Solo Parent Society

This week we are discussing Unnecessary Things: Worry There is such a gap between where you are and where you think you are supposed to be. And, as a single parent, it seems like there is so much to be worried about. You're in it alone; there is no sounding board and no one to help when you're spinning out and getting worked up. How can single parents use worry to our benefit? Today we're going to cover three main points:1) Single parents and worry2) Finding the root of the issue3) How worry helps For all the detailed show notes, tips and links click - https://soloparent.org/show-notes-blog ASK US ANYTHING! We want to answer any Solo Parent questions you may have. Go to SoloParent.org/TalkToUs and ask us anything…it can be related to a topic we cover on the podcast, something you are facing or just something you are curious about. We want you to be part of our podcast! To receive a free SPS Welcome Toolkit with links to groups, info and a free book click - https://soloparent.org/welcome-toolkit Join our FREE daily meditational devotional - pod.link/1517894054 Download our free app - APPLE - https://apple.co/3fKOd6F ANDROID - https://bit.ly/2TvjtOs

This week we are discussing Unnecessary Things: Goals Goal setting as a single parent can feel overwhelming, shame filled, and down right unnecessary. We already have so many pressures in life, why add more at the beginning of the year? Shouldn't we start off the year filled with hope and joy about what's to come? So how can we reframe goal setting to fit more of the single parent lifestyle and feel better about ourselves in the long run? Today, we cover three main points:1) Top barriers to goal setting for single parents2) Reframing how we think about goals3) Real life examples of how to live this out For all the detailed show notes, tips and links click - https://soloparent.org/show-notes-blog ASK US ANYTHING! We want to answer any Solo Parent questions you may have. Go to SoloParent.org/TalkToUs and ask us anything…it can be related to a topic we cover on the podcast, something you are facing or just something you are curious about. We want you to be part of our podcast! To receive a free SPS Welcome Toolkit with links to groups, info and a free book click - https://soloparent.org/welcome-toolkit Join our FREE daily meditational devotional - pod.link/1517894054 Download our free app - APPLE - https://apple.co/3fKOd6F ANDROID - https://bit.ly/2TvjtOs

TOPICThis week we are discussing our REWIND episode “ Is It Love or Codependency? PAIN POINTIf we're honest, we need to admit we often don't know what healthy love looks like. Codependency can often feel like love. So, how can we tell the difference between love and codependency? We are looking forward to visiting this episode with you. 3 MAIN POINTSToday, we discuss why Elizabeth chose this episode as her favorite for 2024. LINK TO SHOWNOTESFor all the detailed show notes, tips and links click - https://soloparent.org/show-notes-blog ASK US ANYTHING! We want to answer any Solo Parent questions you may have. Go to SoloParent.org/TalkToUs and ask us anything…it can be related to a topic we cover on the podcast, something you are facing or just something you are curious about. We want you to be part of our podcast! To receive a free SPS Welcome Toolkit with links to groups, info and a free book click - https://soloparent.org/welcome-toolkit Join our FREE daily meditational devotional - pod.link/1517894054 Download our free app - APPLE - https://apple.co/3fKOd6F ANDROID - https://bit.ly/2TvjtOs

Discover the way ahead at Indiana Wesleyan University. Learn more here. TOPIC & GUESTThis week we are discussing our REWIND episode: “Getting Out of Bed When We Don't Have What it Takes w/ Alan Noble” PAIN POINTEvery morning, we wake up and we have to decide: Are we going to get out of bed…or not? There are days when it all feels like too much; the trials and tribulations of this world seem insurmountable and the lure of staying in bed and hiding from everything and everyone looks like the only solution. Every solo parent has experienced this feeling of overwhelm and knows…we still have to do it. Our kids are depending on us. Their world can't run without us. So, how do we get out of bed when we feel like we don't have what it takes? This being the week of Christmas, I feel like this could be so true for so many, especially if you're without your kids this week. GUEST BIODr. O. Alan Noble is Associate Professor of English at Oklahoma Baptist University,advisor to Christ and Pop Culture and the AND Campaign, and author of threebooks: On Getting Out of Bed: The Burden and Gift of Living, You Are Not YourOwn: Belonging to God in an Inhuman World, and Disruptive Witness: SpeakingTruth in a Distracted Age. Dr. Noble has published articles at The Atlantic, VOX,First Things, and Christianity Today. He lives with his wife and three children. https://www.oalannoble.com/ LINK TO SHOW NOTESFor all the detailed show notes, tips and links click - https://soloparent.org/show-notes-blog ASK US ANYTHING! We want to answer any Solo Parent questions you may have. Go to SoloParent.org/TalkToUs and ask us anything…it can be related to a topic we cover on the podcast, something you are facing or just something you are curious about. We want you to be part of our podcast! To receive a free SPS Welcome Toolkit with links to groups, info and a free book click - https://soloparent.org/welcome-toolkit Join our FREE daily meditational devotional - pod.link/1517894054 Download our free app - APPLE - https://apple.co/3fKOd6F ANDROID - https://bit.ly/2TvjtOs

Discover the way ahead at Indiana Wesleyan University. Learn more here. TOPICThis week we are discussing our REWIND episode - “Find Peace In Singleness” PAIN POINTIf you are single parent, more than likely, you didn't choose to be a single parent, and if for some reason you did choose to be a single parent it doesn't disqualify you from this being an inappropriate topic. Being single can be lonely, it could be tough. Is there a way to come to a place of having peace in your singleness even though you have a desire to share your life with someone… today we're gonna discuss that. We are looking forward to revisiting this episode. MAIN POINTSToday, we discuss why Robert chose this episode as his favorite for 2024. LINK TO SHOWNOTESFor all the detailed show notes, tips and links click - https://soloparent.org/show-notes-blog ASK US ANYTHING! We want to answer any Solo Parent questions you may have. Go to SoloParent.org/TalkToUs and ask us anything…it can be related to a topic we cover on the podcast, something you are facing or just something you are curious about. We want you to be part of our podcast! To receive a free SPS Welcome Toolkit with links to groups, info and a free book click - https://soloparent.org/welcome-toolkit Join our FREE daily meditational devotional - pod.link/1517894054 Download our free app - APPLE - https://apple.co/3fKOd6F ANDROID - https://bit.ly/2TvjtOs

Discover the way ahead at Indiana Wesleyan University. Learn more here. TOPICThis week we're discussing our REWIND episode: Using Loneliness to Your Advantage PAIN POINTIf there is one word to describe single parenting, it's “loneliness.” We are reminded throughout the day—in big and small ways—that we don't have a partner for companionship. Loneliness hits when we miss our kids if we're co-parenting. And we're always keenly aware there's not someone to share the responsibilities, experiences, decision making, and mental load with; no one to laugh (or cry) with after the kids go to bed. This is a deeply-felt need of single parents, particularly around the holidays, so we're so excited to revisit this episode. MAIN POINTToday, we discuss why Amber Fuller chose this episode as her favorite for 2024. LINK TO SHOWNOTESFor all the detailed show notes, tips and links click - https://soloparent.org/show-notes-blog ASK US ANYTHING! We want to answer any Solo Parent questions you may have. Go to SoloParent.org/TalkToUs and ask us anything…it can be related to a topic we cover on the podcast, something you are facing or just something you are curious about. We want you to be part of our podcast! To receive a free SPS Welcome Toolkit with links to groups, info and a free book click - https://soloparent.org/welcome-toolkit Join our FREE daily meditational devotional - pod.link/1517894054 Download our free app - APPLE - https://apple.co/3fKOd6F ANDROID - https://bit.ly/2TvjtOs

