to Copenhagen, Sweden, Germany, Spain, Yorkshire, and the Isle of Arran... find out how the mums and kids experienced it all, and what our thoughts are as we reflect on the holidays.  We find out all about the ups and the downs of the experiences the ladies have had over the summer.    The ladies also catch up on all of the excitement of the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.  Listen in to get some great suggestions of what shows to see this month in the city for adults and kids alike! #edinburgh #edfringe #visitscotland As Anke says, the ladies are so lucky to have one another to come back to after being away.  There's nothing like a good natter with the girls to set the world to rights!     

Calling all Harry Potter fans! Lissy and Heather chat to Professor Listworth of the Chester Wizard School about the  Divination Tent performance coming to the Edinburgh Fringe!  From August 11-17th at 10:30am at Lauriston Halls, children and adults alike will be able to have a magical immersive experience together in the Divination Tent.   Get the down low on this exciting Edinburgh Fringe show for the kiddos from the Professor and the mums.  Who wants a potion at the end of this Harry Potter-esque experience?  We do! For tickets go to:https://res.cthearts.com/event/34:4943/ #edfringe #chesterwizardschool #edinburgh

Lissy and Heather reconnect after a few weeks into the summer, and following Lissy's epic family journey across Spain (more to come on the next podcast).  Lissy displays some massive #momgoals and #friendshipgoals... she gets to drop by London totally on her own for a few days of catch up with friends, do some Peloton, Euros Cup, and Alanis Morrisette at the O2!  The ladies also chat to Kirsten Lewis, star of Adrienne: An American in Paris - a heartfelt and humorous one-woman show about starting over in a new city, inspired by real women who shaped 1920s Paris. It’s a story of language fails, big questions, and the unexpected magic of getting a little lost.  Coming to the Fringe next week!   Venue: Greenside @ Riddles CourtDates: 4–9, 12–16 AugustTime: 16:00 (60 minutes)Tickets: £10 (£8 concession)Box Office: 0131 226 0000 / edfringe.comAges: Suitable for ages 12 and up Press & media contact: jessie@openinglinesmedia.co.uk

It's muggy and rainy in Edinburgh, but it's summer in Kim's office, and Alisa, Anke, Kim and Heather are back to chat and catch up at the outset of the school holidays.  The kids are having a great time swimming, playing and relaxing. The ladies chat about some of our favourite trips taken close by to Edinburgh including visiting beautiful Gullane Beach, North Berwick and Stirling Castle.  Heads up parents: avoid the razor-clams at low tide!  There is some great advice for doings around town, including where to spot otters, bats and fish in the city, and advice on taking advantage of the ScotRail £1 kids summer tickets! The ladies talk about how we love Wimbledon.. the strawberries, the atmosphere, the picnics & Pims...and where to get a great brunch in town. What do you do when you love sardines, but your wife disapproves?  The ladies provide advice to the "Sardine King"... and opinions inevitably vary.   Along the way, you can expect laughter, chatter, and good times as always!  Cheers to the summer! #visitedinburgh #visitscotland  

Anke, Kim, Alisa, Rebecca, Heather and, starring for the first time - Tammy - are talking the low down on all of our summer plans.    Find out where the mums are going, what we are doing, and how we are planning to manage the kids! How will we get there?  How will the kids react?  What will we do around town? Do we have goals and wishes for the summer?  Or are we just trying to get there? Along the way we have loads of laughs and chatter. We also give a sneak peek into the summer... we will be at around town giving Mums a wee prize!  It's also important to look after Mum during the summer hols.   

The big question is... how are we doing?  It's almost the end of the school year.. and the weeks ahead are stacked.  How are we going to make it through the next couple of weeks to the school break?   Join Kim, Anke and Heather as we discuss fantasies about just keeping going past our offices and homes to Edinburgh Airport - but instead juggle everything from ceilidhs, to bake sales, to school discos.  The mums discuss what would help us these days.. everything from more proactivity from the family, to time out for ourselves, to eating good food to keep us going. Along the way we discuss why telepathy isn't a real thing around dinnertime... and the extent to which we will attempt to avoid the making dinner chore some days (including getting lost on a remote Scottish island).  We also talk about what the dream would be including working one day less just to keep up on all the extras we are responsible for.   At the end of the day, we just hope that our kids have a good time and all of the experiences that they can, and that maybe it all pays off someday... preferably before we are too old to drive!   #visitscotland #visitedinburgh #motherhood

Extra! Extra! Read all about it! It’s ALL Taylor’s Version! In a special Edinburgh Society of Unapologetically Imperfect Mothers podcast, our own team of MASSIVE Edinburgh-based Taylor Swift fans chat all about the latest Taylor Swift news. That’s right... some of Taylor Swift's number one fans - Alisa, Rebecca and (introducing) Sarah - sit down to discuss and celebrate the news that Taylor Swift has purchased her entire catalogue of songs, films, videos from Shamrock Capital. They trade ideas about what this means for T. Swift and fans alike whilst reminiscing about their special shared experiences of the ERAs Tour takeover of Edinburgh last summer. #taylorswift #visitedinburgh #visitscotland #tstheerastourfilm #swiftiepodcast #swifttok #taylorswifteras #speaknowtv  

Why is being in your 40s (or 40-ish) so flipping fabulous?  Kim, Anke, Rebecca, Heather and Alisa gather on the eve of Alisa's birthday to discuss why being this age is great. The ladies discuss being mums in the context of being 40-ish... and with friends at various stages of life, it's clear that life is always interesting! Discussion topics include what the ladies can't do without these days... everything from comfy pants to good friends -- as well as what we can't live with anymore! All of us are really excited about hitting the day disco after this episode! #motherhood #visitedinburgh #visitscotland #clubtropicanaedinburgh

It's almost June, and in the midst of the mid-year madness, the mums are talking motivation and goals... what were they at the start of the year, and how are we tracking?    Are goals a good thing?  The mums discuss how goals can provide purpose and fight stress and depression... but what if our goals can't be met, and what happens when we encounter failure? The mums talk about everything they can remember with regard to this year's goals and how they are allowed to change...