Only You: A One and Done Podcast

Knock on Parenthood is all about understanding and dealing with the unique and unexpected challenges of parenthood. It delves into parenthood from the perspective two parents who experienced birth trauma from preeclampsia and premature birth, not unlike Jess and Pierce's story when Penny was born. You can find Knock On Parenthood Podcast anywhere you get your podcasts and you can follow their Instagram here. Email us at onlyyoupod@gmail.com to tell your story or ask questions of the community, and find us on Instagram or Facebook to be a part of the conversation. You can now support us on Patreon! We recently shifted that space to create a community of parents who can meet up and participate in events. All patrons at the $5 level or above can join us for two monthly mental health support groups via Zoom. Another great way to support us is to support the crowdfunding campaign for Jess's new book series all about an only child, Ruby June! Also remember to please leave us a review wherever you get your podcasts.

Some listeners ask whether it's ok to be one and done by choice, simply because they want to be? The answer, of course, is yes. Other folks talk about what happens when your birth control fails and considering terminating a pregnancy.  Someone schools Jess about Sex and the City, and then Jess talks about Gilmore Girls for 5-10 minutes. It is what it is. Enjoy! Email us at onlyyoupod@gmail.com to tell your story or ask questions of the community, and find us on Instagram or Facebook to be a part of the conversation. You can now support us on Patreon! We recently shifted that space to create a community of parents who can meet up and participate in events. All patrons at the $5 level or above can join us for two monthly mental health support groups via Zoom. Another great way to support us is to support the crowdfunding campaign for Jess's new book series all about an only child, Ruby June! Also remember to please leave us a review wherever you get your podcasts.

Jess is doing another solo episode!! I had so much fun last time I think we're going to make it a regular thing. I am going to read your emails, talk about them, and ponder all of life's questions. Join me! Email us at onlyyoupod@gmail.com to tell your story or ask questions of the community, and find us on Instagram or Facebook to be a part of the conversation. You can now support us on Patreon! We recently shifted that space to create a community of parents who can meet up and participate in events. All patrons at the $5 level or above can join us for two monthly mental health support groups via Zoom. Another great way to support us is to support the crowdfunding campaign for Jess's new book series all about an only child, Ruby June! Also remember to please leave us a review wherever you get your podcasts.

Infertility and Me Podcast focuses on creating a community for those struggling to conceive with infertility. Monique has created such a great space for folks who have been on that journey, and she herself has one child. In this episode, she shares about feelings on family size after an arduous journey with infertility. You can find Infertility and Me Podcast anywhere you get your podcasts and you can follow their Instagram here. Email us at onlyyoupod@gmail.com to tell your story or ask questions of the community, and find us on Instagram or Facebook to be a part of the conversation. You can now support us on Patreon! We recently shifted that space to create a community of parents who can meet up and participate in events. All patrons at the $5 level or above can join us for two monthly mental health support groups via Zoom. Another great way to support us is to support the crowdfunding campaign for Jess's new book series all about an only child, Ruby June! Also remember to please leave us a review wherever you get your podcasts.

Hello and welcome to Jess's first ever SOLO EPISODE! I am going to read your emails, talk about them, and ponder all of life's questions. Join me! Email us at onlyyoupod@gmail.com to tell your story or ask questions of the community, and find us on Instagram or Facebook to be a part of the conversation. You can now support us on Patreon! We recently shifted that space to create a community of parents who can meet up and participate in events. All patrons at the $5 level or above can join us for two monthly mental health support groups via Zoom. Another great way to support us is to support the crowdfunding campaign for Jess's new book series all about an only child, Ruby June! Also remember to please leave us a review wherever you get your podcasts.

Kaila is a friend of the show in every way. A supporter, a listener, and even our beloved editor! We started our podcasts around the same time and Only You Podcast would not be the same without her friendship and guidance. We are incredibly honored to have her back on the show for the second time, and if you haven't already, go give her a listen at Parent Tell Podcast! You can also find her on Instagram. Email us at onlyyoupod@gmail.com to tell your story or ask questions of the community, and find us on Instagram or Facebook to be a part of the conversation. You can now support us on Patreon! We recently shifted that space to create a community of parents who can meet up and participate in events. All patrons at the $5 level or above can join us for two monthly mental health support groups via Zoom. Another great way to support us is to support the crowdfunding campaign for Jess's new book series all about an only child, Ruby June! Also remember to please leave us a review wherever you get your podcasts.

We are so excited to introduce you all to Kyla Saphir, a children's book author who has created a book just for parents of only children. Her book "On Brighter Days" focuses on only children and their feelings about wanting a sibling but ultimately realizing how lucky they are to be in a small loving family. Pre-order now on her website and follow her on Instagram for updates. Email us at onlyyoupod@gmail.com to tell your story or ask questions of the community, and find us on Instagram or Facebook to be a part of the conversation. You can now support us on Patreon! We recently shifted that space to create a community of parents who can meet up and participate in events. All patrons at the $5 level or above can join us for two monthly mental health support groups via Zoom. Another great way to support us is to support the crowdfunding campaign for Jess's new book series all about an only child, Ruby June! Also remember to please leave us a review wherever you get your podcasts.

Mikaela is and educator and the parent of an only child. She runs the Instagram page @raisinglittlegoose which helps educate parents on how to educate their kids! Her page has so many resources, and we are so excited to talk to her all about setting our kiddos up for success in school! Email us at onlyyoupod@gmail.com to tell your story or ask questions of the community, and find us on Instagram or Facebook to be a part of the conversation. You can now support us on Patreon! We recently shifted that space to create a community of parents who can meet up and participate in events. All patrons at the $5 level or above can join us for two monthly mental health support groups via Zoom. Another great way to support us is to support the crowdfunding campaign for Jess's new book series all about an only child, Ruby June! Also remember to please leave us a review wherever you get your podcasts.

