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With results day around the corner, your child might be feeling stressed about what comes next if academia isn’t their thing, or they don’t think they performed well in their GCSEs or A Levels. As a parent, you may find it difficult to know what to say beyond clichés if their exam results aren’t ‘glowing’, especially when you know your teenager has strengths outside of the exam hall. So, how can you respond supportively? And what qualities can you reassure them are more important than exam results? Be there for them firstYour child is likely to be upset – read the room and consider their emotions before diving in with advice or questions, or expressing your own feelings about the situation. “While it is only natural to feel your own sense of disappointment, as best as possible, we need to put aside our emotional response and be a calm, safe place for our kids,” says psychologist and author of Self-Care For Tough Times, Suzy Reading. “It can help to identify a time later to express your own feelings – you’re not stuffing them down or denying them, you’ll make space to bear witness to them later,” Reading adds. “Take a couple of long exhalations and listen without rushing in to fix. Support and allow your child to express all the feelings and thoughts that will come cascading. Action planning can come later – they just need to feel heard, understood, validated and cared for.” Exams aren’t everything It is helpful to remind them that this isn’t the be-all and end-all. There’s lots more to a person than their grades and exam results. “While exams can be really important, it’s also good to remember that they are not the only measure of success,” says Gemma Campbell, counsellor and clinical content specialist at Kooth Digital Health. “There are plenty of amazing qualities you have that standard exams don’t measure – resilience, determination, humour, curiosity, courage, compassion and kindness,” Campbell adds. Well-rounded skillsets And going forward into the professional world, there are really valuable skills and traits that are not exam-based. “While academic achievements have a significant place, they should not overshadow the development of essential skills and qualities that make great business leaders and entrepreneurs,” says Sarah Austin, director of the British Business Excellence Awards. Creativity For example, creativity is paramount to innovation. “In a rapidly evolving business landscape, creativity has become a prized asset,” says Austin. “Motivating our children to think outside the box – questioning established norms – and exploring alternative solutions is what nurtures their creative potential. “Grades may measure the ability to absorb and regurgitate information, but creativity is what propels individuals to envision new possibilities and drive innovation,” she adds. “The ability to approach problems from different angles, to adapt to change and to create something entirely new will position our children as the trailblazers of tomorrow in the business world.” Passion If there is something your teen loves, encourage it. This can help harness lots of other useful skills in the process – such as curiosity, determination and focus. “One of the most valuable skills a person can possess is passion. Encouraging our children to explore their interests and pursue their passions will ignite a flame within them – when they do something they genuinely love, they are more likely to invest their time and effort wholeheartedly,” Austin says. “By instilling the belief that passion is a driving force, we can empower our children to shape their future careers based on what truly inspires them. In the business world, this passion translates into unwavering dedication and a genuine love for what a person does – setting the stage for remarkable achievements.” Resilience Disappointing exam results may be a setback, but how they respond to them may show their greatest skill: resilience. “In the face of challenges and setbacks, the ability to bounce back and persevere is essential – cultivating hardiness and resilience in our children will hand them the tools to overcome obstacles and navigate the unpredictable nature of the business world,” Austin says. “While grades may provide a temporary measure of success, it is the tenacity and determination to push forwards that truly separates outstanding leaders from the rest.”

