Show Notes
Every parent imagines what life with their child will look like. Sometimes that journey takes an unexpected turn. In the very first episode of Parenting With..., Krystal Burrell is joined by her daughter, Harmony Hanover, as she shares the deeply personal story of discovering her child had severe disabilities. Together they talk honestly about grief, adjusting to a new reality, and the unexpected joy, resilience and hidden gifts found along the way. This is a powerful kōrero about love, acceptance and finding hope when life doesn't go to plan.
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Krystal shares a raw health update: she's become critically unwell, has lost around 40% of her body weight since December, and is now "fighting for my life", as doctors investigate complex conditions alongside lupus and epilepsy, with a feeding tube needed to stop starvation. She explains the podcast will shift to documenting parenting through chronic illness in real time, including the realities of private specialist care, funding strain and gaps in New Zealand's helath system, while holding onto hope, humour and moments of connection with her kids.
Krystal continues her story from where she left off after Harmony's birth, tracing how childhood experiences, family violence, and an abusive relationship shaped her parenting philosophy — and how leaving that relationship let her raise Harmony on her own terms, through hard years of healing, cultural connection, and learning to parent a neurodivergent child. The turning point came with The Incredible Years, a child-centered program that gave language to what she'd always instinctively believed: that connection and relationship are the foundation of healing. She closes with a call to parent — and live — in ways that build the kind of world we want to be part of.
In this episode, host Krystal steps away from the guest chair to share her own story. From a turbulent childhood marked by family violence and years of running from school and home, to the truancy and youth aide officer who showed her what safe boundaries could feel like - Krystal traces the roots of the parenting philosophy she now teaches. She opens up about becoming a mum at 18, the guilt of struggling with postnatal depression and how that journey pushed her into social work and eventually, into helping other whānau build parenting practices rooted in connection, boundaries and healing intergenerational patterns. Honest, vulnerable and grounded in te ao Māori, this is the story behind the podcast.
The invisible challenges of chronic illness don't end when the day begins, and neither does parenting. In Part 2 of this kōrero, Harmony Hanover and Krystal Burrell continue their heartfelt conversation about raising children while living with a chronic illness. They explore the importance of self-compassion, navigating changing expectations, accepting help, and finding ways to stay connected with your tamariki, even on the hardest days. A reassuring kōrero for parents and whānau, reminding us that being a good parent isn't about being perfect, it's about showing up with love, in whatever way you can.
How do you show up for your tamariki when your own body is struggling to keep up? In this deeply personal episode, Harmony Hanover turns the microphone on her mum, Krystal Burrell, as they explore the realities of parenting while living with a chronic illness. Together they unpack the daily challenges, the guilt that so many parents carry, the relentless negative self-talk, and the constant tug-of-war between your values, your health and your desire to be a reliable, consistent parent. An honest, compassionate kōrero for parents navigating chronic illness, and for the whānau who love and support them.