We're back for another in studio episode! We talk about having an only child with a disability or neurodivergence, infertility, and what it means to have a "godparent" for your child even if you are not religious.  In our pop culture segment we talk about Disney's latest portrayal of an only child, Turning Red! Email us at onlyyoupod@gmail.com to tell your story or ask questions of the community, and find us on Instagram or Facebook to be a part of the conversation. You can now support us on Patreon! We recently shifted that space to create a community of parents who can meet up and participate in events. All patrons at the $5 level or above can join us for two monthly mental health support groups via Zoom. Another great way to support us is to support the crowdfunding campaign for Jess's new book series all about an only child, Ruby June! Also remember to please leave us a review wherever you get your podcasts.

Karla described herself as a gentle parent, cycle breaker, & proudly Bipolar. She joins us on this episode to talk about her journey to becoming a parent, having one child, and dealing with her own mental health journey. You can follow her on Instagram here. Email us at onlyyoupod@gmail.com to tell your story or ask questions of the community, and find us on Instagram or Facebook to be a part of the conversation. You can now support us on Patreon! We recently shifted that space to create a community of parents who can meet up and participate in events. All patrons at the $5 level or above can join us for two monthly mental health support groups via Zoom. Another great way to support us is to support the crowdfunding campaign for Jess's new book series all about an only child, Ruby June! Also remember to please leave us a review wherever you get your podcasts.

Simone Davies is an AMI Montessori teacher with 15+ years' experience, owner of Jacaranda Tree Montessori in Amsterdam where she's been running her own parent-child classes since 2008, mother of two teenagers, and author of the book “The Montessori Toddler.” She joins us to discuss implementing Montessori at home in a practical way!  Find out more about Simone's work on her website and be sure to listen to her podcast. Email us at onlyyoupod@gmail.com to tell your story or ask questions of the community, and find us on Instagram or Facebook to be a part of the conversation. You can now support us on Patreon! We recently shifted that space to create a community of parents who can meet up and participate in events. All patrons at the $5 level or above can join us for two monthly mental health support groups via Zoom. Another great way to support us is to support the crowdfunding campaign for Jess's new book series all about an only child, Ruby June! Also remember to please leave us a review wherever you get your podcasts.

We are so honored to be able to bring you this interview with Karissa Raya of Latinx Parenting, a bilingual organization rooted in children's rights, social and racial justice and antiracism, the individual and collective practice of nonviolence and reparenting, intergenerational and ancestral healing, cultural sustenance, and the active decolonization of oppressive practices in our families.  Follow Latinx Parenting on Instagram or find out more information about their organization on their website. Email us at onlyyoupod@gmail.com to tell your story or ask questions of the community, and find us on Instagram or Facebook to be a part of the conversation. You can now support us on Patreon! Join the community for as little as $1 a month and connect with other parents of one child. Another great way to support our show is to support the crowdfunding campaign for Jess's new book series all about an only child, Ruby June! Also remember to please leave us a review wherever you get your podcasts.

We're back for another in-studio episode! We talk about gender disappointment, when you really "know" you are one and done, and read listener responses to the question about being on a different page as your spouse. In our pop culture segment we discuss the ultimate only child in mainstream media of yesteryear, Dennis the Menace! Email us at onlyyoupod@gmail.com to tell your story or ask questions of the community, and find us on Instagram or Facebook to be a part of the conversation. You can now support us on Patreon! We recently shifted that space to create a community of parents who can meet up and participate in events. All patrons at the $5 level or above can join us for two monthly mental health support groups via Zoom. Another great way to support us is to support the crowdfunding campaign for Jess's new book series all about an only child, Ruby June! Also remember to please leave us a review wherever you get your podcasts.

We are so excited to bring you this interview with Renee Reina! She is vocal about being one and done on her large platform -- while also being totally relatable and hilarious. Find Renee on Instagram, TikTok, or on the Mom Room Podcast. Email us at onlyyoupod@gmail.com to tell your story or ask questions of the community, and find us on Instagram or Facebook to be a part of the conversation. You can now support us on Patreon! All patrons at the $5 level or above can join us for a monthly mental health support group via Zoom and folks at the $10 level can listen ad-free. Another great way to support our show is to support the crowdfunding campaign for Jess's new book series all about an only child, Ruby June! Also remember to please leave us a review wherever you get your podcasts.

No spoilers, you'll have to listen to find out!   Find Laura's work here.   Want to tell your story? Email us at onlyyoupod@gmail.com if you have thoughts on these questions or find us on Instagram or Facebook to be a part of the conversation. You can now support us on Patreon! All patrons at the $5 level or above can join us for our monthly mental health support groups on Zoom, hosted by Jess and available for you to join on the second Sunday and the last Wednesday of each month! Also remember to please leave us a review wherever you get your podcasts.

It's our first episode of 2022, and even though we have the sniffles, we're here to welcome a positive perspective for one and done parents this new year! We hear responses to the last episode from folks who are one and done by choice as well as a couple who have opposing views about the number of children they want to have. We read an email from someone who has chosen to be one and done due to childhood trauma, and another person who feels jealous of others' large families without actually even wanting one for themself. Want to tell your story? Email us at onlyyoupod@gmail.com if you have thoughts on these questions or find us on Instagram or Facebook to be a part of the conversation. You can now support us on Patreon! All patrons at the $5 level or above can join us for our monthly mental health support groups on Zoom, hosted by Jess and available for you to join on the second Sunday and the last Wednesday of each month! Also remember to please leave us a review wherever you get your podcasts.

