Single Mom Smiling | Arming Warriors in the Battle for Marriage & Family

Are you a single mom affected by the government shutdown? Does the question about how to put food on the table worry you or a friend?  In this timely episode of Single Mom Smiling, Catholic life coach Kerri Bishop speaks directly to single moms facing the impact of the government shutdown and potential loss of SNAP benefits. We will cover the Catholic perspective on work and dignity, why strengthe...

Have you ever felt pulled in many different directions? Your faith tells you one thing, but the world tells you something different? It can be sooooo easy to want to give in to the world. We can easily justify our actions and beliefs and fall for temporary happiness or a life of ease over the difficulties God calls us to walk through.  But that temporary happiness is just that - temporary!  God ca...

What happens when you want to keep Halloween faith-focused — but your ex, your kids, or your culture wants to go all-in on darkness, costumes, and horror? In this episode, I share practical, faith-based ways to handle Halloween disagreements with your ex peacefully and guide kids who love Halloween without crushing their spirit. We will discuss boundaries rooted in love, not fear, discernment usin...

Do you ever feel like you’re falling behind? Do you feel like that mom has it all together, that couple has real love, or that coworker’s life just seems easier? In this week’s Gospel reflection from Luke 18:9-14, I put on my Catholic Life Coaching hat and explore what the Pharisee and the tax collector can teach us about comparison, pride, and the freedom of humility. Learn how God, the greatest...

In today's episode of Single Mom Smiling, we walk through 7 transformative lessons gleaned from watching Erika Kirk navigate the unimaginable: the assassination of her husband, Charlie Kirk. For women grappling with grief, loss, or deep hardship, her faith-driven response offers real, actionable wisdom you can lean into today. What You’ll Learn Calling on the Name of Jesus — When words fail, name...

Have you stood in court and wondered where the justice is? Have you prayed for God to intervene only to hear crickets?  If you answered yes, you are not the only one! In today's episode, Catholic life coach I reflect on Luke 18:1–8 , the parable of the Persistent Widow, to help women find peace and purpose amid injustice. From unfair court rulings to the silence of unanswered prayers, this episode...

Yesterday should have been Charlie Kirk's 32nd birthday.  For many of us, myself included, it is hard to believe he's gone. I cannot imagine how Erika Kirk feels! Many of us are left asking God why and how he could take a good man like Charlie so soon. Many single moms have asked similar questions about their own husbands or significant others, whether they are absent through death or betrayal. Bu...

Have you ever looked at your life and thought, "This is so unfair?" or maybe you've questioned whether you will ever get justice. Trust me, you're not the only one!  In this week’s Gospel you will be invited into the story of the ten lepers healed by Jesus—and the one who returned in gratitude, but more than a miracle, this story opens the door to a larger conversation about the deep unfairness of...

Have you taken time to celebrate your personal wins lately? 🎉  Whether you're a single mom juggling everything or a woman striving to grow stronger in faith, this episode is your reminder that you deserve to celebrate — even the small victories. In this special 100th episode of Single Mom Smiling, I’m sharing: 10 creative and meaningful ways to celebrate your wins — even when time and money are t...

Do you ever feel like your To-Do list is never ending? Does it seem like as soon as you cross one thing off your list, ten more await? The servant in Sunday's Gospel reading can probably relate, but Jesus has some interesting insight! If you're a busy mom, this reflection is for you. Discover how the sometimes stressful, often unnoticed tasks of motherhood — late-night laundry, wiping tears, wavin...

I started podcasting about 15 months ago and hadn't missed an episode until everything seemed to go wrong at once. What's more, that everything started happening right after I finished a course on how to market Armor Up, my new spiritual warfare program for women. I'd planned to launch Armor Up in January, but with Charlie Kirk's assassination and the escalation of palpable evil, I decided to move...

Does it seem like everyone else is getting ahead and you're stuck begging for scraps? Maybe you're comparing what others show on social media, coveting the life your ex seems to lead, or are simply stuck looking back to what went wrong and where you thought you "should" be by now. The story of Lazarus and the rich man remind us to live for more than what we see here today and to never form a bond...