TOPICThis week we are discussing our REWIND episode: “How To Tell If Our Kids Are Ok” with guest Kyle Cruze PAIN POINTOne of the most heart-wrenching parts of parenting is seeing our kids struggle. When our child is dealing with physical pain, we rush to their aid and see what we can do to help. Even if they're insisting they're fine, you know a broken bone when you see it. But, mental health is altogether different. While mental illness can and does present itself physically, so much of anxiety and depression happens inside the mind. Mental health is a serious topic that thankfully has become more widely talked about and acknowledged in recent years. We often feel helpless or unsure of what to do when our child is mentally struggling—especially as solo parents. How do we effectively help our kids deal with anxiety or depression in a healthy way? How can we tell if our kids are okay? We're so excited to revisit this episode. GUEST BIOKyle is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in the state of Tennessee.Since graduate school, Kyle has dedicated almost all his professional time toworking with adolescent/teenage boys and their families. Recognizing the hugeneed that boys have for clarity and guidance, Kyle has sat with hundreds of kidsand their parents with the goal of helping them navigate through the difficult andconfusing aspects of this culture and life.His early lessons in life and relationships came through the paradigm of athletics.Kyle was blessed with the opportunity to play basketball all four years he was incollege. It was through those experiences on and off the court that much of hiscuriosity and interest in people and their stories began.Prior to moving into full-time private practice, Kyle worked at a residentialtreatment center with high school boys and their families who were struggling withsubstance abuse and addiction. During these years, Kyle also frequently spoke atnational conferences, local schools, and parent groups.Kyle was born and raised in Knoxville, TN. It was there that he met his wife Kristenwho is a Franklin, TN native. Together they have two boys and a girl. LINK TO SHOW NOTESFor all the detailed show notes, tips and links click - https://soloparent.org/show-notes-blog ASK US ANYTHING! We want to answer any Solo Parent questions you may have. Go to SoloParent.org/TalkToUs and ask us anything…it can be related to a topic we cover on the podcast, something you are facing or just something you are curious about. We want you to be part of our podcast! To receive a free SPS Welcome Toolkit with links to groups, info and a free book click - https://soloparent.org/welcome-toolkit Join our FREE daily meditational devotional - pod.link/1517894054 Download our free app - APPLE - https://apple.co/3fKOd6F ANDROID - https://bit.ly/2TvjtOs

TOPICThis week we are discussing Helping Our Kids Develop Self Worth PAIN POINTWhen we're in the thick of struggle and grief, it can be hard to focus on anything else except what's happening in our inner world. Or sometimes, parents can overly focus on our kids during difficult times, which puts added pressure on them without us even realizing it. There are so many things that can keep our kids from building a healthy sense of self worth, so how can we become more aware of those barriers and instead help our kids build the resiliency, confidence and self worth they need to be healthy thriving adults? 3 MAIN POINTSToday, we cover three main points:1) How we're inadvertently sabotaging our kids self worth2) Internal and external factors hurting our kids' self worth3) How we can help our kids develop healthy self worth LINK TO SHOWNOTESFor all the detailed show notes, tips and links click - https://soloparent.org/show-notes-blog ASK US ANYTHING! We want to answer any Solo Parent questions you may have. Go to SoloParent.org/TalkToUs and ask us anything…it can be related to a topic we cover on the podcast, something you are facing or just something you are curious about. We want you to be part of our podcast! To receive a free SPS Welcome Toolkit with links to groups, info and a free book click - https://soloparent.org/welcome-toolkit Join our FREE daily meditational devotional - pod.link/1517894054 Download our free app - APPLE - https://apple.co/3fKOd6F ANDROID - https://bit.ly/2TvjtOs

Visit donate.accessmore.com to give to help fund more episodes and shows like this. TOPICThis week we are discussing “Which Fights Are Worth It?” PAIN POINTAs single parents, we have so many battles we have to fight day in and day out. It could be with our kids, ex or co-parent, ex in-laws, schools, family members, stereotypes - the list goes on and on. The reality is, we only have so much energy for fighting and need discernment to know which ones will matter in the long run. If we try to take them all on, we exhaust ourselves and don't have the energy for other things in life. This is a really hard balance; how do we know which fights are worth it? 3 MAIN POINTSToday, we cover three main points:The necessity of choosing our battlesSix Questions to Ask to Ask Yourself Before EngagingDefining Success LINK TO SHOWNOTESFor all the detailed show notes, tips and links click - https://soloparent.org/show-notes-blog ASK US ANYTHING! We want to answer any Solo Parent questions you may have. Go to SoloParent.org/TalkToUs and ask us anything…it can be related to a topic we cover on the podcast, something you are facing or just something you are curious about. We want you to be part of our podcast! To receive a free SPS Welcome Toolkit with links to groups, info and a free book click - https://soloparent.org/welcome-toolkit Join our FREE daily meditational devotional - pod.link/1517894054 Download our free app - APPLE - https://apple.co/3fKOd6F ANDROID - https://bit.ly/2TvjtOs

Discover the way ahead at Indiana Wesleyan University.TOPIC & GUESTThis week we are discussing “How Suffering Builds Worth” with Jamie Winship PAIN POINTUnderstanding our worth as single parents is essential because it shapes how we navigate every aspect of life, from the way we see ourselves to the relationships we build. When we don't recognize our worth, it can lead to self-doubt, unhealthy boundaries, and feelings of isolation. But knowing our worth helps us set the right tone in our homes, make confident decisions, and build connections that are healthy and life-giving. So, how do we build a healthy sense of worth when so much hurt and betrayal has eroded it? GUEST BIOJamie Winship has decades of experience bringing peaceful solutions to some of the world's highest conflict areas. After a distinguished law enforcement career in the metro Washington, DC area, he worked in high-conflict areas in the Middle East for almost three decades. Jamie has worked with leaders in professional sports, business, education, law enforcement, government, non-profit, and other sectors. He and his wife Donna are co-founders of Identity Exchange which helps individuals and teams discover new levels of creativity and resiliency within the framework of true identity. He is the author of Living Fearless: Exchanging the Lies of the World for the Liberating Truth of God. For more resources, visit:https://www.jamiewinship.comhttps://www.identityexchange.com Follow Identity Exchange on social media:https://instagram.com/identityexchange Follow Jamie Winship on social media:Instagram: https://instagram.com/thejamiewinshipFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/thejamiewinship ORDER Jamie Winship's Book, Living Fearless: Exchanging the Lies of the World for the Liberating Truth of God → https://amzn.to/4c1AYJz LINK TO SHOW NOTESFor all the detailed show notes, tips and links click - https://soloparent.org/show-notes-blog ASK US ANYTHING! We want to answer any Solo Parent questions you may have. Go to SoloParent.org/TalkToUs and ask us anything…it can be related to a topic we cover on the podcast, something you are facing or just something you are curious about. We want you to be part of our podcast! To receive a free SPS Welcome Toolkit with links to groups, info and a free book click - https://soloparent.org/welcome-toolkit Join our FREE daily meditational devotional - pod.link/1517894054 Download our free app - APPLE - https://apple.co/3fKOd6F ANDROID - https://bit.ly/2TvjtOs

Discover the way ahead at Indiana Wesleyan University.TOPICThis week we're discussing Practical Tips on Rebuilding Self-Worth. PAIN POINTSo often, single parents are starting from a deficit when it comes to self-worth. It could be due to an unhealthy relationship or simply our experiences as a single parent. Whatever the reason, our self-worth often declines drastically when we become a single parent. When we're starting from a deficit, where do we even start the journey to self-worth? How can we rebuild our self-worth in actionable, practical ways? 3 MAIN POINTSToday, we cover three main points:1) Difference between self-esteem, self-confidence, and self-worth2) Evaluating your own self-worth3) Doing the work: Rebuilding self-worth LINK TO SHOWNOTESFor all the detailed show notes, tips and links click - https://soloparent.org/show-notes-blog ASK US ANYTHING! We want to answer any Solo Parent questions you may have. Go to SoloParent.org/TalkToUs and ask us anything…it can be related to a topic we cover on the podcast, something you are facing or just something you are curious about. We want you to be part of our podcast! To receive a free SPS Welcome Toolkit with links to groups, info and a free book click - https://soloparent.org/welcome-toolkit Join our FREE daily meditational devotional - pod.link/1517894054 Download our free app - APPLE - https://apple.co/3fKOd6F ANDROID - https://bit.ly/2TvjtOs