It's episode #50 (which feels like a big milestone) AND it's our last in-studio episode before the holidays! We chat about what gatherings are like with relatives who don't respect boundaries and deciding when to speak up when someone is offending you. We also hear some creative solutions to the problem of too many gifts for their onlies' birthdays and holidays! We read emails about working with pregnancy or babies after deciding you are one and done and triggers for those who have experienced secondary infertility. We also hear from a listener who is one and done by choice and wants to feel validated in that. Want to tell your story? Email us at onlyyoupod@gmail.com if you have thoughts on these questions or find us on Instagram or Facebook to be a part of the conversation. You can now support us on Patreon! All patrons at the $5 level or above can join us for a monthly mental health support group via Zoom and folks at the $10 level can listen ad-free. Also remember to please leave us a review wherever you get your podcasts.

We're both a little sick (with just a cold thankfully), but we're powering through it! This week, we read emails and chat about how the Covid-19 pandemic affected our family size plans and the way we experienced parenthood. We also read emails from a family whose age factored into being one and done. A listener writes in to ask for advice about gift-giving for their only, and how many presents is too many for one child. We also hear from a parent who wishes her child's behavioral issues could be addressed without the added stigma of being an only child. Want to tell your story? Email us at onlyyoupod@gmail.com if you have thoughts on these questions or find us on Instagram or Facebook to be a part of the conversation. You can now support us on Patreon! All patrons at the $5 level or above can join us for a monthly mental health support group via Zoom and folks at the $10 level can listen ad-free. Also remember to please leave us a review wherever you get your podcasts.

We are so happy to share an interview with one of our favorite moms on social media!! Linda Fruits joined Jess for a great conversation on parenting expectations, managing your relationship after having a child, and work/life balance. Email us at onlyyoupod@gmail.com if you have thoughts on these questions or find us on Instagram or Facebook to be a part of the conversation. You can now support us on Patreon! All patrons at the $5 level or above can join us for a monthly mental health support group via Zoom. Also remember to please leave us a review wherever you get your podcasts.

We are so excited to be BACK! This is our first episode after a three month break. In our first ever yearly tradition, we would like to share with you our annual Thankfulness Episode! There can be so much negativity and stigma surrounding only children, we always like to dedicate a whole episode during the holiday season to everything we feel gratitude about. We read stories from listeners about why they are thankful for their one and only and the road they took to get there. Email us at onlyyoupod@gmail.com if you would like to share your story on the show or find us on Instagram or Facebook to be a part of the conversation. You can now support us on Patreon! All patrons at the $5 level or above can join us for a monthly mental health support group via Zoom and folks at the $10 level can listen ad-free. Also remember to please leave us a review wherever you get your podcasts.

We are so honored to have had the opportunity to chat with Kayleigh Summers, aka The Birth Trauma Mama. Her Instagram account, which advocates for parents who have experienced birth trauma, has been a huge source of healing and understanding for us, especially after our battle with preeclampsia. Kayleigh shares her birth story as well as some of her thoughts on family planning after a traumatic birth and being one and done. You can follow @thebirthtrauma_mama on Instagram as well as on TikTok, and you can learn more about her story on her website. Email us at onlyyoupod@gmail.com if you would like to tell your story and be featured on the show, or find us on Instagram or Facebook to be a part of the conversation. You can now support us on Patreon! All patrons at the $5 level or above can join us for a monthly mental health support group via Zoom and folks at the $10 level can listen ad-free. Also remember to please leave us a review wherever you get your podcasts.

Hello everyone out there! We wanted to bring you a very special episode like we've never done before. Listen in on a raw, honest conversation we have about how our relationship has evolved since becoming parents, our expectations of one another, and navigating the change from stay at home mom to stay at home dad. We apologize for the sound quality, we literally recorded this from the car! Feel free to write in to our show about anything you want, each week we will be taking questions or stories on a wider range of topics so that everyone's voices can be heard. Email us at onlyyoupod@gmail.com if you have thoughts on these questions or find us on Instagram or Facebook to be a part of the conversation. You can now support us on Patreon! All patrons at the $5 level or above can join us for a monthly mental health support group via Zoom and folks at the $10 level can listen ad-free. Also remember to please leave us a review wherever you get your podcasts.

We chat a bit about what it might be like to have an only child while living a military or traveling lifestyle, and read an email about a family who has moved many times. We also read several emails about adoption and step-siblings in response to last week's question about an adoptive child and their biological siblings. In an Only You Podcast first, we have a listener asking for ADVICE! We read their quandary, comment with our thoughts, then turn to all of you for advice on the matter. Can't wait to hear what you all think! This week's questions: Cont'd: Does anyone have tips or stories about raising an only child as a military family? Do you feel that the process of adoption is not accurately depicted in parenting circles or pop culture? Help our listener weigh in on a coworker who rubs her the wrong way as a parent of more than one. Feel free to write in about anything you want, each week we will be taking questions or stories on a wider range of topics so that everyone's voices can be heard. Email us at onlyyoupod@gmail.com if you have thoughts on these questions or find us on Instagram or Facebook to be a part of the conversation. You can now support us on Patreon! All patrons at the $5 level or above can join us for a monthly mental health support group via Zoom and folks at the $10 level can listen ad-free. Also remember to please leave us a review wherever you get your podcasts.

This week we are celebrating Penny's second birthday and processing all kinds of emotions as we reflect the two year anniversary of our birth trauma and NICU stay. On behalf of NICU parents everywhere, we are honored to bring to you an interview with Kelli Kelley, the founder and CEO of Hand to Hold. Hand to Hold is a non-profit organization that provides personalized support before, during and after a NICU stay to help ensure all NICU families thrive. You can learn more about this incredible and much needed non-profit on their website, where you can also find tons of great resources including multiple podcasts and virtual support groups. Email us at onlyyoupod@gmail.com if you would like to tell your story and be featured on the show, or find us on Instagram or Facebook to be a part of the conversation. You can now support us on Patreon! All patrons at the $5 level or above can join us for a monthly mental health support group via Zoom and folks at the $10 level can listen ad-free. Also remember to please leave us a review wherever you get your podcasts.