A mother of two has exposed the “double standards” in parenting after her husband was praised for taking their toddlers to the grocery store. Earlier this week, Emily Belson, from Maryland, went viral on TikTok when she jokingly called out her husband for doing the “bare minimum” when it comes to raising their two sons. “My husband just got home from the grocery store,” she began the clip, which has since been viewed more than 100,000 times. She explained that her husband took both their sons, who are one and two years old, to the grocery store where he was stopped by strangers and applauded for his parenting skills. “Three people stopped him to tell him what a great dad he was for taking them to the store,” Belson said. The TikToker went on to share just how many times she’s brought her children along to the grocery store, but said she has yet to be stopped by a stranger. “Do you know how many times I’ve taken both of my kids to the grocery store, to literally everywhere? A million,” she revealed. “How many people have stopped me to say I’m a great mom? Zero.” “Gold star apparently,” Belson captioned her candid video, along with the hashtag: “#bareminimum” The comments section was immediately swarmed with fellow moms who complained about the “double standards” in parenting. “Right? My husband is a great dad but I am sick of people telling me that when I do so much more,” one person wrote. “I remember taking four and no one ever remarked about my wonderful parenting,” another said. @emily.belson Gold star apparently ? #toddlermom #parenthumor #bareminimum #sahmlife #momtok #sahm ♬ original sound - Emily Belson A third mother commented: “Omg same with my husband. He actually gets annoyed by it and tells them that he’s only doing what any other dad should be doing and that his wife, me, does everything.” However, some people expressed their frustration at Belson’s video, as they proclaimed that “it’s not a competition” which parent does more for their children. “Parenting is not a competition. We should acknowledge and support good behaviours of both parents,” one person wrote. “As a single dad, I do like hearing those things.” In response, Belson said: “He is 100 per cent a fantastic husband and dad, I’m just laughing at the double standard!!!” Meanwhile, other TikTok users took the opportunity to share how they will be appreciating fellow moms the next time they’re out in public. “Gonna start telling moms they’re great for going to the store with their kids,” one person wrote, while another said: “Let’s normalise telling at least one mom they are doing a good job while we are out and about.” Emily Belson isn’t the only parent to recently go viral on TikTok. This week, a husband went viral after being exposed for his loud reaction to his wife revealing she’s pregnant with their fourth child. In a TikTok video shared by The Cofer Family, mom Anissa revealed her husband James’ less-than-thrilled reaction to finding out she was pregnant yet again. “When you’re done having babies but get a positive test and your husband’s reaction isn’t what you expected...excuse the language,” her caption read. As James pulled out a note his wife had placed in an envelope, his mood immediately shifted once he realised what was coming next. “Stop playing with me. Anissa, it’s not... Anissa, no!” he screamed. @anissacofer Needless to say, she’s the blessing we never knew we needed. ??#babynumber4 #pregnancyannouncement #blessed ♬ original sound - The Cofer Family ? James begged, “Baby, please tell me you’re joking,” hoping Anissa was pranking him, but the mother of his children quietly told him she “wasn’t playing with him”. “F**k,” James said. “No! Babe, I’m not joking. Don’t do this to me. Babe! F**k!” “Needless to say, she’s the blessing we never knew we needed,” Anissa captioned in the video, which now attracted over seven million views on TikTok. The Independent has contacted Emily Belson for comment. Read More Husband goes viral for reaction to learning his wife is pregnant again Groom called out over ‘red flag’ wedding prank he pulled on his bride Couple doing IVF lets their dog decide baby’s sex Schoolboy almost dies from swallowing magnets for TikTok challenge Woman shares honest review of New York City apartment TikTok mom slammed after making 5-year-old son run in 104 degree heat

