Jacinda Ardern, New Zealand’s former Prime Minister, has captured hearts once again, not through politics, but through storytelling. Her children’s book, Mum’s Busy Work, offers a heartfelt glimpse into the life of a working mother from the perspective of her daughter, Neve.

Released shortly after her memoir, the book resonates deeply with parents who juggle professional responsibilities and family life, offering lessons about work-life balance, parental guilt, and the modern dynamics of caregiving.

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A Child’s Perspective: Seeing the World Through Neve’s Eyes

The best part about Mum’s Busy Work is the narration by Neve, Ardern’s daughter. This makes the book innocent and captures the small moments and big emotions that define a child’s experience of having a working mother.

From noticing her mother’s “big briefcase” to exploring the Prime Minister’s office during a visit, Neve offers a window into the feelings children experience when their parents are often busy or away. The story is not about political milestones or public achievements, it is about emotions: the excitement, curiosity, worry, and joy that fill a child’s daily life.

How Can Jacinda's Book Benefit Working Mother

Through Neve’s eyes, parents are reminded that children are sensitive to more than just presence, they notice moods, energy, and small gestures.

On Mondays, Neve stomps her feet at daycare, expressing frustration at the separation, yet by the end of the week, she delights in dancing with her mother in “clippy-cloppy” work shoes. This oscillation between anxiety and joy emphasizes that children value meaningful interactions, no matter how brief, over constant presence.

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Normalizing Working Mothers and Challenging Gender Stereotypes

One of the book’s most powerful messages is that working mothers are normal, capable, and loving. In a society where mothers are often expected to prioritize childcare over careers, Ardern’s story is refreshing. Neve sees her mother both as a caregiver and as a professional, demonstrating that a parent’s career does not reduce their love or attention.

The story also subtly challenges traditional gender roles. Clarke Gayford, Ardern’s partner, is shown actively participating in household chores and spending quality time with Neve.

Scenes like Gayford doing the washing or joining for a Saturday picnic present a balanced, modern view of parenting. This stands in contrast to conventional children’s books, where mothers often remain home as nurturers while fathers are portrayed as the fun, adventurous parent.

By presenting caregiving and play as shared responsibilities, Ardern normalizes equality within the household and sets an example for children about inclusive family roles.

Navigating Mum Guilt and Embracing Work-Life Balance

Ardern’s story also addresses a universal challenge for working mothers: “mum guilt.”

The constant worry about not spending enough time with children is something Ardern admits to experiencing, particularly while serving as New Zealand’s youngest Prime Minister to give birth in office.

Yet Mum’s Busy Work conveys that guilt is often self-imposed. As Ardern reflects, her daughter’s questions and experiences did not amplify the guilt, it was created by her own expectations.

For parents, this is a crucial takeaway: balancing career and family requires acknowledging your feelings, accepting that perfection is unattainable, and finding peace in the moments you can dedicate to your children. It’s about being fully present in the time you have, whether it’s reading, dancing, or simply playing together, rather than obsessing over how many hours you spend in the day.

The book also highlights the importance of flexibility and working on your own terms. Ardern shows that professional fulfillment and motherhood are not mutually exclusive. By integrating snippets of daily life—playing hide-and-seek, chocolate treasure hunts, and shared routines—she illustrates that parents can craft their schedules and interactions in ways that prioritize connection and love.

Celebrating the Parent-Child Bond

At its heart, Mum’s Busy Work celebrates the bond between parent and child. Neve’s delight in dancing, reading, and playing with her mother reinforces the idea that children value presence, attention, and shared experiences above all else. The book emphasizes emotional closeness, reassuring children that even when their parents are busy with work, their love remains constant.

The story’s illustrations, by Ruby Jones, complement this message beautifully. Using a colorful and expressive style, the images capture Neve’s moods and perspective, from the anxiety of separation to the joy of shared play. The visual storytelling enhances the narrative, making the emotional nuances accessible even to the youngest readers.

Lessons for Modern Parents

Mum’s Busy Work is more than a children’s story, it is a guide for modern parenting. Here are some key takeaways:

Quality over quantity: Focus on meaningful interactions rather than the total time spent. Even brief, engaged moments can leave lasting impressions on children.

It’s okay to work: A parent’s career does not diminish their love or ability to nurture. Children benefit from seeing parents pursue passions and responsibilities.

Share household responsibilities: Household chores and caregiving should be shared, modeling equality and teamwork for children.

Embrace imperfection: Accept that balancing work and parenting is challenging. Let go of self-imposed guilt and focus on what truly matters.

Build a support system: Friends, family, and partners play a critical role in helping parents manage responsibilities while maintaining emotional connection with their children.