Our listeners respond to an email from the last episode and we talk about the many positives of traveling with a single child. We also discuss our recent vacation and how freeing it is to be out of the baby stage and not planning on having another in regards to planning, attending, and affording a nice family trip. We read several stories about people who have experienced epiphanies about their own family plans before even trying for their first, a family who opted for adoption and has an only child with biological siblings, and a military family hoping for tips on raising an only child while moving around a lot. This week's questions: At what point did you first consider having an only child? Do you feel that the expectation to have two or more children is ingrained in our society? Do any families have an adopted child who is an only but also has biological siblings they are in contact with? Does anyone have tips or stories about raising an only child as a military family? Feel free to write in about anything you want, each week we will be taking questions or stories on a wider range of topics so that everyone's voices can be heard. Email us at onlyyoupod@gmail.com if you have thoughts on these questions or find us on Instagram or Facebook to be a part of the conversation. You can now support us on Patreon! All patrons at the $5 level or above can join us for a monthly mental health support group via Zoom and folks at the $10 level can listen ad-free. Also remember to please leave us a review wherever you get your podcasts.

For some of us, the decision to be one and done came partially from a difficult experience in the NICU. It can be incredibly traumatizing to see your child struggle as you are recuperating from childbirth and just learning how to be a parent. Dear NICU Mama is a nonprofit organization that has created a community of past and present NICU moms and works to support and connect them in their healing journey. We were so lucky to be able to chat with Ashley and Martha and learn more about how they started the organization, hear their birth stories, and learn more about where they stand with their family sizes. You can listen to the Dear NICU Mama Podcast wherever you get your podcasts. Learn more about their mission on their website and follow them on Instagram. Email us at onlyyoupod@gmail.com if you would like to tell your story and be featured on the show, or find us on Instagram or Facebook to be a part of the conversation. You can now support us on Patreon! All patrons at the $5 level or above can join us for a monthly mental health support group via Zoom and folks at the $10 level can listen ad-free. Also remember to please leave us a review wherever you get your podcasts.

This episode talks about some triggering issues, so if you aren't in a space to think about miscarriage or traumatic birth, feel free to skip - we totally understand. It's always so important for us to give a voice to everyone who is one and done, and sometimes the reasons behind that choice are painful. We just want to reiterate that this space is for people who are OAD both by choice or by circumstance. We discuss the many responses we received about gray-area birth trauma and how it feels when your labor and delivery experience isn't what you hoped it would be. We also chat about traveling with an only child and creating a support system for yourself and your child, even as an introvert! This week's questions: If you are introverted, how do you create and maintain a support system for yourself and your only child? Can you share any tips, anecdotes, or stories about traveling with your singleton child? Would your birth plan had been different if you knew at the time you would be one and done? Feel free to write in about anything you want, each week we will be taking questions or stories on a wider range of topics so that everyone's voices can be heard. Email us at onlyyoupod@gmail.com if you have thoughts on these questions or find us on Instagram or Facebook to be a part of the conversation. You can now support us on Patreon! All patrons at the $5 level or above can join us for a monthly mental health support group via Zoom and folks at the $10 level can listen ad-free.

We are so pleased to share an interview that Jess had with Pamela Druckerman, author of Bringing Up Bebe. This was the first (and only) parenting book Jess read during her pregnancy, and although the author has more than one child, the attitude of French parenting has shaped the way we parent. We chat about maintaining your identity after having a child, American expectations of mothers, and the pressures we tend to put on ourselves. It was absolutely fascinating to speak with this best-selling author, and we hope you all join us in reading the book over the summer so we can chat with her again at our book club! You can find the audiobook using Audibletrial.com/onlyyou and receive a free one month trial of Audible, or look for a hard copy at your local bookstore or library.  We will be doing a completely free Zoom discussion to talk about our feelings on the book later this year. Only You: A One and Done Podcast is proudly sponsored by Audible.  Email us at onlyyoupod@gmail.com if you have thoughts on these questions or find us on Instagram or Facebook to be a part of the conversation. You can now support us on Patreon! All patrons at the $5 level or above can join us for a monthly mental health support group via Zoom and folks at the $10 level can listen ad-free. Also remember to please leave us a review wherever you get your podcasts.

This is a very special episode because we are giving Pierce the week off! We are celebrating his Father's Day this weekend, and the hardworking dad he is deserved a break - especially since our recording studio is over 100 degrees! Luckily, our friend Amy stepped in and co-hosted with Jess, and it turned out to be a great conversation. Jess announces this episode that she has started managing podcasts, inspired by Amy's work-in-progress show and instagram page, Grow Up! Follow her here for updates as she begins her podcasting journey, and find information about our podcast editing services here. We read stories about difficult pregnancy/birth experiences that lead to trauma, one listener is struggling with outside input on their one and done circumstance, and another person writes in about deciding to be one and done before becoming pregnant. This week's questions: If your pregnancy/birth/postparum was traumatic, at what point did you decide that? Did anyone feel like they experienced gray-area trauma? How do you find ways to become less reactive to outside input? Did anyone else decide to be OAD before they had a baby? Feel free to write in about anything you want, each week we will be taking questions or stories on a wider range of topics so that everyone's voices can be heard. Email us at onlyyoupod@gmail.com if you have thoughts on these questions or find us on Instagram or Facebook to be a part of the conversation. You can now support us on Patreon! All patrons at the $5 level or above can join us for a monthly mental health support group via Zoom and folks at the $10 level can listen ad-free. Also remember to please leave us a review wherever you get your podcasts.