Discover the way ahead at Indiana Wesleyan University.Liberty University can help you get there. Learn more here. TOPICThis week we're discussing Balancing Your Needs and the Needs of Your Kids. PAIN POINTOur kids are demanding and need so much … because they're kids. And we have the habit of putting our kids' needs above everything else, including our own needs—especially as single parents when all the responsibility lies on us. How do we live in a way that balances our needs and the needs of our kids? 3 MAIN POINTSToday, we cover three main points:1) How solo parents get burned out2) Types and stages of burnout3) Managing and overcoming burnout LINK TO SHOWNOTESFor all the detailed show notes, tips and links click - https://soloparent.org/show-notes-blog ASK US ANYTHING! We want to answer any Solo Parent questions you may have. Go to SoloParent.org/TalkToUs and ask us anything…it can be related to a topic we cover on the podcast, something you are facing or just something you are curious about. We want you to be part of our podcast! To receive a free SPS Welcome Toolkit with links to groups, info and a free book click - https://soloparent.org/welcome-toolkit Join our FREE daily meditational devotional - pod.link/1517894054 Download our free app - APPLE - https://apple.co/3fKOd6F ANDROID - https://bit.ly/2TvjtOs

Discover the way ahead at Indiana Wesleyan University.Liberty University can help you get there. Learn more here. TOPICThis week we're discussing How To Deal With Drama as a Single Parent. PAIN POINTTurns out drama doesn't hit its peak in high school; it continues on throughout our life for as long as we are in relationship with others. Whether we want to or not, solo parents often lead a dramatic life due to being on our own amidst the many life transitions, responsibilities, and relationship dynamics present in our everyday lives. How can we minimize any potential drama that comes up and respond to it in a healthy and balanced way? 3 MAIN POINTSToday, we cover three main points:1) The lure of drama2) Avoiding the trap3) Being proactive vs. reactive LINK TO SHOWNOTESFor all the detailed show notes, tips and links click - https://soloparent.org/show-notes-blog ASK US ANYTHING! We want to answer any Solo Parent questions you may have. Go to SoloParent.org/TalkToUs and ask us anything…it can be related to a topic we cover on the podcast, something you are facing or just something you are curious about. We want you to be part of our podcast! To receive a free SPS Welcome Toolkit with links to groups, info and a free book click - https://soloparent.org/welcome-toolkit Join our FREE daily meditational devotional - pod.link/1517894054 Download our free app - APPLE - https://apple.co/3fKOd6F ANDROID - https://bit.ly/2TvjtOs

Discover the way ahead at Indiana Wesleyan University.Liberty University can help you get there. Learn more here. TOPICThis week we're discussing Coming Back From Burnout. PAIN POINTSingle parent burnout is real and it can hurt all aspects of your home, work, and social life—as well as emotionally, physically, and mentally. Most of all, it affects how we, as single parents, parent our kids. What causes burnout—and is there a way out of it? 3 MAIN POINTSToday, we cover three main points:1. How solo parents get burned out2. Types and stages of burnout3. Managing and overcoming burnout LINK TO SHOWNOTESFor all the detailed show notes, tips and links click - https://soloparent.org/show-notes-blogASK US ANYTHING! We want to answer any Solo Parent questions you may have. Go to SoloParent.org/TalkToUs and ask us anything…it can be related to a topic we cover on the podcast, something you are facing or just something you are curious about. We want you to be part of our podcast! To receive a free SPS Welcome Toolkit with links to groups, info and a free book click - https://soloparent.org/welcome-toolkit Join our FREE daily meditational devotional - pod.link/1517894054 Download our free app - APPLE - https://apple.co/3fKOd6F ANDROID - https://bit.ly/2TvjtOs