A new mother has shared the intimate moment her husband helped her use the bathroom after giving birth to their baby boy. Tiffany Remington’s TikTok video, which has now attracted more than seven million views, showed “the reality of birth” as the new mom struggled with a postpartum bowel movements. “It’s time to poop after birth,” she said, adding that the act is just as “mortifying” as delivery is for her. In the video, the Portland-based mother of two proceeded toward the bathroom with her husband Caleb behind her. After Remington took the “stool softener” Colace to ease the process, Caleb joined his wife in the bathroom to aid with wiping. “Ow, that’s hot,” the new mother proclaimed while her partner stuck his head between her and the toilet with a tissue in hand. “Oh nice poo poo,” her husband told her in response, prompting Remington to roll her eyes as Caleb continued in his baby voice: “Did you go pee pee or poo poo?“ “Okay, I think you’re clean,” Caleb proclaimed before eyeing something he missed. The TikToker’s partner then moved on to prepare a maternity pad for her to wear in her postpartum underwear that will catch any bleeding. Over 4,800 followers left comments on Remington’s post, admitting they either loved seeing the candid footage or hated it. “Honestly this is amazing ... a lot of women go into postpartum not knowing what to expect after giving birth and this is so real,” one person wrote, while another added: “Couple goals.” “I would love support but this is WAY too much support,” someone else admitted. “I could never,” one viewer agreed. The social media personality didn’t expect everyone to be in awe of her honest moment, but her point in posting was to show the hardships of postpartum, though she did note she was lucky because her and Caleb’s intimacy “goes beyond physical.” She also said she wanted other women who may be giving birth for the first time to see the reality. “Before any toxic messages roll through, yes I am fully capable of doing this on my own.. but my husband asked if he can help because he knows I hate the feeling of being dirty and choose not to wipe due to my tears, inflammation, and comfortability,” her caption read. @ustheremingtons Before any toxic messages roll through, yes i am fully capable of doing this on my own.. but my husband asked if he can help bc he knows i hate the feeling of being dirty and choose not to wipe due to my tears, inflammation, and comfortability. Why share this? Bc this is the reality of birth, not just the newborn snuggles. The first visit to the loo can be terrifying. You dont have the adrenaline of pushing out a baby so it can be painful. It can also feel like you’re doing this alone and experiencing these V real feelings by yourself. I promise you, youre not! This time around i took colace to soften the stool up and it worked and helped so much! We share these intimate moments bc often times, esp as first time birthers, you dont know what to expect or what is normal. THIS IS NORMAL. we also want to normalize asking for help. My husband and I pride on being there for one another and push each other to ask and accept help. We are V independent people who are strongwilled, so moments like these bond us in the most special way. Love him. Love us. #laboranddelivery #firsttimemom #birthstory #37weekspregnant #38weekspregnant #39weekspregnant #40weekspregnant #birthtips #husbandandwife #momsover30 #parentsoftiktok #thisismotherhood #pregnancyjourney #ivfwarrior #ivfbaby #secondbaby ♬ original sound - Tiffany + Caleb “Why share this? Because this is the reality of birth, not just the newborn snuggles,” she continued. “The first visit to the loo can be terrifying. You dont have the adrenaline of pushing out a baby so it can be painful. It can also feel like you’re doing this alone and experiencing these very real feelings by yourself. I promise you, you’re not!” According to a report by Dr Erica Newland in the Cleveland Clinic, the first bowel movement following delivery can be uncomfortable. “There can be some pain when pooping, particularly if your stools are hard,” she explained. “After giving birth, it can take a while for your body to get back to its pre-pregnancy state. Physically and emotionally, you’re trying to recover from a major event that’s caused many changes.” Speaking with Today, Remington admitted she hoped to “crack the ‘supermom’ stereotype with her video” and encourage women to ask for help if they need it, and for their partners to be there when they do. “[Moms] should be able to hand over some responsibility when it comes to birth and childcare,” she noted. Luckily, Caleb had no problem assuming bathroom responsibility for his son Calvin’s birth, and in 2021 when his daughter was born. He thanked his “strong stomach” for allowing him to be there when Remington needs help wiping, or her vaginal lacerations require monitoring. “I have a great deal of empathy for what Tiffany when through, and a strong stomach,” he said. The Independent has contacted Remington for comment. Read More Robert De Niro’s girlfriend Tiffany Chen talks about ‘postpartum complications’ after birth of their daughter Can you prevent stretch marks during pregnancy? 