Buckle up folks, because this week we're diving into all things one and done and the family size culture of religion - specifically Mormonism! We are so fortunate to have Lindsay Helm join us, who is a former only child who independently converted to Mormonism as a teenager and left the church many years later. She and her husband are currently raising their only child and we talk a lot about how the culture surrounding religion can have a big impact on how many children you may feel inclined to have. She is incredibly fascinating and an advocate for folks who have had traumatic experiences within religious organizations. Follow her on Instagram or Facebook as well as on her website for more information on her upcoming book. Email us at onlyyoupod@gmail.com if you have thoughts on these questions or find us on Instagram or Facebook to be a part of the conversation. You can now support us on Patreon! All patrons at the $5 level or above can join us for a monthly mental health support group via Zoom and folks at the $10 level can listen ad-free. Also remember to please leave us a review wherever you get your podcasts.

We are back with a studio episode after a busy couple of weeks! We read stories from folks who have thoughts on deciding what to do with remaining embryos and talk about how procedures vary from country to country. We also have a story from a listener who created a one and done page specifically for LGBTQ+ parents of only children. Next, we talk about what it could mean to know when you are really done trying for a second and ways to hold space for that. We also hear from a listener who decided to only pursue one pregnancy because of geriatric/advanced maternal age. This week's questions: Did you have a “goodbye ceremony” of any kind when you decided to no longer pursue another child? How did you know when you were no longer on the fence? Has anyone else chosen to be one and done due to their age when they had their child? Feel free to write in about anything you want, each week we will be taking questions or stories on a wider range of topics so that everyone's voices can be heard. Email us at onlyyoupod@gmail.com if you have thoughts on these questions or find us on Instagram or Facebook to be a part of the conversation. We are very excited to announce that Jess will be co-hosting a series of mindfulness workshops. Learn more and sign up: https://www.onlyyoupodcast.com/mindfulness-courses You can now support us on Patreon! All patrons at the $5 level or above can join us for a monthly mental health support group via Zoom and folks at the $10 level can listen ad-free. Also remember to please leave us a review wherever you get your podcasts.

We are so pleased to be able to share this interview with Bryce from @mombrain.therapist on Instagram! Bryce is a mental health therapist and a mom of two via the long road of infertility and loss. Her platform has inspired ours in so many ways. She allows parents the space to talk openly about mental health and share anonymously what is going on in their lives. We chat about supporting moms post partum, speaking openly about mental health, and how only children are not all that different from any other kid! You can find Bryce on Instagram at @mombrain.therapist. You can also learn more about her and her work on her website. Email us at onlyyoupod@gmail.com with your story or any questions you may have for us or the community. You can also find us on Instagram or Facebook to be a part of the conversation. We are very excited to announce that Jess will be co-hosting a series of mindfulness workshops. Learn more: https://www.onlyyoupodcast.com/mindfulness-courses You can now support us on Patreon! All patrons at the $5 level or above can join us for a monthly mental health support group via Zoom and folks at the $10 level can listen ad-free. Also remember to please leave us a review wherever you get your podcasts.

We love when parents are able to use their own experiences and create a space for real, unfiltered conversations. That's what Kaila at Parent Tell Podcast is all about. She and Jess bond over being parents of toddlers, podcast hosts, and moms of one in this episode where you can practically hear a friendship blossoming in real time. Check out the interview Jess did on her podcast this week as well, Parent Tell is available wherever you get your podcasts. You can follow Parent Tell on Instagram here. Email us at onlyyoupod@gmail.com if you have thoughts on these questions or find us on Instagram or Facebook to be a part of the conversation. You can now support us on Patreon! All patrons at the $5 level or above can join us for a monthly mental health support group via Zoom and folks at the $10 level can listen ad-free. We announced today that we are now accepting registrations for our mindfulness workshops! We have support groups for one and done families, traumatic birth survivors, infertility sufferers, and a general parental support group. More information available on our website. Also remember to please leave us a review wherever you get your podcasts.

While discussing ways to cope with being one and done when it’s not your decision, we realize there often isn’t enough emphasis on the positive parts of parenting. We chat about some of the really great stuff as well as things that are way different about raising a child than we thought they would be. We read several stories about people who had traumatic pregnancies, long lost siblings, and ask our IVF listeners to weigh in on when is the right time to do something about your unused embryos. This week’s questions: If you are one and done not by choice, how do you find peace with that going forward? IVF parents, what do you do with your unused embryos and how do you know when it’s time to stop storing them? Have any OAD families decided to undergo an endometrial ablation? Feel free to write in about anything you want, each week we will be taking questions or stories on a wider range of topics so that everyone’s voices can be heard. Email us at onlyyoupod@gmail.com if you have thoughts on these questions or find us on Instagram or Facebook to be a part of the conversation. We are very excited to announce that Jess will be co-hosting a series of mindfulness workshops. Sign up to learn more: https://www.onlyyoupodcast.com/mindfulness-courses. You can now support us on Patreon! All patrons at the $5 level or above can join us for a monthly mental health support group via Zoom and folks at the $10 level can listen ad-free. Also remember to please leave us a review wherever you get your podcasts.

Firstly, quick trigger warning: this episode talks about miscarriage both in a general sense and in a detailed/graphic story. We were incredibly humbled to have Jessica Zucker, author of the powerful memoir about her miscarriage entitled ‘I Had A Miscarriage,’ on the show. She is a PHD psychologist and a brilliant author. Her work in alleviating the stigma around women’s issues will absolutely resonate with our community - even though she has multiple children. We hope you find this interview to be as transformative and eye-opening as we did. If you haven’t already, pick up I Had A Miscarriage at your local bookstore or on Amazon. You can follow her on Instagram or learn more about her work on her website. Email us at onlyyoupod@gmail.com or find us on Instagram or Facebook to be a part of the conversation. You can now support us on Patreon! All patrons at the $5 level or above can join us for a monthly mental health support group via Zoom and folks at the $10 level can listen ad-free. Also remember to please leave us a review wherever you get your podcasts.