Liberty University can help you get there. Learn more here. TOPIC & GUESTThis week we're discussing “Becoming Mama-Dad” with Marissa Lee. PAIN POINTThere are many single parents who don't have a co-parent involved in the lives of their kids. That means one parent needs to take on two very important roles. Today we're talking about balancing the enormous roles of mom and dad as a single parent, and we're so excited to discuss the book “Becoming Mama-Dad: How God Fathers Through Single Mothers” written by our very own Solo Parent contributor, Marissa Lee. In her book, she tackles the very big question of: How does one balance taking on the role of both a mother and a father? GUEST BIOFollowing marital strife and the shocking death of her husband, Marissa Lee suddenly found herself a single mother to her two sons, aged 10 and 8 at the time. Overwhelmed by her new role and plagued by a sense of inadequacy, she wrote this book about her journey guiding her boys into manhood. Marissa has a day job in finance leadership for a healthcare organization and lives in Franklin, TN with her two dogs, two sons, and second husband. FOR MORE INFORMATION OR TO PURCHASE “Becoming Mama-Dad”Click Here! LINK TO SHOW NOTESFor all the detailed show notes, tips and links click - https://soloparent.org/show-notes-blog ASK US ANYTHING! We want to answer any Solo Parent questions you may have. Go to SoloParent.org/TalkToUs and ask us anything…it can be related to a topic we cover on the podcast, something you are facing or just something you are curious about. We want you to be part of our podcast! To receive a free SPS Welcome Toolkit with links to groups, info and a free book click - https://soloparent.org/welcome-toolkit Join our FREE daily meditational devotional - pod.link/1517894054 Download our free app - APPLE - https://apple.co/3fKOd6F ANDROID - https://bit.ly/2TvjtOs

TOPIC & GUESTThis week we're discussing FINDING HEALING AFTER BETRAYAL with JILL SAVAGE. PAIN POINTThere is no easy fix for betrayal. When someone we trust betrays us, our entire world is upended. Betrayal is an earthquake that catastrophically upheaves the foundation of our entire life and leaves us broken and trembling in the aftershock. Suddenly, everything we knew to be true is no longer true, leaving us to question everyone and everything. How do you come back from something like that? Can you find true, restorative, lasting healing after betrayal? GUEST BIOJill Savage is an author and speaker who is passionate about encouraging families. She is the author/co-author of fourteen books focused on motherhood, family, and marriage including No More Perfect Moms, No More Perfect Marriages (with her husband Mark), and her most recent book Empty Nest, Full Life. Jill and Mark lead a ministry which encompasses their speaking, writing, coaching, and marriage ministry so they can encourage, educate, and equip families. They have five children and eight grandchildren and live in Normal, Illinois. LINK TO SHOW NOTESFor all the detailed show notes, tips and links click - https://soloparent.org/show-notes-blog ASK US ANYTHING! We want to answer any Solo Parent questions you may have. Go to SoloParent.org/TalkToUs and ask us anything…it can be related to a topic we cover on the podcast, something you are facing or just something you are curious about. We want you to be part of our podcast! To receive a free SPS Welcome Toolkit with links to groups, info and a free book click - https://soloparent.org/welcome-toolkit Join our FREE daily meditational devotional - pod.link/1517894054 Download our free app - APPLE - https://apple.co/3fKOd6F ANDROID - https://bit.ly/2TvjtOs