Sometime life’s burdens seem too difficult to bear, but through our crosses we discover who we can be. In fact, being a Christian means bearing the burden of carrying Christ joyfully to the world. Charlie Kirk knew this, but now he is gone. He was targeted because he spoke truth when so many refused to carry their share of the burden.  It is time for us to step up and find joy in our crosses, espe...

Living on a limited income can feel defeating. You may think you have so little money coming in a budget won’t work for you. But the best time to begin a budget is right now!  Even with little money bc coming in. Even with inconsistent income. Even when you think it will never work. God calls you to be a good steward with your resources and honors those who manage their money, big or small, wisely...

Have you ever snapped at your kids only to regret it later? Or maybe you let your ex pull you into an emotional argument you know you can't win? Or maybe an neighbor, coworker, or even friend did something that riled you up or left you in frustrated tears? Of all God's creatures, women were uniquely gifted with intense emotions, but that cannot be an excuse to let emotions rule our day. When emoti...

Shock struck as the news of innocent children gunned down while celebrating their first back-to-school Mass of the 2025-26 school year spread. Anger. Shock. Rumors. What we know as Catholics is that evil is real, and sometimes it rears its ugly head in horrifying ways. In this case, evil was visible and loud, but much sneakier, quieter evil led up to the shooter's actions. Many Catholics want to b...

Making and keeping friends as a single mom can be HARD! Single moms are often exhausted and overwhelmed. They often question their self worth and ability to contribute value to conversations when their thinking is foggy from so many things they need to keep track of. Many single moms, and women in general, have expectations about what kind of friends they "should" have or what kind of friend they...

The pursuit of happiness helped build America. Happiness is what many of us try to pursue today too. But, we seldom understand what happiness meant when the Founders added it to the Declaration of Independence. We understand the happiness we pursue today even less.  In both cases, the happiness we pursue is actually a joy that is not dependent on external forces or time limitations. It is a joy th...

What battles do you face as a single mom? Do you fight your ex, the court system, the schools or teacher unions, or maybe even your own kids? It can be tempting to fight what is right in front of us, but Jesus tells us to focus on Him instead. If we want to get to Heaven, we need to recognize we are in a spiritual war for our souls and not all souls who cry "Lord Lord" will go to Heaven. There is...

Being a Catholic mom today is a spiritual battle. Whether you’re teaching your little ones to say their very first prayers, guiding teens through a culture that challenges their faith, or praying for a prodigal child who has walked away from the Church—you are not alone. Join me for tips on how to lead your children in faith and what to do if they step away from the Church. If you would like help...

Have you gone through a major life change and been left asking, "What do I do now?" You're not alone! When life throws us curveballs, whether it's through sudden marital abandonment or a long dreaded empty nest, you may struggle with your sense of purpose. Many people do. In today's episode, women's life coach Kerri Bishop shows why your true purpose has not changed at all even though how you live...

Being a single mom means you are BUSY! It can be overwhelming. Prayer and the Sacraments can seem like just one more thing to fit into your chaotic life. Yet, you are told to pray without ceasing! In today's episode, I talk of how I learned to do this as a busy single mom of five boys and how you can do it too!  God Bless... Kerri   Check This Out: Embrace abundant life and/or financial coaching w...

Feeling worn out as a single parent? You’re not alone! In this faith-filled episode for Catholic single parents, we explore Sunday’s Gospel and Jesus’ parable of the faithful servants—revealing how your daily sacrifices in parenting are part of a powerful spiritual battle. Join me to discover the hope, encouragement, and eternal rewards promised to those who serve with love until the Master return...

Are you wondering what God's plans for you are? Do you wonder what He's thinking and how He can allow you to suffer so much when you've tried so hard to do everything right? Are you struggling and wondering when relief and a plan will come? Maybe you're thinking what no single mom wants to admit to thinking...that God doesn't keep His promises. YIKES! Catholics claim we don't believe in the prospe...

It's easy to fall into the comparison trap. We see ourselves doing it with friends and strangers on social media, but it is more destructive when single moms compare their lives to their exes'. Instead, single moms should be encouraged to build wealth on Earth in order to build the Kingdom of God. For Jesus tells you not to be foolish with what you are given, but instead to store up treasures in H...