Strong women led the news this week - CaramoCare celebrates them!

Strong women making history this week - embracing and reflecting on their stories

This week's theme developed itself. 2 historic events anchored to this week and three women connected.

Controversy: A rare unbiased review of the first Archetypes podcast by Meghan.

This day in history: Death of Diana - my memory of that day, and the world's reaction.

The GOAT: The one & only Serena Williams likely finishes her stellar tennis career - she provides this week's quote too.

Again share the love and share the newsletter! There's room in the CaramoCare Family for everyone!

HYNTIYL - Honestly, You Need This In Your Life

What is the best thing parents can do for their family? Spend time being present. With the looming cost of living crisis many parents will need to work more hours and will likely be more anxious when present with family.

Screen-free time allows work time to be shorter and more productive. Sprints, not marathons, can give parents more time and freedom for those in control of their working schedules. 

This app via Product Hunt allows more personalisation of this experience and includes anti-cheating features! Most importantly, it was developed by someone who developed to save their own life and sanity.

Controversy of the Week: Archetype Podcast Episode 1

Imagine a real review of the Archetype Podcast

Imagine - one with the good & the bad

Not one shouting from either extreme support or hate 

Crazily this might be the only one 

Others were at one or other extreme

I start from a positive view of everyone

I believe that that is fair - others may say naive

Written over the holiday weekend - BEFORE today’s news updates

Meghan's Archetype's podcast hits number one planet-wide

My biggest insight? 

Many prejudged it on pre-conceived opinions on Meghan as a (temporary) Royal. In doing so, we may have unfairly minimised some of her stories.

In fairness, the curiosity alone for the podcast would have driven it to number 1.

Specific advertising appeared only around a week before launch. That didn't quite reach us here in Southport. I've seen

some fantastic Billboards from Times Square and elsewhere.

There were a million listens in the first days post-launch. That is incredible.

Talking to influential women celebrities and experts about the stereotypes around women. Promoted as 'uncensored conversations with women who know all too well how these typecasts shape narratives'.

Anchored with the now infamous story about the Proctor & Gamble advert, the Mail said many yawned. This story is so famous that it would have seemed odd NOT to include it as an anchor. 

Meghan had gone to a Catholic school where the Nuns had stood up for change. When denied, they & rebelled & broke free - I love that! Inspo in the unlikeliest of places!

There was also a segment about being 'Straight Outta Compton'. Compton, a city in LA, had a bad reputation for gangs in the 90s & is on the up. Serena was incredulous that Kevin Costner grew up in Compton - it's true!

Meghan was reported as being from Compton; only she wasn't. Not that there was anything wrong with being from Compton.

Episode 1 is a relaxed conversation between Meghan and her long-time best friend, Serena Williams. There is a cameo right at the start of Prince Harry, which many saw as cringy. I'm sure it was not entirely as accidental as it appeared. Harry is involved in this friendship & it could have been spontaneous. I thought it was sort of sweet.

Many said that Meghan dominated the conversation. Perhaps. This podcast would set the tone for the series and needed some scene-setting.

Many said Serena didn't get to say much, and Meghan interrupted a lot. Perhaps. I would have been happy to hear from Serena. A full hour wouldn't have been enough. 

Serena was modest, and her talking about her daughter Olympia was beautiful. There were real insights 'she's so young’, and she asks why people all know her mum's name. Of course, that would be odd. 

Instead of boasting, Serena did the verbal equivalent of an awkward shrug. I related to her then. I related to her even more in her fears of heights (which Meghan shared) and swimming in open water. We also heard about Serena's business and how she'd built it up while at the top of the tennis world. 

Serena knew her stuff on the impacts of how we perceive and treat women. The tennis clips were devastating, and many of us will remember them as they happened. They look even worse looking back. How must that have felt to her, and how did she manage to keep going (and stay calm and focused?)? We heard a little about how difficult it was.

The podcast also pulled back the curtain of celebrity to show the real-life humans behind it. The story of Serena's guilt is when Olympia fell and broke her arm, cradling her in a chair all night and entering the cauldron of elite tennis hours later and 'scraping' a win.  You could feel her guilt and that pressure to carry on and perform.

My sister's child had an injury in my care, and I was also devastated by guilt. Children, of course, are children and constantly exploring.

Meghan's story along similar lines has gained much negative press.  I looked at Mumsnet, Twitter and national press coverage. I was pretty shocked at some of the disbelief and dismissiveness. It was clear that Mumsnetters were far from Meghan fans.