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Travis Barker has revealed the unique names he’s considering for the son he and Kourtney Kardashian have on the way. During the latest release of Complex’s “GOAT Talk” video, the 47-year-old drummer and his 17-year-old daughter Alabama sat down to answer rapid fire questions about favourite gifts, rap albums, restaurants, and more. The last card Barker picked up asked the two of them what they thought “the greatest baby name of all time” was. “I like Rocky Thirteen,” the Blink-182 bandmate admitted. “That’s the name that’s been going through my head.” Alabama barely gave her father a chance to explain himself before telling him: “That’s so bad.” The social media star couldn‘t help but laugh at Barker’s confession, adding “he knows it’s bad.” But Barker wasn’t joking as he then revealed his sentimental reasons for loving the unique moniker. “Rocky George played guitar for Suicidal Tendencies. And 13 is just the greatest number of all time,” the instrumentalist proclaimed. Additionally, Barker – who named Alabama after his favourite movie True Romance – pointed out that “Rocky Thirteen” could also serve as a tribute to “the greatest boxing movie of all time,” 1976’s Rocky. Although Barker seemed set on the rock-inspired name, he knew not everyone was going to love the idea. In an attempt to sway him from his choice, Alabama continued to express her doubt over the potential name for her soon-to-be baby sibling. “You sure you’re going to name your kid Rocky Thirteen?” the internet personality asked. “Possibly,” Barker replied. The father of three could end up scraping the idea for another name he’s mentioned to his wife. Following the pair’s public pregnancy announcement in June, the eldest Kardashian sister, mother to Mason, 13, Penelope, 11, and Reign, 8, shared photographs from her maternity shoot on Instagram. Under the batch of images, Barker commented: “I already know his name.” While he didn’t offer the moniker he had in mind, he previously wrote under an older photo on the Kardashian’s account from November 2021: “Our son’s name would be Elvis.” Barker proposed to Kardashian in October of 2021 on the beach at their favourite Santa Barbara spot. From a late night at a little white chapel in Las Vegas, an intimate ceremony at a courthouse to sign their marriage licenses, to a traditional Dolce and Gabbana-themed wedding in Portofino, Italy, the pair tied the knot several times. On 17 June, Kourtney revealed she was pregnant after multiple rounds of IVF when she waved a huge sign that read, “Travis, I’m pregnant,” at the artist’s Blink-182 show in Los Angeles. Her reveal was a nod to a scene in the band’s “All The Small Things” music video, where a woman does the same thing. Barker wiped his eyes before hopping down from the stage to embrace a beaming Kardashian. Read More Travis Barker praises Kourtney Kardashian for ‘healing’ him as he takes 30th flight following deadly crash Kourtney Kardashian and Travis Barker reveal the gender of their baby Kourtney Kardashian shows off baby bump as fans speculate about due date

Claire Richards, one of the five-member girl group Steps, has opened up about experiencing an eating disorder in the Nineties, before she joined the band. The singer, 45, said she went on a restrictive diet that only allowed her to eat 900 calories a day, with her meals comprising of just “fish fingers, peas and baked beans”. Appearing on Vicky Pattison’s The Secret To podcast on Thursday’s (20 July) episode, Richards claimed she was told she had to lose weight even though she was a UK size 10 to 12 at the start of her career in the music industry. She added that Kate Moss’s “heroin-chic” thin look was what people aspired to at the time when it came to body image, which in turn encouraged her dieting. “It happened when I was in TSD,” Richards said, referring to her first band, The Scan-Dolls. “They did it to all of us because we were all quite curvy girls. I was probably a [size] 10 or a 12 and wasn’t big at all. “But in the music world, and at that time, that whole Kate Moss, heroin-chic, was a thing and they wanted everyone to be really, really skinny. “So, we were all put on a diet. That diet was interesting because we were encouraged to eat fish fingers, peas and baked beans and have like a 900-calorie diet.” After she auditioned for Steps, Richards claimed she was still under pressure to lose weight. “The audition for Steps was [in] 1997 and by that time I had cut my hair really short, stupidly, and I was wearing this stripey catsuit which I wore in the video for ‘Last Thing on My Mind’,” she explained. “And I always used to tie a hoodie around my waist because I was really conscious of my bum because I thought I had a massive bum… They sat me down, did my audition and they said, ‘Oh, we really like you. We want you to be in the band, but you’re going to have to lose weight’. “It set me on a pathway of not really eating for four-and-a-half years.” Richards said that the years spent worrying about her body