When you become a parent without having parents yourself, there’s no guidebook. No one to call when you’re unsure. No one to share memories, or tell you, “you’ve got this.” Well actually, not no-one - but certainly not the people that brought you into the world.

This new piece is about those moments. The quiet ones. The conversations with your children about the people they’ll never meet. The things they say that break your heart and put it back together at the same time.

It’s personal; but I know I’m not the only one navigating this. If you’re parenting without parents, or have someone in your life who is, I hope it lands softly.