Fans or not, many jumped to downplaying the story of the smoking heater in Archie's room. I know no more or less than others about the truth of the specifics. 

All new parents leaving their child somewhere they didn't know, with people they didn't know, would be nervous. Heightened as it was the first time, and he was only 4 1/2 months. 

They'd had a long flight and went straight into a Royal event. They escorted Archie away somewhere they hadn't seen or settled him in.

Imagine the stress of that public appearance. Imagine missing your new baby and then hearing there'd been a fire in their room. Facts don't matter - wouldn't every new parent's legs go to jelly & then almost stop breathing? Wouldn't they?

I'm surprised many Mumsnetters didn't relate to that (or believe the story).

It did seem odd that if they were such good friends, they had never discussed it before. I am likely being naive. I did feel for them in that situation and especially in having to leave him then again & be all smiles.

So that was the gossipy bit that made the news. 

Dr Laura Kray was the Berkeley Psychology expert bringing research in support. 

Serena then made the comment that hit me hardest.

Little girls are fearless & as they get older, they put their hands up less & less. That's devastating.

So, in summary, while a bit cringy, we needed the G&G advert & the Prince Harry cameo. I get why folks yawned & moaned, but they anchored the series opener.

I hear the bit about Serena being repeatedly interrupted. She was & I would have LOVED to hear more from her. 

Still, she offered quite a few unique insights & relatable ones.

Meghan's recounting of the fire episode has divided opinion. The facts are, of course, the facts. They are still being debated.

In that cauldron of media frenzy, Meghan's reaction was muted, if anything. I don't get how others don't see that. 

Weirdly, Serena & Meghan had never discussed it before.

Almost everyone agrees that Meghan's voice is purr-fect for podcasting & is exceptionally smooth.

I can't wait to hear more about how she uses it with Mariah Carey this week - some of you will already have listened. What do you think of either of the episodes?

GOAT - Serena Williams - is it the sunset of her stellar career? We all knew she was the GOAT - see the image below.

The first and original GOAT in last week's CaramoCare Chronicles was historic. Serena is making history today, IRL. She sparkled through the US Open, last night being knocked out in the 3rd Round.

Ticket prices had been trading at $2000+ and traded at $300+ following her exit. The crowds knew. They loved her.

The WTA image shows Serena thanking sport for everything it gave to HER. That is true greatness.

Rather than describe her accomplishments - this fantastic graphic from @russellcfuller on Twitter summarises most of it in visual form. 

Grandads are important to CaramoCare - this one got some lovely surprises - courtesy of the Manchester Evening News.

Many people saw her greatness early - look at this tweet from Rhiannon Potkey - her coach knew!

While focusing on young people and families, grandparents are a critical pillar of many families. This story is heartwarming about a grandad with his own needs. Enjoy! 

From the G.O.A.T. of the moment - Serena Williams

When a reporter asked an 11-year-old Serena Williams which tennis player she would most aspire to be, she flashed that smile and replied, 'Well, I'd like other people to be like me".

That sort of confidence comes from within and needs nurturing by all around our children.

Tuesday was the surprisingly muted 25th anniversary of Diana's death.

I promise all of these came up together this week. There was no pre-planning though I embraced it.

All of us old enough remember that night. I lived in Sydney in '97. I'd heard a brief newsflash about a crash and a broken arm and headed out for the weekly Sunday jazz at the Sydney Fish Market at the end of the road. I was out a couple of hours, tops. Sunday lunchtime there and early hours of Sunday morning here.

When I returned it was pretty clear that things were serious. In fact, while her death had not yet been announced, it seemed that that was just awaiting final confirmation. Like everyone, I was shocked. It was especially surreal watching the UK news channels streamed on Australian TV knowing that people in the UK weren't seeing it. 

The group in the Uk who was the most aware were taxi drivers. 

While her death appeared to be imminently announced I waited to call home, only finally calling at 5 am when her death was formally announced. My mum woke her friends and no-one could believe it. 

The following days were ones of shock for the whole country. The effects on the Royal Family (in particular Princes William and Harry) were profound and continue to this day. The Diana interview with Martin Bashir has been in the news this week.

One thing that popped up on multiple Twitter accounts this week was a reference to one of the biggest apologies in newspaper history. The National Enquirer had to pivot quickly from salacious headlines to effectively an obituary. Here is the quote:

I can't comprehend how the 25th anniversary could have been so muted.

This week developed into a theme including strong women

Next week will be back to other story-driven content & cool features.

Catch you then - Live Your Best Life meantime!