This episode talks about some triggering issues, so if you aren’t in a space to think about infertility or infant loss, feel free to skip - we totally understand. It’s always so important for us to give a voice to everyone who is one and done, and sometimes the reasons behind that choice are painful. We just want to reiterate that this space is for people who are OAD both by choice or by circumstance. We read several stories about people whose traumatic childhoods shaped their decisions to stop at one child. It is interesting that so many people who listen/follow this show have experienced childhood trauma, and we talk about why that may be the case. We also read a couple emails from folks who experienced pregnancy and infant loss and secondary infertility. This week’s questions: Did anyone else experience secondary infertility after conceiving easily the first time? What made you decide to finally stop trying for a second? Is anyone else “one and done” after a stillbirth? Feel free to write in about anything you want, each week we will be taking questions or stories on a wider range of topics so that everyone’s voices can be heard. Email us at onlyyoupod@gmail.com if you have thoughts on these questions or find us on Instagram or Facebook to be a part of the conversation. We are very excited to announce that Jess will be co-hosting a series of mindfulness workshops, click here to learn more. You can now support us on Patreon! All patrons at the $5 level or above can join us for a monthly mental health support group via Zoom and folks at the $10 level can listen ad-free. Also remember to please leave us a review wherever you get your podcasts.

We are so pleased to share an interview that Jess had with Lauren Sandler, author of “One and Only: The Freedom of Having an Only Child, and the Joy of Being One”. We were lucky enough to have her on the show and she shared insights about having/being an only child, changing the norms of what life and parenthood should look like, and gave a unique insight to what the future of parenting an only may be like. If you haven’t already, pick up One and Only at your local bookstore or library! Be sure to also check out her newest release, This Is All I Got, a riveting account of a year in the life of a young, homeless single mother, her quest to find stability and shelter in New York City—and the journalist who got too close while telling her story. Read more on Lauren’s website. Email us at onlyyoupod@gmail.com if you have thoughts on these questions or find us on Instagram or Facebook to be a part of the conversation. You can now support us on Patreon! All patrons at the $5 level or above can join us for a monthly mental health support group via Zoom and folks at the $10 level can listen ad-free. Also remember to please leave us a review wherever you get your podcasts.

We go a little bit deep in this episode and are feeling a tad more vulnerable than usual - you will definitely get to know us better! We read responses to last weeks’ question about adoption and fostering and talk about the ways we misunderstood what that process may look like. Jess talks a bit about the re-parenting work she is doing in her own life and in therapy and we read a question about whether having a traumatic childhood impacts your decision on being one and done. We also read an email that discusses medical issues (endometriosis, adenomyosis) as well as race considerations. This week’s questions: If you had a traumatic childhood, how did that play into your decision to be one and done? Has anyone else had medical issues that didn’t prevent pregnancy but impacted your decision to try for more? Does race or identity play a part in your wondering if your child needs a sibling? Feel free to write in about anything you want, each week we will be taking questions or stories on a wider range of topics so that everyone’s voices can be heard. Email us at onlyyoupod@gmail.com if you have thoughts on these questions or find us on Instagram or Facebook to be a part of the conversation. Our first book club meeting is May 2nd! You can find the audiobook using Audibletrial.com/onlyyou and receive a free one month trial of Audible, or look for a hard copy at your local bookstore or library. Join us this month in reading One and Only by Lauren Sandler. We will be doing a completely free Zoom discussion to talk about our feelings on the book. Only You: A One and Done Podcast is proudly sponsored by Audible. You can now support us on Patreon! All patrons at the $5 level or above can join us for a monthly mental health support group via Zoom and folks at the $10 level can listen ad-free. Also remember to please leave us a review wherever you get your podcasts.

Surprise! This is a mid-week bonus episode!! Our Patreon supporter and close friend Ashley wrote this episode all about the environmental impacts of being one and done, and we thought Earth Day was the perfect time to release it. We chat about how to source clothing and baby gear from second shops or friends, and what to do with items as our only children grow out of them. We also discuss how it feels to get rid of our kids' stuff, and the difficult feelings that can sometimes come with finally letting go of the prospect of having a second child. This episode was created by Ashley because she is a "Soulmate Level" Patreon supporter, meaning she was able to write her own episode as well as appear on it. Thank you Ashley and all of our Patreon supporters for making this podcast possible!! You can find more information about our Patreon here. Be sure to follow us on Instagram and Facebook and email us your story to be featured on our show! Also remember to leave us a review wherever you get your podcasts.

In this episode, Jess interviews Julie Johnson of You Need A Counselor. They chat about the stigma around seeing a therapist, being one and done parents, and everything in between! Find episodes of You Need A Counselor wherever you get your podcasts. Be sure to follow us on Instagram and Facebook and email us your story to be featured on our show! Also remember to leave us a review wherever you get your podcasts. Starting in April, we will be launching a book club! You can find the audiobook using Audibletrial.com/onlyyou and receive a free one month trial of Audible, or look for a hard copy at your local bookstore or library. Join us this month in reading One and Only by Lauren Sandler. We will be doing a completely free Zoom discussion at the end of April to talk about our feelings on the book. Only You: A One and Done Podcast is proudly sponsored by Audible. You can now support us on Patreon! All patrons at the $5 level or above can join us for a monthly mental health support group via Zoom and folks at the $10 level can listen ad-free.

