Reclaiming Childhood and Re-Writing the Rules: Why We Should Learn to Let Go of Timelines and Expectations with Hollie De Cruz

In this episode of The Raise Podcast, Coral and Natalie are joined by author and conscious parenting advocate Hollie de Cruz for a powerful conversation about navigating motherhood in today’s modern world. Together, they explore what it means to raise children, and ourselves, in a society that often prioritises productivity, perfection, and pressure over connection, presence, and play. Hollie speaks passionately about reclaiming childhood for what it’s meant to be: a time of curiosity, creativity, and freedom. She challenges the societal expectations that push children to grow up too quickly and invites parents to create space for their children to be exactly who they are, without rushing and without pressure to meet arbitrary milestones. This conversation is an invitation to slow down and embrace motherhood in all its messy, magical moments. They discuss balancing self-care with parenting, and why Hollie chose an alternative education path for her family. Expect real talk on navigating guilt, creating strong family bonds and finding joy in the simple, everyday connections that truly matter.