Challenge gender norms: Encourage children to see caregiving and fun as shared roles, breaking traditional stereotypes about mothers and fathers.

A Subtle Feminist Statement

While the book is heartwarming, it also carries a subtle feminist undertone. By positioning herself as both a mother and a professional, Ardern subverts the traditional notion that women must choose between career and family. She demonstrates that it is possible to define success on one’s own terms while nurturing the next generation.

When a child struggles with constipation, the problem can ripple through the whole household, creating discomfort, stress, and frustration. While parents often worry about how many times their child goes to the bathroom, one leading pediatric expert says that frequency is not the most important measure. Instead, what matters most is stool consistency.

Consistency, Not Frequency

According to Dr. Jaya Punati, a neurogastroenterologist and co-director of the Colorectal and Pelvic Anomalies Program at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, constipation is often misunderstood.

“Constipation is not frequency of stooling,” she explained in a statement quoted by USA Today. “Constipation is consistency of stooling.”

Healthy stool should be soft and easy to pass, resembling a coil or soft pile—similar to the familiar “poop emoji.” Hard, dry stool, on the other hand, is a clear sign of constipation.

Normal bowel movement frequency can vary greatly among children, ranging anywhere from three times a week to three times a day. For this reason, parents should focus on how stools look and feel, not on how often bathroom visits occur.

The Role of Diet and Hydration

The first line of defense against constipation begins at the dining table. Dr. Punati highlights the importance of diet and hydration, noting that children should eat five to six servings of fruits and vegetables daily, each accompanied by a cup of water.

“Dry food, dry poop,” she emphasized, explaining that fiber-rich foods paired with water bring needed moisture into the colon, softening stool and making it easier to pass.

While fiber supplements like psyllium or flax seeds are widely available, Dr. Punati cautions parents not to rely on them as the first solution. “It’s better to eat an apple than to take a fiber pill. They’re not equivalent,” she said. Whole foods also support the gut microbiome, which plays a crucial role in overall digestive health.

Mushers and Pushers: Medication Options

For children with stubborn or chronic constipation, dietary changes may not be enough. In such cases, medication can help, and Dr. Punati categorizes treatments into two broad types: “mushers” and “pushers.”

Mushers (Osmotic laxatives): These draw water into the colon, softening stool. MiraLAX, which contains polyethylene glycol, is a common option. Other mushers include magnesium, mineral oil, and sugar syrups such as lactulose or Karo corn syrup.

Pushers (Stimulant laxatives): These trigger muscle contractions to move stool along. Options include senna, bisacodyl, and glycerin suppositories.

Dr. Punati generally recommends starting with mushers for a gentler effect before considering stimulant options.

When to Seek Medical Help

While many cases of constipation can be managed at home, there are times when professional intervention is necessary. Dr. Punati advises parents to call a pediatrician if a child’s stool does not improve after a week of dietary adjustments and over-the-counter treatments.

Soiling, or involuntary leakage of liquid stool, is a sign of severe constipation. While it is not an emergency, it should prompt a doctor’s visit.

However, urgent care is needed if a child experiences severe abdominal pain and is unable to pass any stool. In such cases, Dr. Punati recommends heading straight to the emergency room.

Takeaway for Parents

Constipation in children is common, but it doesn’t have to be overwhelming. The key takeaway, experts say, is to watch stool consistency rather than frequency, ensure kids get enough fruits, vegetables, and fluids, and use medication cautiously when necessary.

If constipation persists despite home efforts, parents should not delay in seeking medical advice. As Dr. Punati told USA Today, “If you are unable to find a solution at home, you should bring it to a doctor’s attention.”

Childhood obesity is a long-term health condition that develops when a child’s weight is above the healthy range for their age, height, and sex. According to Mayo Clinic, doctors define it as having a body mass index (BMI) at or above the 95th percentile for children 2 years and older. September is marked as National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month, and India too is seeing worrying numbers, especially in cities where lifestyle changes, unhealthy diets, and less physical activity are driving the trend.

How Common Is Childhood Obesity?

Childhood obesity is not just a concern in India. In the United States, CDC data from 2017–2020 showed that about 19.7% of children and adolescents between ages 2 and 19 had obesity, roughly 14.7 million young people. Among them, 12.7% were between ages 2–5, 20.7% were 6–11, and 22.2% were 12–19.

Dr Vivek Jain, Senior Director & Unit Head, Paediatrics, Fortis Hospital explains that in recent years, obesity among children has risen sharply due to many factors. Kids are spending more time in front of screens, getting less outdoor play, and attending online classes, all of which cut down their activity levels. At the same time, fast food, sugary drinks, and packaged snacks have become a regular part of diets.

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Modern lifestyles also encourage frequent dining out, reliance on processed meals, and irregular eating. Add limited access to safe play areas, heavy academic schedules, and family history of obesity, and the risks become even higher. Without intervention, obesity in childhood often continues into adulthood, increasing chances of diabetes, high blood pressure, heart problems, and even some cancers.

Causes Of Childhood Obesity

Obesity develops when children take in more calories than they burn, but it is rarely about laziness or lack of willpower. Several factors play a role:

Genetics and epigenetics

Children with parents or siblings who have obesity are more likely to develop it themselves. Certain genes affect how the body stores and uses energy. Experiences such as trauma or stress can also change how genes work, influencing metabolism and increasing the risk.

Family and home environment factors

Habits at home strongly shape a child’s health. Having sugary drinks, eating oversized portions, frequent snacking on processed foods, dining out instead of cooking, excess screen time, lack of exercise, poor sleep, and even secondhand smoke exposure can all contribute.

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Social determinants of health

The surroundings in which children grow up also matter. Affordable healthy food may not always be accessible, and fast-food outlets may be more common. Lack of transport, social support, or safe recreational areas adds to the challenge. School meals and activities also influence a child’s diet and daily routine.

Cultural factors

Advertising and marketing of fast foods and sugary drinks—whether on TV, online, or in stores, make unhealthy options more appealing to children.

How To Prevent Childhood Obesity

• Balanced nutrition: Encourage home-cooked meals with fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins. Limit fried foods, sugary drinks, and packaged snacks.
• Physical activity: Aim for at least 60 minutes of active play or exercise daily, such as sports, cycling, or outdoor games.
• Reduced screen time: Limit television, mobile, and gaming time to help children stay active and sleep better.
• Family involvement: Lead by example—eat meals together, exercise as a family, and make health a priority.
• School initiatives: Schools should provide nutritious meals, promote physical education, and teach healthy habits.

As summers are here and so are the pool sessions, an Instagram post is making rounds on the social media platform by Ilia Ototiuk, who calls himself an ambassador of discipline, mental and physical wellbeing. The post lists down the reason why kids get sick after a swimming session. The post mentions that the reason is not water, but something else. Health And Me decided to fact check each claim made on the post, and here is what we found.

Claim #1: “The problem isn’t cold water or swallowing pool water.”

Fact Check

According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), swallowing or inhaling contaminated pool water can absolutely cause illness. particularly gastrointestinal infections like diarrhea. Germs such as Cryptosporidium can survive for over a week in properly treated pools. While temperature itself doesn’t directly cause colds, swallowing pool water can spread pathogens.

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Verdict: Cold water alone won’t give a child a cold, but contaminated water can cause infections.

Claim #2: “The real immune crash happens right after getting out. The body is warm, skin is wet...”

Fact Check

The claim that wet skin and drafts cause an “immune system shutdown” isn’t supported by medical evidence. What actually happens is explained by US Masters Swimming: sudden exposure to cold water can trigger cold water shock, affecting heart rate, breathing, and circulation. Extended exposure can lead to hypothermia or afterdrop (continued cooling even after leaving the water).

Verdict: The body does not “shut down immunity.” Instead, risks are linked to cold-water shock and hypothermia, especially if kids don’t warm up quickly after swimming.

Claim #3: “Sitting around in wet swimsuits for 5–10 minutes makes the body vulnerable.”

Fact Check

As per Texas A&M Health and the Mayo Clinic, sitting in wet swimsuits doesn’t cause colds, but it can cause fungal infections (like yeast infections or jock itch) and skin irritation from chafing. Prolonged dampness makes an ideal environment for fungi and bacteria.

Verdict: The real risk is fungal or bacterial skin infections, not colds. Parents should change kids into dry clothes quickly after swimming.

Claim #4: “Not drying hair causes sinus overload and colds.”

Fact Check

The Cleveland Clinic explains that wet hair itself does not cause colds. Viruses such as rhinovirus are the culprits, not damp scalps. While cold environments may help viruses spread more easily, wet hair is not a direct cause of runny noses, sore throats, or fevers.

Verdict: Leaving hair wet or letting it "air dry" won’t cause colds. However, drying kids’ hair after swimming can help them stay comfortable and prevent feeling chilled.

Claim #5: “Skipping post-swim snacks weakens immunity.”

Fact Check

According to the BBC 2023 report, post-exercise nutrition is important, especially within 30–60 minutes after swimming. The body needs carbohydrates to replenish glycogen and protein to repair muscles. Skipping food doesn’t directly cause infections, but poor recovery can increase fatigue and stress, making the body less resilient.

Verdict: It’s true that kids should eat a balanced snack after swimming, ideally carbs + protein, but saying “immunity weakens” without food is an exaggeration.