Today marks 6 months since our very first episode ever aired AND it’s National Only Child Day! To top it all off, it’s episode 26 - Jess’s lucky number. In this episode, we bring humor, good spirits, and words of affirmation to our listeners’ advice, emails, and questions. We received a ton of responses to last weeks’ questions and will be spreading out the answers over the next few episodes. We read many of your strategies on dealing with intrusive questions people ask about your family size and discuss which ones we would and wouldn’t try ourselves. Another listener wrote in about their thought process surrounding adoption or fostering, and we wonder if any of our other listeners out there are making this decision or have already come to a conclusion one way or the other. Someone else writes in wondering if other people take others’ opinions personally or let them go without giving it too much thought. This week’s questions: Parents with one child, have you ever considered foster care or adoption? Do you take other people’s input or criticisms seriously, or are you able to move on quickly and easily when confronted about having an only child? Feel free to write in about anything you want, each week we will be taking questions or stories on a wider range of topics so that everyone’s voices can be heard. Email us at onlyyoupod@gmail.com if you have thoughts on these questions or find us on Instagram or Facebook to be a part of the conversation. Starting in April, we will be launching a book club! You can find the audiobook using Audibletrial.com/onlyyou and receive a free one month trial of Audible, or look for a hard copy at your local bookstore or library. Join us this month in reading One and Only by Lauren Sandler. We will be doing a completely free Zoom discussion at the end of April to talk about our feelings on the book. Only You: A One and Done Podcast is proudly sponsored by Audible. You can now support us on Patreon! All patrons at the $5 level or above can join us for a monthly mental health support group via Zoom and folks at the $10 level can listen ad-free. This episode is sponsored by Channing Baby & Co. Also remember to please leave us a review wherever you get your podcasts.

In this episode, Jess interviews Vanessa Gorelkin, an occupational therapist and mental health advocate. She is the parent of an only child and is able to speak with experience on how it feels when people make comments about being one and done. We talk about coping skills, comebacks, and how to preserve our relationships with others in this in depth episode. We were so lucky to be able to have her on the show and both learned so much from her sage advice. Find Vanessa’s website here! Email us at onlyyoupod@gmail.com to share your story or find us on Instagram or Facebook to be a part of the conversation. Starting in April, we are launching a book club! You can find the audiobook using Audibletrial.com/onlyyou and receive a free one month trial of Audible, or look for a hard copy at your local bookstore or library. Join us this month in reading One and Only by Lauren Sandler. We will be doing a completely free Zoom discussion at the end of April to talk about our feelings on the book. Only You: A One and Done Podcast is proudly sponsored by Audible.  You can now support us on Patreon! All patrons at the $5 level or above can join us for a monthly mental health support group via Zoom and folks at the $10 level can listen ad-free. Also remember to please leave us a review wherever you get your podcasts.

Hello everyone out there! We are switching up the format of our podcast a little bit. So far, we have done our best to devote episodes to topics we thought were important for parents of only children. Now, we want to know what YOU want to talk about! Each week we will be taking questions or stories on a wider range of topics so that everyone’s voices can be heard. We have recently received emails and messages about feelings of guilt, being in a “gray area” of being one and done, and how to navigate intrusive or insensitive questions about the decision to have an only child. We answer them to the best of our ability then ask our listeners to weigh on on the next episode: This week’s questions: How do you respond to intrusive questions about your family size? Has anyone else had to make the decision to have an only child even though it’s not a black and white situation? If you have dealt with guilt around being one and done, how do you deal with it? Email us at onlyyoupod@gmail.com if you have thoughts on these questions or find us on Instagram or Facebook to be a part of the conversation. Starting in April, we will be launching a book club! You can find the audiobook using Audibletrial.com/onlyyou and receive a free one month trial of Audible, or look for a hard copy at your local bookstore or library. Join us this month in reading One and Only by Lauren Sandler. We will be doing a completely free Zoom discussion at the end of April to talk about our feelings on the book. Only You: A One and Done Podcast is proudly sponsored by Audible. You can now support us on Patreon! All patrons at the $5 level or above can join us for a monthly mental health support group via Zoom and folks at the $10 level can listen ad-free. Also remember to please leave us a review wherever you get your podcasts.

All parents have different opinions on screen time, but most of us can agree that some kids’ shows and movies are better than others. In this mini episode, Jess interviews Deborah and Katie of It’s My Screen Time Too, a podcast where two moms review the TV and movies made for their kids. We chat about the pros and cons of screen time, how to use it in moderation (pandemic notwithstanding), and why it’s OK to not feel guilty about letting your children watch TV or use tablets. They also took the time to share with us their favorite TV shows and movies that star only children in a variety of age ranges, which is super helpful and fun to chat about! This episode is kind of like one long pop culture segment. We chat a little bit about the Screen Time Food Pyramid, published by Wired. You can find It’s My Screen Time Too anywhere you get your podcasts, or check out their website and follow them on Instagram and Facebook. You can now support our podcast on Patreon! Be sure to follow us on Instagram and Facebook and email us your story to be featured on our show! Also remember to please leave us a review wherever you get your podcasts.

We asked our Instagram followers to submit questions for parenting coach MegAnne Ford, and they delivered! Topics ranged from tantrums, discipline, and positive parenting to socialization and the effects of the pandemic on only children who are not in school or daycare. MegAnne is such a kind and compassionate coach who took the time to empathize with how one and done parents can have a different experience than other parents and what ways we can make sure we are taking care of ourselves as well as our child. She answered our questions with so much care and understanding and it was a really lovely interview. We are so grateful to have had her on the show and to learn from her. You can find MegAnne on her website and Instagram as well as the Be Kind Coaching Instagram account. Her podcast is called MegAnne Is Not A Parent, But… and can be found wherever you get your podcasts! You can now support our podcast on Patreon! Be sure to follow us on Instagram and Facebook and email us your story to be featured on our show! Also remember to please leave us a review wherever you get your podcasts.

