Define the Narrative

Jen shares her inspirational journey as a new mother navigating the world of single motherhood by choice, touching on themes of societal expectations, financial considerations, and emotional resilience. Her reflections highlight the importance of personal choice in defining one's family narrative and the lessons learned from both heartache and joy. • Jen's journey begins with a pivotal doctor's appointment that prompts her to reconsider motherhood • Financial readiness plays a crucial role in the process of assisted reproduction • Emotional challenges linked to fertility treatments and the importance of processing grief • Jen's values and the input of family in her decision-making reflected in choosing a donor• Hope for the future includes openness to relationships and possibilities of more children It's your life- Define the Narrative! Check out our website and let us know what's on your mind. www.definethenarrative.usFollow us:IG: @definethenarrativeFB: @Ann Argo

It's your life- Define the Narrative! Check out our website and let us know what's on your mind. www.definethenarrative.usFollow us:IG: @definethenarrativeFB: @Ann Argo

Enjoy this episode of Define The Narrative Podcast with my very special guests Jane Mattes, Mikki Morrissette, Sarah Kowalski, and Mali Bain as we discuss the last forty years of women creating a family of their own. Follow on Instagram to stay connected @definethenarrative.Below is the information where you can find and follow my guests: Jane MattesSingle Mothers by Choice.org can be found on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/Singlemothersbychoice and on Twitter @SingleSmc https://twitter.com/SingleSmcMikki MorrissetteChoice Moms can found at :https://www.facebook.com/mmorrissette1https://www.facebook.com/ChoiceMomshttp://choicemoms.org/@ChoiceMoms on TwitterSarah KowalskiMotherhood Reimagined SMC Community which includes monthly online meetups, guest expert interviews and tons of how-to guides can be found at https://motherhoodreimagined.com/single-mom-by-choice-community-forum/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/motherhoodreimagined/Facebook https://www.facebook.com/motherhoodreimaginedMali BainChoosing Single Parenthood: Stories from Solo Parents by Choice@nextgenstoryhttps://www.nextgenstory.com/ It's your life- Define the Narrative! Check out our website and let us know what's on your mind. www.definethenarrative.usFollow us:IG: @definethenarrativeFB: @Ann Argo

1:00 The Inspiration3:33 Age Limits5:37 The Nannies11:30 How Many Families are vacationing with you12:32 Sleeping Arrangements14:13 Dietary Choices15:10 Medical Care16:40 Excursions23:04 Vacation Goals for Moms26:35 The History of SoMoS Retreats30:15 Where to Find More Information30:33 Tania'a Journey and the Family She Created It's your life- Define the Narrative! Check out our website and let us know what's on your mind. www.definethenarrative.usFollow us:IG: @definethenarrativeFB: @Ann Argo

Are you raising a competent eater? Do you worry your relationship with food will prevent you from raising a child who has a healthy relationship with food? Carol Danaher from the Ellyn Satter Institute shares The Golden Rule, also known as the Division of Responsibility that frees parents from being too controlling when it comes to their child's eating habits. Publications referenced in this episode can be found at:  https://www.ellynsatterinstitute.org/product-category/books-videos/Carol Danaher, is a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist. She received her Master's in Public Health from Johns Hopkins School of Hygiene & Public Health.  She is on the faculty and board of the Ellyn Satter Institute. Carol's career in public health nutrition has focused on the feeding relationship and includes program development and administration within county-level public health, local Head Start Programs and other nonprofit childcare organizations. Carol worked for the Food and Nutrition Service of USDA conducting analysis and evaluation on our nation's food and nutrition programs for children and families. Volunteer work in Jakarta, Indonesia led to her interest in Public Health.  Carol's work with children includes being a middle school teacher, a Girl Scout leader for 12 years, a Cub Scout leader and spending as much time as she can with her children and granddaughters.It's your life- Define the Narrative! Check out our website and let us know what's on your mind. www.definethenarrative.usFollow us:IG: @definethenarrativeFB: @Ann Argo

Mali is a former high school teacher with a background working in university, non-profit, and philanthropic settings. She is a facilitator, personal historian, and parent of a two-year-old daughter.00:35 Finding Stories in Canada 2:08 Mali's Background3:15 Themes of The Anthology5:55 Mali shares about the stories in the anthology and reads excepts10:40 Double Donors12:10 Semantics of Motherhood vs. Parenthood15:20 Call to Action for Volume 216:10 Cover Artwork and Design16:40 Next Gen Story Custom Publishing17:42 Envisioning 5 and 10 Years From Now20:45  Launch and Thinkers & Triers Q&Awww.choosingsingleparenthood.comwww.nextgenstory.com

  1:06  Masculine Energy: Is Our Business Sense Too Much In Dating?  6:22  It Is So Important For Us To Be Playful With Men  8:42  Trust Your Gut, It's A Numbers Game  9:42  How To Fit Dating In As An Only Parent13:00 The Best Example, Socialize and Date18:07 R.E.S.P.E.C.T.23:11 Epiphanies

:30 The Biggest Struggles Women Have In Modern Dating3:33 Modern Dating12:34 What Women Need to Understand About Men12:48 Men's Purpose14:26 Seek To Understand15:36 Finding The Perfect Man is Like Finding That Great Pair of Shoes17:49 Define The Narrative

1:11 When To Start Looking for Childcare2:22 Get On How Many Waiting Lists?3:27 If First You Don't Succeed4:40 National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC)7:54 What Questions To Consider?11:27 The Perfect Ratio13:12 The Importance Of Staffing14:27 Bumps In The Road

0:45 Motherhood Reimagined, The Book and The Business1:58 The Consequences of A Patriarchal Family Structure3:02 You Really Are Not The Only Person In This Space4:15 The Number One Obstacle...5:59 You WILL Forget The Stress of The Struggle7:22 The Most Surprising Outcome10:00 Suggestions for Women Who Might Struggle to Afford Fertility Treatments12:18 To Freeze Your Eggs of Not15:04 A Fertility Doula Described16:05 Affordable Support Services Offered Through Motherhood Reimagined

1:30  A Point of Passion3:45  Should women freeze your eggs?5:24  Checking Your Fertility9:00  Choosing A Sperm Bank11:18 What is the starting treatment for a woman using donor sperm to conceive?13:15 How do you find the right Fertility doctor?17:10 Diminished Ovarian Reserve (DOR)19:15 COVID Vaccine Recommendations19:55 Diverse Families 

1:16 Jane's thoughts on a generation following in her footsteps4:15 Jane weighs in fertility education and the age of conception5:48 Janes thoughts on egg freezing8:00 The daddy question12:05 Supporting your child's school in understanding the family15:48 Healthy Adult Relationships18:42 40th Anniversary of singlemothersbychoice.org