image damaged her confidence so much that she has never managed to fully regain it. “I think I’m much better than I was,” she reassured listeners, but added: “But I don’t think I ever will get rid of it completely because it’s played such a massive part of my life for such a long time. “I think I probably was anorexic. You know, I manged to kind of stop what I was doing to myself, but that went from not eating at all, to overeating.” The “It’s The Way You Make Me Feel” singer said she went from being “dangerously thin” to weighing 16.5 stone (104kg) at her heaviest. Richards has previously spoken out about her struggle with disordered eating and expressed how anxious she was about image filters that are popular on the internet today. Last May, she appeared as a guest on Sophie Ellis-Bextor’s Spinning Plates podcast and said: “I’ve gone from being dangerously thin to obese and I honestly do believe it’s all part of the same… if it’s an eating disorder, it’s one extreme to the other. “There is a massive lack of understanding, generally, and I think especially on the overweight side of it. I think people just look at anybody who’s overweight [and think] that they’re lazy and have got no discipline. “I’m not lazy and I definitely have discipline but I found myself in that position,” she continued. “I struggle everyday and I’ve managed to maintain a good size now for a long time but it’s a battle everyday and people just don’t understand that psychological side of it generally.” For anyone struggling with the issues raised in this piece, eating disorder charity Beat’s helpline is available 365 days a year on 0808 801 0677. NCFED offers information, resources and counselling for those suffering from eating disorders, as well as their support networks. Visit eating-disorders.org.uk or call 0845 838 2040. Read More Bye bye swimwear round, hello body positivity: How beauty pageants became less ugly Prince Harry and Meghan weren’t allowed to fly Air Force One with Biden after Queen’s funeral, report says ‘Just awful’: Man accused of ‘selfish’ behaviour after proposing to girlfriend at their graduation Should I keep my windows closed or open during a heatwave? Why am I so lethargic in the heat? 6 hacks for handling the heatwave at a festival

Reality star Jenna Lyons has revealed that her hair and teeth are not real, as a result of her rare genetic disorder. The Real Housewives of New York City (RHONYC) star, 55, opened up about living with Bloch-Sulzberger syndrome, which is also known as incontinentia pigmenti (IP). In some people, the condition can cause dental abnormalities, missing nails, and bald patches on the scalp (alopecia). In an appearance on The View on Wednesday (19 July), Lyons said the disorder was the reason she entered the fashion world, because she “wanted to look better”. “All my teeth are fake. I paid a lot of money for them. My hair is also fake. I can take it off. It’s like a hat, it’s not a wig,” she detailed. “My eyelashes are fake. I have no eyebrows, and I also have scars all over my skin. “I was really conscious. It’s one of the reasons I went into fashion. I wanted to look better. I was constantly trying to find ways to fit in,” the fashion designer, who was previously the executive creative director and president of J Crew, said. Her condition led her to create her own range of false eyelashes, called Love Seen, because existing ones were too large and did not look natural on her. “When I was doing a lot of red carpets, I kept trying to find eyelashes that looked good and they were just huge one me,” she recalled. “I couldn’t wear them. “I remember talking to my makeup artist Troi Ollivierre and I was going on Oprah show actually and Oprah walked into the green room. He looked at me and he looked at her and he’s like, ‘Get back in that chair. We’re going to put some lashes on you and get some extensions’. “Because she’s got a presence and I look like a wet rat,” she joked, adding that she “couldn’t find what I wanted, so I created a line of lashes that aren’t as over-the-top”. IP is believed to affect just 1.2 in 100,000 individuals globally, with most patients being female. It is characterised by abnormalities in skin, eyes, teeth and the central nervous system. According to the National Organisation for Rare Diseases, the most common symptom of IP are changes in the skin. Patients may develop blisters and boils that may turn into lesions that look like warts, as well as thick scabs and areas of darkened skin due to increased pigmentation. During the interview, Lyons also spoke out about being publicly outed as a lesbian while in the midst of her divorce from former husband Vincent Mazeau in 2011, before she was ready to let the world know. Lyons, the first openly gay New York Housewife, said she was “so overwhelmed with everything that was happening in my life” that, when asked to confirm if she was a lesbian at the time, she “just said yes”. She said that the experience was “so hard” because she had not yet come out to her family and friends. “I hadn’t really been in the public eye that much, it was all still new for me, and I didn’t expect anyone to care about what I was doing in my personal life and all of a sudden everyone cared,” she said. “It was so shocking to me. I was also not sure what the hell I was doing. It was all so new. I mean, I wasn’t [officially out] in any way, but I remember… the Post was calling out PR team, and they said, ‘Listen, can you get on the phone, we’re going to run this story, would you like to confirm or deny?’ “I jut said, ‘Confirm’ and it was like an out-of-body experience.” At the time, Lyons was in a relationship with Courtney Crangi. They have since separated, and Lyons is currently dating photographer Cass Bird. She has one child, son Beckett, whom she shares with Mazeau. Read More Bye bye swimwear round, hello body positivity: How beauty pageants became less ugly Prince Harry and Meghan weren’t allowed to fly Air Force One with Biden after Queen’s funeral, report says ‘Just awful’: Man accused of ‘selfish’ behaviour after proposing to girlfriend at their graduation Gemma Atkinson announces birth of second baby in heartwarming Instagram post Mom sparks backlash for piercing newborn’s ears in hospital Maria Menounos welcomes first baby via surrogate after pancreatic cancer diagnosis

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A mother on TikTok has sparked an online debate after she pierced her newborn daughter’s ears one day after giving birth. The woman, who goes by the username @laraticaofficial on the app, originally shared the recently resurfaced clip of her daughter Lara last year. In the 15-second video, baby Lara is seen wearing a set of floral stud earrings in the hospital, just one day after her birth. The child’s mother then showed current footage of her daughter, who was then-four months old, wearing a pair of silver hooped earrings. “The time past [sic] too fast. Missing you being this small,” she captioned the TikTok. The viral video prompted many people to express concern over how early the mother had pierced her daughter’s ears. “Bro was still in the damn hospital bed but had earrings on,” commented one user. “How did she get her ears pierced that young,” a second person wrote. One TikToker said: “How is that ear piercing even legal?” @laraticaofficial ??? ???? ???? ??? ???? ???????? ??? ????? ???? ????? #foryou ♬ In The Stars - Benson Boone However, several users defended the mother against her critics, citing that it is common in certain cultures and traditions to pierce an infant’s ears. “In our culture/family, we also have ears pierced as soon as they are born,” one person shared. “My mum pieced my ears the day after I was born also! It’s great,” another user wrote. “Y’all need to chill. The damn earrings won’t kill the baby. Sheesh!” said someone else. While one TikToker wrote that it’s the mother’s decision to “decide what happens” to their child, another person said they’re “glad” they weren’t “forced to get my ears pierced as a baby” because it “should be the choice of the child”. In an interview with Newsweek, the mother — who lives in Colombia — said that piercing her daughter’s ears after birth is less painful or “non-traumatic” than it would be for a toddler. When asked why she pierced Lara’s ears while she was still in the hospital, the unnamed mother replied: “Because I wanted to, and that it is possible in our country.” She added: “I think a few days after birth is much more non-traumatic for a child to pierce their ears than when they are one or two. Lara had no reaction when the doctors gave her the holes.” For years, piercing a baby’s ears has often been debated by parents and non-parents alike. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, ear piercing may be done at any age as long as it is performed carefully. Although, they do recommend to postpone the piercing until a child is mature enough to care for the pierced site themselves. In many cultures, ear piercing is considered a right of passage - a tradition passed down from generation to generation. And some decide to pierce their child’s ears simply because it looks nice. Read More ‘Call me a child abuser again’: Hilary Duff anticipates backlash to piercing daughter’s ears Mother accused of ‘child abuse’ after baby ear piercing video goes viral Khloe Kardashian faces criticism for piercing two-month-old daughter's ears Schoolboy almost dies from swallowing magnets for TikTok challenge Woman shares honest review of New York City apartment TikTok mom slammed after making 5-year-old son run in 104 degree heat

Hampered by hostile new regulations, firms that promised instant grocery deliveries are leaving France.