PSA: This episode talks about some of the negative aspects of growing up as an only child and having an only child as well as birth trauma and divorce - feel free to skip if you are not in a good headspace for that subject matter. While we usually like to focus on the positive aspects of having only children, it is our responsibility to let every voice be heard and honor both sides of the equation. For many people, being one and done is not a choice and having difficult feelings about it is valid and we want to support them, too. In this episode we speak with Marisha Stewart, an incredibly strong and courageous woman who felt very alone in her decision to have a child. Her husband was not very supportive during her pregnancy and it was stressful and isolating for her. She narrowly survived preeclampsia and once she her the child she often felt like a single mother. She was raised as an only child because her own mother also had preeclampsia, and ended up having an only child herself.  She found some great ways to make sure her son had strong friendships in his life and also found ways for herself to nurture and support many other children. Although being one and done was not quite what she had hoped for, she remained positive and was able to find peace in the situation, eventually remarrying and always having a very tight bond with her child. Her podcast is called Lioness Queen, she empowers women who are struggling with the emotional trauma and heaviness from separation and/or divorce by supporting, coaching, and ministering that there is life after divorce. You can now support our podcast on Patreon! Be sure to follow us on Instagram and Facebook and email us your story to be featured on our show! Also remember to please leave us a review wherever you get your podcasts.

In a perfect world, both parents would agree on how many children they want and those opinions would never change. However, for many of our listeners, that is not the case. Sometimes after having a child, people change their mind on having more. Other times, having one is a compromise in itself for folks who didn’t want any children in the first place. Being one and done is not always a decision made easily and we wanted to discuss what happens in a relationship when it is not a mutual choice. We read emails from people whose spouses felt differently on how many children they want, and we hear some birth stories and tales from the NICU that led some to change their minds on how many they wanted. We also hear a story about a couple that was not able to come to a satisfactory compromise and instead decided not to have children at all. In the pop culture segment, we discuss an episode from a very heartwarming TV show, Parenthood. Although the show is primarily about sibling relationships, there is an episode where the youngest of the family, Julia is asking her husband Joel if he wants to have a second child. We talk about their lack of communication and transparency on the topic and how it leads to problems in their relationship down the line. You can now support our show on Patreon. Be sure to follow us on Instagram and Facebook and send us your story to be featured on our show! Also remember to please leave us a review wherever you get your podcasts.

We wanted to do something a little more lighthearted after our two part series on anxiety, so we are doing another Only You Podcast game night! In this mini episode, we play the party game "two truths and a lie" with an only child twist! Jess and Pierce each choose three famous musicians to quiz each other on, two of them are only children and one is not. We try to guess which person is the lie and have a lot of fun chatting about why we came to that conclusion.The musicians in question are, on Pierce's side: Ja Rule, Madonna and Notorious B.I.G. and on Jess's side: Kanye West, Ringo Starr and Aretha Franklin. Tune in to find out who is an only child and who is not!You can now support us on Patreon! Be sure to follow us on Instagram and Facebook and email us your story to be featured on our show. Also remember to please leave us a review wherever you get your podcasts.

In the second half of a two-part episode series, we are discussing anxiety! This is something we got a pretty huge response about so we wanted to make sure to include as many emails as we could. We dive a little more into why the pandemic has caused Jess’s anxiety to worsen and what it feels like to have a child with pre-existing conditions. We also discuss the difference between being cautious and being overly paranoid and how that line can be very blurry, especially since there are still a lot of unknowns. As always, we want to remind everyone listening that their mental health matters and is important and it’s always OK to go to therapy. For us, it’s been extremely helpful.We read four messages all talking about parenting with anxiety and how different people came to the decision to be one and done because of it.In the pop culture segment we discuss a TV show that was cancelled WAY too early, Freaks and Geeks! Jess could probably do an entire podcast about this show - but today we are just discussing Bill, one of the “geeks”. He is an only child with health issues and a very severe allergy to peanuts. When he is exposed to them and subsequently hospitalized, his mom opens up about her anxiety as well as her feelings of guilt.You can now support us on Patreon! Be sure to follow us on Instagram and Facebook and email us your story to be featured on our show. Also remember to please leave us a review wherever you get your podcasts.

In this episode, Jess interviews Danielle Bettmann, a parenting coach with Parenting Wholeheartedly and podcast host of Failing Motherhood. She comes from an evidence based perspective on things like guilt, boundaries, positive parenting, and giving your child the right kind of attention. Danielle is great at affirming parents for doing their best and assuring them that they are absolutely enough for their kids and advocates for strong and healthy relationships.Danielle recommends a book called "Parenting from the Inside Out" by Daniel Siegel & Mary Hartzell.You can find Danielle on Instagram as well as her website Parenting Wholeheartedly where she offers a downloadable freebie all about helping your child calm their big emotions. Her podcast is called Failing Motherhood and she releases episodes every other Tuesday.Be sure to follow us on Instagram and Facebook and email us your story to be featured on our show! Also please remember to leave us a review wherever you get your podcasts.

In our first ever two-part episode, we are discussing anxiety! This is something we got a pretty huge response about so we wanted to make sure to include as many emails as we could. Jess talks about how she struggled with anxiety after Penny was born prematurely and how the pandemic made it even worse. We discuss how becoming a parent can cause a lot of stress and fear for parents, and if you already have struggled with anxiety in the past you may have a really hard time and not want to repeat it. As always, we want to remind everyone listening that their mental health matters and is important and it’s always OK to go to therapy. For us, it’s been extremely helpful.We read four messages all talking about parenting with anxiety and how different people came to the decision to be one and done because of it.In the pop culture segment we discuss one of the most requested only child movies so far, Moana! Her parents are very protective of her and don’t want her to go near the water but she feels a calling to explore the sea. She exemplifies all the positive attributes of an only child we have discussed on the show before, she is brave, confident, wise, and a great leader.You can now support us on Patreon! Be sure to follow us on Instagram and Facebook and email us your story to be featured on our show! Also remember to please leave us a review wherever you get your podcasts.