What It Was Like Feeling Different - Mum & Daughter’s Convo Part 2
Sun Feb 08 2026
⚠️ Trigger Warning:
This episode includes discussion of mental health, depression, suicidal ideation and coming out. Please listen with care.
In this powerful episode of the Parenting Collective Podcast, host Donna Moala sits down with her daughter Eloise for an honest mother–daughter conversation about mental health, sexuality, identity and conscious parenting.
Eloise shares her lived experience with ADHD, anxiety, severe depression, suicidal ideation, and the challenges of growing up feeling different. Together, Donna and Eloise discuss the journey of realising she is gay, coming out during high school, masking, people, pleasing, and the fear of being judged, even within a loving family.
This episode explores:
Teen mental health and suicidal ideationADHD, anxiety, and depression in adolescentsComing out as LGBTQ+ and navigating identityThe impact of masking and people-pleasingHow conscious parenting supports connection and healingParental adjustment, grief, and inner workCreating safety for children to be their authentic selvesDonna reflects on how parenting through mental health crises required letting go of control, fear, and societal expectations and how conscious parenting helped the family stay connected through the hardest years.
Eloise speaks openly about finding self-acceptance, building supportive friendships, and learning to trust herself after years of hiding who she was.
⏱️ Chapter Stamps
00:00 Introduction to a Pivotal Life Moment
00:30 Struggles with Mental Health
01:05 Realizing and Embracing Sexuality
02:35 Coming Out Stories and Family Reactions
04:46 Navigating Relationships and Acceptance
07:11 Family Dynamics and Support
12:05 Parental Reflections and Adjustments
23:05 Embracing Authenticity and Happiness
23:42 Parental Reflection and Growth
24:13 Navigating Family Dynamics
25:02 Adjusting to New Relationships
29:06 Conscious Parenting Insights
33:54 Advice for LGBTQ+ Youth and Parents
37:43 Reflecting on Personal Growth
42:02 The Importance of Support Systems
45:58 Final Thoughts and Resources
If you are a parent feeling overwhelmed or unsure how to support your child, this episode offers hope, insight, and reassurance, healing is possible.
I would appreciate it greatly if you could please LIKE and FOLLOW this podcast and if you are not following me over on instagram, head over there for all of my top tips and advice around sleep and parenting @parentingcollective.au. I also offer a free 15 minute phone chat to run through all your questions CLICK here to book your FREE 15 minute chat
Much Love 💞
Donna Moala
Parenting Collective
SLEEP & PARENTING ESSENTIALS
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CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE SLEEPY SUNDAYS
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CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE LITTLE OAK FORMULA.
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⚠️ Trigger Warning: This episode includes discussion of mental health, depression, suicidal ideation and coming out. Please listen with care. In this powerful episode of the Parenting Collective Podcast, host Donna Moala sits down with her daughter Eloise for an honest mother–daughter conversation about mental health, sexuality, identity and conscious parenting. Eloise shares her lived experience with ADHD, anxiety, severe depression, suicidal ideation, and the challenges of growing up feeling different. Together, Donna and Eloise discuss the journey of realising she is gay, coming out during high school, masking, people, pleasing, and the fear of being judged, even within a loving family. This episode explores: Teen mental health and suicidal ideationADHD, anxiety, and depression in adolescentsComing out as LGBTQ+ and navigating identityThe impact of masking and people-pleasingHow conscious parenting supports connection and healingParental adjustment, grief, and inner workCreating safety for children to be their authentic selvesDonna reflects on how parenting through mental health crises required letting go of control, fear, and societal expectations and how conscious parenting helped the family stay connected through the hardest years. Eloise speaks openly about finding self-acceptance, building supportive friendships, and learning to trust herself after years of hiding who she was. ⏱️ Chapter Stamps 00:00 Introduction to a Pivotal Life Moment 00:30 Struggles with Mental Health 01:05 Realizing and Embracing Sexuality 02:35 Coming Out Stories and Family Reactions 04:46 Navigating Relationships and Acceptance 07:11 Family Dynamics and Support 12:05 Parental Reflections and Adjustments 23:05 Embracing Authenticity and Happiness 23:42 Parental Reflection and Growth 24:13 Navigating Family Dynamics 25:02 Adjusting to New Relationships 29:06 Conscious Parenting Insights 33:54 Advice for LGBTQ+ Youth and Parents 37:43 Reflecting on Personal Growth 42:02 The Importance of Support Systems 45:58 Final Thoughts and Resources If you are a parent feeling overwhelmed or unsure how to support your child, this episode offers hope, insight, and reassurance, healing is possible. I would appreciate it greatly if you could please LIKE and FOLLOW this podcast and if you are not following me over on instagram, head over there for all of my top tips and advice around sleep and parenting @parentingcollective.au. I also offer a free 15 minute phone chat to run through all your questions CLICK here to book your FREE 15 minute chat Much Love 💞 Donna Moala Parenting Collective SLEEP & PARENTING ESSENTIALS 🩷 For your daily walks, coffee's & travel CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE COZIGO 🩷 Favourite room darkening product CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE SLEEPY SUNDAYS 🩷 Favourite Goat's Milk Formula CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE LITTLE OAK FORMULA. 🩷 Favourite Rice Milk Formula CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE ...