SoloMoms! Talk

This solo mom did not grab a rocking chair after her kids flew the nest. As an empty nester, Sheila went back to school sometimes taking the same classes as her son. She talks about her experience going back to school and graduating magna cum laude with a BA in cultural anthropology when she was 52 (attending UCLA at the same time as both her sons). Sheila started doing stand-up comedy,...

Studies show that college graduates earn more on average than high school graduates.  But how do you get a college degree without putting yourself into a financial sinkhole? This week's SoloMoms! Talk podcast guest, Bonnie Burkett lays out a framework for successfully earning a college degree in a fraction of the time without mortgaging your future. Bonnie's book, Enough! The College Cost Cri...

Every now and then I like to record my thoughts instead of writing a blog post.  I hope my message resonates with you.  How often do you allow your fears or other people to distract you from your goals?  If you are not doing the work you were called to do, your light cannot shine.  You are hiding your light under a bushel. You have buried your talent in the ground. Don’t do it....

Author, speaker, and mom of two adult daughters, Kelly Radi sat down with me to talk about raising teenagers.  In the first of this Education Series, Radi also reiterates that we should use the college application process as a teachable moment.    We talked about: - keeping the line of communications open with our teens and young adults;  - using the college application process...

Relationships take work. Loving another person can be complicated because your hearts and emotions are involved. But when we experience a breakup it can seem like our life is over. Experts like Roman Mironov can guide you to unhinge yourself from the pain of a broken heart. He can give you the tools and strategies to heal your heart so you can move forward. Some of his methods may be outside the "...

Alicia raised two daughters solo during the past 14 years.  She sees getting married very young as a factor in becoming a solo mom. Age seems to be a running theme for a number of divorced solo moms. What can be done about young people getting married early?  Would marriage education -- and not just a few hours of counseling -- increase the likelihood that more marriages would last? What...

Natasha is navigating her path as a new mom who is also newly divorced.  She is embracing this new chapter in her life.  One of the ways she copes is by taking care of herself by losing her baby weight. We find many ways to cope with loss.  Natasha has given herself permission to focus on her new life in a healthy way. Connect with me: @jrosemarie1 (IG/Twitter) Blog: www.solomoms.ne...

One of the challenges we face as solo moms is how to effectively co-parent with our ex.  It goes without saying that however it's done, that the process benefits our children.  Also, do you panic because you are approaching your 40's or 50's and you think your life is over?  Hear Eugenie's take on coming of age. Time to get unstuck! Eugénie Burton is a Lifestyle Coach who has a pass...

We often are concerned that we have to maintain the negative patterns of our families.  Nothing could be further from the truth. We are not our genetics.  We don't have to become the person we are running away from. Today’s guest is the solo mom of four, Misty Hughes.   Misty is the Founder and Director of The Single Mom KC , an organization that is committed to serving Kansas City’...

She mothers 5 children solo while working full time, managing a side business, and training for a spartan race. How does she do it? She tries not to get tripped up by the little things (4:10). "No matter what life throws at you, no matter what stands in the way of whatever goal you set for yourself. You can persevere. You can do it. No matter what, it's in you ." ~ Ashley Street (22:54)...

Optimal health can be an elusive phenomenon for the busy solo mom. I recently had the pleasure of speaking with International speaker and health coach, Gunther Mueller about that. Gunther spends a lot of his time training medical professionals, but he spends just as much time educating "regular folks" on how to take care of themselves with a more natural approach to true Optimal Health.   His...

Health has been at the top of everyone's mind lately. My guest today will speak to our mental and emotional health coupled with spirituality. Murielle Fellous is an intuitive life coach who is also the founder of the Single Moms Doing it All podcast. She is passionate about wanting to help solo moms prevent the downward spiral into fear, guilt, powerlessness, and sometimes depression. This is a ti...

In this episode, I have the pleasure of interviewing my friend Allison Banfield. Listen to how this married mom of two exercise love and compassion even in the face of continued betrayal. Allison and I have served together and I admire her so much, especially for her strength and perseverance. I really love how she holds her head high despite the devastation brought to her family by an unfaithful...