Maria Menounos and husband Keven Undergaro have welcomed their first baby via surrogate after a decade of fertility issues and Menounos’ battle with pancreatic cancer. On Wednesday (19 July), the 45-year-old journalist revealed to Us Weekly the name of their baby girl: Athena Alexandra. Their bundle of joy was born on 23 June in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, via surrogate. “It was the most special moment of my life,” Menounos recalled to the outlet. “The doctor literally grabbed her and hiked her onto me. I sat with her on my chest, and Keven and I kept looking at each other like, ‘Oh, my God.’ It was just pure joy.” “It was like Christmas morning times a million,” she said. Menounos announced she and her husband Undergaro, 55, were expecting their first child together in February. But just one month prior, she learned she had a 3.9cm mass on her pancreas, later confirmed to be a stage 2 neuroendocrine tumour. “Athena is our miracle baby,” Menounos said. “I’m so grateful for her.” Speaking to Us Weekly, the former E! News correspondent opened up about her 10-year-long fertility journey, and revealed the surprising celebrity who helped her find a surrogate. Menounos previously did three rounds of in-vitro fertilisation (IVF) treatments before she opted to have a baby via surrogate. It wasn’t until her first surrogate fell through that her lawyer, Andrew Vorzimer – who Kim Kardashian had connected her to – put her in touch with a surrogate search service. “I give her so much credit,” Menounos said about Kim Kardashian. “She helped us get started and guided me through the fears and the process. She was the first to know we were pregnant! We were at a gala, and I couldn’t resist telling her. She’s such a chill, calm person. Anytime I had questions or needed advice, her responses were instant. I had really leaned on her a lot.” After her pancreatic cancer diagnosis, the TV presenter underwent surgery to remove the tumour on her pancreas, along with parts of her spleen, a fibroid, and 17 lymph nodes. Now, Menounos revealed that she feels “amazing” after surgery, which left her with a C-section scar, despite not delivering a baby on her own. “I’ve had a lot of low moments, so I’ve had a lot of practice in overcoming them,” she said, when asked how she managed to stay positive battling cancer while preparing for her baby girl. “You have to come out of the victim mentality.” “Everyone asks, ‘Why me?’ And my thing is, ‘Why not me?’ That helps me get out of things faster,” she continued. “I just beat this tumour because I found it early, and other people don’t, so I’m lucky. I try to focus on how I want to feel rather than the other stuff. It takes a minute; it’s not easy.” Not only has Maria Menounos battled – and survived – pancreatic cancer, but she previously underwent surgery to remove a brain tumour in 2017. That same year, she and her husband tied the knot after nearly 20 years of dating. Read More Maria Menounos says her tumour ‘doubled in size’ after doctors overlooked first symptoms of cancer Maria Menounos reveals pancreatic cancer symptoms that doctors dismissed Maria Menounos reveals she underwent surgery for pancreatic cancer while expecting baby girl Maria Menounos says her tumour ‘doubled’ after first cancer symptoms were overlooked Mother sparks debate over parent who wouldn’t give daughter cake Gemma Atkinson announces birth of second baby in heartwarming Instagram post

Gemma Atkinson has given birth to her second child with Strictly Come Dancing professional dancer Gorka Marquez. The former Emmerdale actor, 38, announced on Instagram that she and her fiancé had welcomed a baby son, whom she called “utterly wonderful”. Writing on her Instagram Stories on Wednesday morning (19 July), Atkinson told her 1.8m followers: “Little man is here! He arrived safe and sound and he’s utterly wonderful. “We’re all home together soaking up this lovely little bubble before Gorks has to leave for Strictly rehearsals next week.” She added: “Thank you for all the lovely well wishes. Our family is complete.” Her partner Marquez shared the same message on his own Instagram page. The couple, who already share a three-year-old daughter, Mia, met when Atkinson appeared on Strictly Come Dancing as a celebrity contestant in 2017. Though they were not coupled up on the dancefloor, the pair started dating after the show wrapped. When Atkinson gave birth to their first child, Mia, in 2019, she needed an emergency c-section and suffered a haemorrhage after the birth, losing nearly a litre of blood. Following the experience she said she was initially “adamant” that she and Marquez would not want another child. “All these things were going through my mind, what did I do that caused all that to happen? I was telling myself for weeks and weeks I’d failed at childbirth,” the actor told Channel 4’s Steph’s Packed Lunch last year. “I was having horrible dreams that someone was going to take Mia from me. I remember my mum running into my bedroom and I was sat up screaming, sweating.” Atkinson added that a woman approached her and her mum when she was out with Mia one day and said: “Oh I believe it [the birth] wasn’t