Our Daughter. Tessa. Behind The Scenes

02/16/23 • 48 min

1 Listener

Tessa is our daughter. She is 18. In two days' time, she will leave me, Brian and her older brother (and the home where she grew up) to start a new life in Wellington, the capital city of New Zealand. Alone. Brian and I will officially be empty nesters.

Regular listeners to our podcast will know the effect this huge transition has had on us. Especially me. These past few months have been tough.

I always imagined that when the time came for my kids to leave home, I would be this super cool, open, liberal, go-with-the-flow parent. One who relished the opportunity of having the house to herself so she could indulge in some grown-up, mature stuff with her husband.

But no. The opposite is true (Sorry, Bri). I'm clinging to those apron strings so tightly that the poor girl can't go to the bathroom without me trailing behind her...

In this week's behind-the-scenes episode, you will be treated to something very rare. A one-to-one in-depth talk between me and my daughter. In it, she shares every thought going through her lovely head as she makes this big transition into adulthood. Enjoy.

PS: Enjoyed the show? Email me at [email protected] and let me know! I will pass any messages on to Tessa

Liz's Book Update

The manuscript is currently with the editor. I need to get a cover design, think of a title and then... voila! It should be ready to release in March 2023! Keep listening for more sneaky peaks, and I will let you know when you are able to pre-order! Remember, you can email me at [email protected] if you would like to know more about the book.

My Newsletter

It is filled with nothing but goodness, laughter and thought-provoking stuff. You will love it. But be warned. Sometimes I cry and drink wine while I'm writing. All at the same time. If that sounds like your sort of thing, then sign up here, and we will be lifelong friends.

More Behind the Scenes Episodes From It's a Drama:

Tessa at 17. Behind The Scenes #9

Quitting School. Tessa Behind The Scenes #5

Sonny. Our Son. Behind The Scenes #2

We Met Online. Subscribers to Friends. Behind The Scenes #3

A Ruthless Response

The Harsh Realities of Returning Home

It's scary, but it's done

Tossing and Turning in Thailand

She's Gone. was it a SECRET or a LIE?

Feeling Emotional. The Next Step.

Regular listeners to our podcast will know the effect this huge transition has had on us. Especially me. These past few months have been tough.

But no. The opposite is true (Sorry, Bri). I'm clinging to those apron strings so tightly that the poor girl can't go to the bathroom without me trailing behind her...

PS: Enjoyed the show? Email me at [email protected] and let me know! I will pass any messages on to Tessa

Liz's Book Update

My Newsletter

More Behind the Scenes Episodes From It's a Drama:

Tessa at 17. Behind The Scenes #9

Quitting School. Tessa Behind The Scenes #5

Sonny. Our Son. Behind The Scenes #2

We Met Online. Subscribers to Friends. Behind The Scenes #3

A Ruthless Response

The Harsh Realities of Returning Home

It's scary, but it's done

Tossing and Turning in Thailand

She's Gone. was it a SECRET or a LIE?

Feeling Emotional. The Next Step.

Previous Episode

What a Bummer

Bummer: Noun. 1. An unpleasant situation. 2. A Traveler. 3. A motherless calf. 4. A fouler.

We make lots of bloopers on this podcast. Say embarrassing things that make the other person's jaw drop. Sometimes we edit these blunders out, but most of the time, we leave them in. I'd like to tell you that this is because we are transparent and real. Authentic and vulnerable. But the truth is, we're lazy. Editing takes ages. Hours, sometimes. There's no WAY Bri can spend that much time fine-tuning our conversations and turning them into something kind and intelligent. Not when the hedges need trimming.

Take this week's episode, for example. Here is part of the conversation that Liz and Brian have about a certain man-eater that took a fancy to Brian in Paris:

Liz: "She fancied you...No sooner were we on the road than she sent you that Whatsapp message."

Bri: "She was just being nice"

Liz: "Yeah...but she didn't know that you would be reading her message from the front of the car, did she? You with your smelly bum..."

I know. How cruel. A (just for the record) totally untrue. Lies. All of it. Honest.

In this week's episode, Liz and Brian talk about...

Brian's emotional state.

The reality (and horribleness) of being empty nesters.

The fancy pants flirt.

Toilet troubles.

And Liz will continue to read the (unedited, yet-to-be-released) snippet from Chapter one of her new book!

Links Mentioned in The Show:

Podcast episodes:

Struggling

Family Time. Perfect Peace or MEGA Pressure??

A Ruthless Response (including pt 1 of Liz's book)

The Ghost of Brian's Past (including pt 2 of Liz's book)

Liz's Book Update

My Newsletter

We LOVE Housesitting. Want to Try it too?

If you have been following this podcast for a while, then you will know that we have just returned for six months in Europe and Asia. While we were there, we did a lot of housesitting. We are constantly asked how we did this and if we can share the website that we used. So here it is:

The initial 'looking part' is free. You can oggle all of the beautiful houses around the world that are waiting for YOU to look after them. Take a sneak peek here! (As I say, looking is completely free, so gander to your heart's content).

Then, if you are serious about using Housesitting as a tool to travel the world for free (as we do), then sign up to Trusted Housesitters HERE and use Code: SITTERLIZ to get your 20% discount!

Still not sure about paying for a Housesitting membership? Remember that the cost of a yearly membership (approx $80 using the discount code above) will be paid back (and more) on the first housesitting night. It really is that simple!

S...

Next Episode

Gosh. Is This Too Graphic??

We need your help. Or at least one of us does.

As you may remember, Liz's book is currently with the editor. The nice one with the blonde hair.

Last week the editor sent back the first two chapters. Full of edits. These edits were accompanied by an email that said, "these edits are suggestions. This is your book. You get to say what stays or goes".

I told you she was nice.

The trouble is, there's a problem. A big problem. Something that Liz never anticipated when she so cockily employed a professional editor...

Liz is a recovering people pleaser. Actually, that's a lie. She hasn't recovered yet. She's still in the acceptance phase.

So our question to you, lovely listener, is this:

Does what I read out in this episode offend you? Is it too graphic? Or does this slightly sick-but-still-funny attempt at humour tickle you?

We would love to know. Email Liz at [email protected] or Brian at [email protected]

Thank you, and enjoy!!

Edits, publishing and marketing...I want to share the lot. Every detail of this rollercoaster with YOU! Be the first to know about the release! be the first to hear about the AUDIO version!

More Brilliant Podcast Episodes From It's a Drama:

A Ruthless Response

The Harsh Realities of Returning Home

It's scary, but it's done

Tossing and Turning in Thailand

She's Gone. was it a SECRET or a LIE?

Feeling Emotional. The Next Step.

Italian Men Pigs, And Pigeons