In this bonus episode of SoloMoms! Talk, I touched on ways we react when faced with an unexpected disaster in the context of the book, Who Moved My Cheese ? by Spencer Johnson With social distancing, mass unemployment, not to mention death, the novel coronavirus has turned our world upside down.  " Bad things do happen in the world, like war, natural disasters, disease. But out of those situa...

Merry Christmas to you.  I hope your holiday season is a joyful and peaceful one.   And as we go beyond Christmas towards a New Year and a new decade, may you have a Blessed and Prosperous New Year. Thanks for listening, subscribing, and sharing SoloMoms! Talk podcast.  I look forward to interviewing many more solo moms who feel empowered to tell their story. Cheers! Follow me @jros...

How would you live your life after you experienced being kidnapped and your life threatened? Today's guest is a 41-year-old solo mom who uses her life challenges to drive her zest for life. Nicole Lozano has created a life for her and her children that reflects both faith and courage. She raised three children after a divorce. And her love of children led her to have a fourth child...

Many of us use different methods to cover the pain we feel.  Brenda said she tried to use alcohol to dull the pain that engulfed her after she found herself alone with her two sons.  But living her authentic self became more important than the next drink.  So was caring for her children. Brenda not only kicked addiction but she also spends her time mentoring other solo moms who are...

"Our kids are worth it... and they'll see all the hard work that you've done." ~ Ayami Hiroshighe Ayami Hiroshige is a solo mom of a 12-year-old daughter and two "bonus children". Her top advice for solo moms is to know that whatever situation you are going through it passes and.. tomorrow is a new day.  She practices mindfulness by meditating and journaling.   Ayami loves to help moms o...

This week’s guest comes to you all the way from Bali, Indonesia.  Tracey Schmidt, is a solo mom who asked for love and received it in the form of her now 18-year-old daughter. To that end, she shares with us how important it is to ask for exactly what you want and need…to be specific in your ask.  You also know that anything is possible when you believe. If you ever wondered what it’s li...

Shaniqua Garvin is a widowed single mom who is raising and homeschooling her 10-year son.  She has a lifestyle blog titled after her name shaniquagarvin.com but is often most notable for being on the cover of Oprah Magazine with nine other women, including Oprah.  Shaniqua says she still feels vulnerable and insecure as she is trying to figure things out as she goes along.  Listen a...

Moms are busy people in general.  Solo moms twice so.  But if solo moms didn’t already have their hands full consider my guest today: Andrea M. Pearson is a single mom, Entrepreneur, Author, Personal Trainer, Aerobics Instructor, and Certified Women’s Health & Life Coach. She runs Single Mom Slaying It and Sisterhood of Single Moms on Facebook.  Of course, her favorite “role,”&n...

"Your pain is your credentials". ~ Charlotte Barrett Being a solo mom is difficult in all aspects because raising children solo takes added grit and determination.  Charlotte Barrett not only balances taking care of herself and her two young children, but she also makes her life work taking care of other moms.  Even through relationship difficulties and some physical limitations, this bu...

Amber Luffman is a married mother of a three-year-old daughter.  Yet she considers herself a solo mom.  She tells her story of a broken marriage and having a husband who suffers from addiction. As a young woman mothering solo, Amber is learning to trust God as she navigates supporting her often absent husband while balancing her own business, writing a book, and nurturing her young daugh...

I spent the last 23 years of my life focused on myself and my children.   In this first episode of Season 2, I explain how I thought being broken led me to a life of raising children alone.  I didn't know how to be a wife. But instead of living a life of bitterness and unforgiveness, I did a simple exercise that helped me put into focus the choices I had made.  Take a listen and lea...

This is a bonus episode that expresses my gratitude for your love and support.  This is the last episode of this season.  I decided to end Season 1 here and continue next week with Season 2.  I hope you will continue to listen, subscribe, rate and review.  Tell me how I'm doing.  Regardless of your opinion, I'm sure it will help me to improve. Thanks again.  Also, lis...