The Mental Load, Midlife Divorce & Body-Shaming Mothers-in-Law

This week on 40ish: Nicole needs to be treated like an unsettled baby until her implant kicks in and Lauren discovers cycling shorts are not just for fancy dress. In Midlife News, we unpack the research behind the UK's rising divorce rate and why so many women in their 40s and 50s are choosing to walk away from their marriages. Is it really about falling out of love, or are women finally reaching breaking point with carrying the mental load? Our dilemma this week asks what friendship looks like when life gets tough. One listener ended up in A&E after a nasty fall, but apart from one friend, hardly anyone checked in. Is she right to feel hurt, or are expectations around friendship sometimes too high? Lauren also shares her latest meltdown after a broken bracelet and Nicole decides her superstitious brain is in overdrive. Finally, we hear from a listener whose mother-in-law simply cannot stop commenting on her postpartum body. From backhanded compliments to unsolicited weight-loss advice, we ask the question: why do some people think a woman's body is fair game for public discussion? If you're enjoying 40ish, please share the podcast with a friend. 40ish is the funny podcast for midlife women navigating menopause, perimenopause, relationships, confidence, hormones and everything else life throws at women over 40. Topics discussed:• Midlife divorce• Grey divorce• Mental load in relationships• Emotional labour• Women's friendships• Loneliness in midlife• Women over 40• Body confidence• Relationships after 40• Menopause humour 💛 If you're enjoying 40ish, please follow, rate and review the podcast, and share it with a friend who'll laugh along with us. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices