Choosing Chaos: Solo Motherhood by Choice

Send us Fan Mail Financial planning is one of the biggest questions many women face when considering solo motherhood—but it doesn't have to be overwhelming. In this episode, I sit down with financial planning expert Phil Weiss to discuss how women can build a strong financial foundation before and throughout their journey as a Single Mom by Choice. Together, we explore practical strategies fo...

Send us Fan Mail This episode is a deeply personal one. I open up about the hope, uncertainty, and heartbreak that can come with trying to grow your family as you get older. From fertility struggles to questions about what the future may hold, I share the emotions of not knowing whether I'll be able to give my son a sibling—or if my body is capable of making that dream a reality. A vulnerable...

Send us Fan Mail What happens when the life you choose doesn't align with the expectations of those around you? In this episode of Sparks of Change , Laura sits down with Joayne Larson, facilitator, coach, and intercultural competence practitioner, to explore how we navigate differences in our relationships while staying true to ourselves. Through the lens of Single Motherhood by Choice, they...

Send us Fan Mail Part 2 of Controversial Topics continues the conversation with Andrea, Annie, and Kristen as we shift from some of the more divisive parenting opinions into the deeper layers of the Single Mom By Choice journey. In this episode, we talk about the donor experience — including navigating the donor process, genetics, donor-conceived sibling connections, and the emotional weight that...

Send us Fan Mail In Part 1 of Controversial Topics , Andrea, Annie, and Kristen dive headfirst into some of the biggest conversations surrounding the Single Mom By Choice journey. From structured vs. unstructured learning and differing views on vaccinations, to the importance of male role models, dating during pregnancy, and what it really takes to build a strong support system — nothing is off li...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, we sit down with Kathleen, who became a Single Mother by Choice in 2000 after spending years in sports and ultimately choosing a new path toward building her family. She shares what it was like making that decision at a time when the process looked very different—long before digital profiles and modern fertility platforms, when donor information often arrived in t...

Send us Fan Mail In this special Maternal Mental Health Awareness Month conversation, we are joined by Erika Schmitt, Director of Counseling and Family Support Services at a Pittsburgh-based nonprofit, to explore the importance of reproductive mental health support across the entire journey into motherhood — from trying to conceive, through pregnancy, postpartum, and beyond. Erika shares her persp...

Send us Fan Mail This week on Choosing Chaos: Solo Motherhood by Choice , Laura sits down with Bernie — a newer mom to a baby girl conceived through embryo donation — for one of the most honest and entertaining conversations yet. Bernie opens up about knowing from a young age that motherhood was always part of her dream, the relationship that almost changed the course of her journey, and how she u...

Send us Fan Mail In honor of Maternal Mental Health Awareness Month, this episode of Choosing Chaos: Solo Motherhood by Choice explores the emotional realities of motherhood—across every stage of the journey. From fertility and infertility to pregnancy, postpartum, and beyond, mental health is a thread that runs through it all—yet it’s often the part we talk about the least. Laura is joined by Cat...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Choosing Chaos: Solo Motherhood by Choice , Laura sits down with Tori to share her journey through endometriosis, fertility challenges, and ultimately, building her family in a way she never expected. After years of navigating chronic pain and difficult medical decisions—including the loss of both fallopian tubes—Tori was forced to rethink what her path to mothe...

Send us Fan Mail In this deeply personal episode, I share my pregnancy, delivery, and postpartum journey—from a physically challenging first trimester to navigating gestational hypertension and postpartum preeclampsia. I open up about months of severe migraines and sickness, the anxiety of advocating for my health, and why I chose to keep my pregnancy private early on. I also reflect on becoming a...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, we’re joined by Taryn, a pediatric physical therapist from First Steps Physical Therapy, to talk about supporting your child’s development in the early years. I also share a bit of my own journey navigating Early Intervention and what it looked like to advocate for my son and get him the support he needed. We break down what pediatric physical therapy looks like,...

Send us Fan Mail Nathalie thought she was living the life she was supposed to want—married, settled, and planning for motherhood. But a life-changing moment at an OB appointment shifted everything. What followed was a journey of healing, self-discovery, and redefining what truly felt aligned. Nathalie made the difficult choice to leave behind what no longer served her, explored new paths, and ulti...

Send us Fan Mail Jessica’s path to motherhood took an unexpected turn when life—and timing—presented challenges she couldn’t ignore. In this episode, she shares how changing circumstances led her to make a bold, unconventional choice: saying “I do” to an old friend who stepped up in a way she never could have planned. What followed was a journey filled with uncertainty, resilience, and the complex...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, we sit down with Brittinie Tran from Hot Mess Express, a women-led nonprofit creating a judgment-free space for women navigating life’s overwhelming moments. Hot Mess Express is built on the belief that no one has to go through hard seasons alone—whether that means help with cleaning and organizing or simply having a compassionate community show up when it matters...

Send us Fan Mail Nicole’s journey to motherhood didn’t follow a typical path. Early menopause and unexpected challenges didn’t stop her from defining her own path. In this episode, we explore embryo donation, family surprises, and the importance of telling children their stories. Nicole also shares how she now supports women pursuing single motherhood by choice, offering guidance and encouragement...

Send us Fan Mail Beth opens up about burnout in the tech industry and the moment her inner voice spoke up on a drive, leading her to choose single motherhood by choice. She shares what it’s like raising her daughter in some of the biggest tech cities, how she built her support village, and the leap they took to live abroad for a bigger adventure—balancing world schooling with launching her own com...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Choosing Chaos , we sit down with Laura Scrieber, a soon-to-be single mom navigating a rollercoaster of fertility and pregnancy. Coming from a strong conservative family, Laura shares the hesitation, courage, and love that have guided her journey to motherhood. Hear her candidly ask Kristen and me the questions on her mind as she prepares for labor—including her...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Choosing Chaos, we’re joined by Caroline, owner of Pathfinder Birth Works, for an honest and empowering conversation about the role of a doula in pregnancy, birth, and postpartum. Caroline shares how doulas provide steady support through one of the most transformative seasons in a woman’s life—offering evidence-based information, emotional reassurance, physical...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Choosing Chaos, we sit down with Jess to talk about what it really looks like to pursue single motherhood by choice later in life. Jess froze her eggs in her younger years, believing she was preserving an option for the future. But when she ultimately decided to conceive in her 40s, she learned those eggs were no longer usable — and she had to pivot. What follow...

Send us Fan Mail Michelle joins us to share the story behind her bold pivot to single motherhood by choice. After choosing to leave a relationship impacted by addiction, she found herself redefining the vision she once had for starting a family. Instead of waiting for the “right” circumstances, Michelle leaned into community, trusted her intuition, and decided to move forward on her own terms — tu...

Send us Fan Mail We’re sharing a story that beautifully expands what love and family can look like. In this episode, Jackie — a single mom by choice — opens up about her path to motherhood, from beginning her journey with a known donor to ultimately choosing a different direction. She shares the courage it took to pivot, the joy of welcoming her daughter, and the intentional ways she’s built conne...

Send us Fan Mail On this episode of Choosing Chaos , I’m chatting with Masha, a mom of two sweet daughters, about her journey into motherhood — the joys, the challenges, and all the unexpected ways love and family show up along the way. 💛 We also talk about the ways she’s been able to share the gift of motherhood with another single mom by choice, and how building your village sometimes looks dif...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, we sit down with Joni to hear her journey to motherhood through IUI — and how that experience helped her discover who she truly is. She opens up about life in the sandwich generation, balancing the needs of her child and her parents, navigating the emotional ups and downs of postpartum, and the beautiful, unexpected joys of becoming a mom. Her story is honest, hea...

Send us Fan Mail Birth doesn’t always go the way we imagine. In this episode, we reconnect with Kristen, Lindsay, and Annie as they share their honest and emotional NICU journeys — from fear and uncertainty to resilience, growth, and unexpected strength. We talk about what it’s really like to have a baby in the NICU, how families cope with the emotional rollercoaster, and what it means to choose c...