a success was it, you know, what happened?” Atkinson’s mother replied: “It was a huge success, Mia’s there, Gemma’s here, total success.” “Something clicked in me then,” Atkinson said of the exchange. “My body had done me proud because it had recovered and got me through. “I’m at the stage where I want a sister or brother for Mia. The first few months of Mia’s life, I kept saying to my partner, Gorka, ‘I’m not going through that again’. I’ve now come out of it and I feel I could.” According to the Birth Trauma Association (BTA), around 30,000 women per year experience birth trauma in the UK. The radio presenter said at the time that she met with a psychotherapist to learn more about birth trauma and how women can be helped through it. “It was strangely comforting speaking to the women, it makes you feel like you’re not on your own, you’re not the only person who had a difficult labour,” Atkinson added. Read More Influencer Annabelle Ham dies at age 22: ‘A light to the world’ Cruise line apologises after passengers witness dozens of pilot whales being slaughtered Groom sparks backlash over wedding prank he pulled on his bride: ‘Huge red flag’ Nearly half of women feel ‘too unfit’ to enjoy exercise this summer – how to overcome fitness fear Anorexic woman, 47, who wants to die may soon be able to under Canadian law Mindy Kaling shuts down weight loss question as ‘people take it so personally’

Mindy Kaling has declined to answer a question about her weight loss and “wellness journey” after losing a significant amount of weight in the last year. The Mindy Project star, 44, was asked in an interview with Allure Magazine about what she would say to fans who “feel like they’ve lost an ally” because of the change in her physical appearance. It comes after fans speculated that the actor and producer had used Ozempic, a diabetes drug that has been hailed by celebrities and influencers for its weight loss side effect. Kaling told the magazine that it isn’t “super exciting for me to talk about my body and how it’s analysed”. Declining to “get into it”, she added that talking about her weight loss tends to “take over the conversation unfortunately”, adding: “People take it so personally.” The mother-of-two has previously divulged some details about how she lost weight, but has not addressed speculation that she used any sort of medication to do so. The Independent has contacted a representative of Kaling for comment. In April 2022, she told Entertainment Tonight: “I eat what I like to eat. If I do any kind of restrictive diet, it never really works for me. I just eat less of it. “I wish there was something more juicy or dynamic about the way that I’ve lost a little bit of weight, but that’s the way I’ve done it.” Fans began taking notice of Kaling’s weight loss in December 2022, when she shared a photograph of herself wearing a white dress for a holiday party. She wrote in the caption: “I never wear winter white! I was always so worried about it not being flattering and also about dropping food on it.” Last August, Kaling recalled being labelled “unattractive” by the media while starring in The Mindy Project from 2012 to 2017. She opened up about the criticism, saying: “The amount of articles that were like, ‘It’s so good for a culture that this unattractive woman is finally on camera’. “I didn’t know I was so unattractive until I was the star of my own show. So not having to see those things, that’s wonderful.” Kaling has two children, Katherine and Spencer, who were born in 2017 and 2020 respectively. She keeps them out of the spotlight and has not publicly revealed who their father is. However, she reflected on them not growing up with a father figure in an interview with the Duchess of Sussex on the latter’s short-lived Spotify podcast, Archetypes. Kaling told Meghan Markle last year: “I would love for my… I have such a great relationship with my dad. You know, he is, we’re so different from each other. But he is just like, he is everything to me. “I do know that that would be so valuable for my kids, you know, that they have a dad. It wasn’t our lot, you know, our family’s lot in life. And I do think about it with wistfulness and then also fear, like, what will they think when they get older about that?” It was previously speculated that Kaling’s The Office co-star and long-time friend BJ Novak could be the father of her children. However, neither Kaling nor Novak have confirmed this. Addressing the rumours, Kaling said that they don’t “bother” her and said that Novak is “godparent to both my kids”. “It hasn’t affected my happiness at all, it hasn’t affected my kids or BJ. If that’s what is going to be titillating to people, I’ll take it.” Read More Between Brexit and Covid, London’s food scene has become a dog’s dinner – can it be saved? Cruise line apologises after passengers witness dozens of pilot whales being slaughtered Influencer Annabelle Ham dies at age 22: ‘A light to the world’ Cramming all workout into weekend is still effective, scientists say Anorexic woman, 47, who wants to die may soon be able to under Canadian law Coleen Nolan becomes fourth sister in her family to be diagnosed with cancer