TOPICThis week we're discussing They Won't Forgive Me…Now What? PAIN POINTIf forgiveness was an easy thing to do, our lives would be much less complicated. But, forgiveness is hard. It takes work. It's so much more than a casual “I'm sorry.” When we do take steps toward being forgiven, how do we live in the tension of doing the work and still showing up … even when someone won't forgive us? 3 MAIN POINTSToday, we cover three main points:1) Analyzing the apology2) Understanding the most hard-to-forgive hurts3) Taking stock of what you can control LINK TO SHOWNOTESFor all the detailed show notes, tips and links click - https://soloparent.org/show-notes-blog ASK US ANYTHING! We want to answer any Solo Parent questions you may have. Go to SoloParent.org/TalkToUs and ask us anything…it can be related to a topic we cover on the podcast, something you are facing or just something you are curious about. We want you to be part of our podcast! To receive a free SPS Welcome Toolkit with links to groups, info and a free book click - https://soloparent.org/welcome-toolkit Join our FREE daily meditational devotional - pod.link/1517894054 Download our free app - APPLE - https://apple.co/3fKOd6F ANDROID - https://bit.ly/2TvjtOs

TOPICThis week we're discussing Benefits of The Relationship Between Justice and Forgiveness PAIN POINTWe know we're supposed to love one another. But, does that mean we just ignore how others hurt us and we continue experiencing pain? Many of us may think if we forgive, then we are not supposed to seek justice—in other words, forgive and forget. But what does it look like to forgive and seek justice simultaneously? 3 MAIN POINTSToday, we cover three main points:1) Forgiveness and a desire for justice can co-exist2) What forgiveness is not3) Ways to pursue justice LINK TO SHOWNOTESFor all the detailed show notes, tips and links click - https://soloparent.org/show-notes-blog ASK US ANYTHING! We want to answer any Solo Parent questions you may have. Go to SoloParent.org/TalkToUs and ask us anything…it can be related to a topic we cover on the podcast, something you are facing or just something you are curious about. We want you to be part of our podcast! To receive a free SPS Welcome Toolkit with links to groups, info and a free book click - https://soloparent.org/welcome-toolkit Join our FREE daily meditational devotional - pod.link/1517894054 Download our free app - APPLE - https://apple.co/3fKOd6F ANDROID - https://bit.ly/2TvjtOs

TOPICThis week we're discussing How to Become a Forgiving Person PAIN POINTWe aren't born with a natural propensity toward forgiveness; it's a trait that we have to develop because it runs counter to our instincts. As single parents, we often have significant trauma, pain, and obstacles that make forgiveness especially hard—it seems there are often more reasons to not forgive than to actually forgive. How can we become a more forgiving person? 3 MAIN POINTSToday, we cover three main points:1) Why forgiveness is so hard2) Our need for and benefits of forgiveness3) Boundaries in forgiving LINK TO SHOWNOTESFor all the detailed show notes, tips and links click - https://soloparent.org/show-notes-blog ASK US ANYTHING! We want to answer any Solo Parent questions you may have. Go to SoloParent.org/TalkToUs and ask us anything…it can be related to a topic we cover on the podcast, something you are facing or just something you are curious about. We want you to be part of our podcast! To receive a free SPS Welcome Toolkit with links to groups, info and a free book click - https://soloparent.org/welcome-toolkit Join our FREE daily meditational devotional - pod.link/1517894054 Download our free app - APPLE - https://apple.co/3fKOd6F ANDROID - https://bit.ly/2TvjtOs

Fund conversations that matter: donate.accessmore.com TOPICThis week we're discussing Benefits of Self Forgiveness (SoloCon Live 2024). PAIN POINTWe've all made mistakes. Every single one of us. Yet when it comes to forgiveness, it feels much easier to forgive others than to forgive ourselves, which leaves us feeling stuck and unable to move forward into healing. How can we take steps to self-forgiveness? 3 MAIN POINTSToday, we cover three main points:1) Challenges of Self-Forgiveness2) The Four R's of Self-Forgiveness3) What Self-Forgiveness Can Do LINK TO SHOWNOTESFor all the detailed show notes, tips and links click - https://soloparent.org/show-notes-blog ASK US ANYTHING! We want to answer any Solo Parent questions you may have. Go to SoloParent.org/TalkToUs and ask us anything…it can be related to a topic we cover on the podcast, something you are facing or just something you are curious about. We want you to be part of our podcast! To receive a free SPS Welcome Toolkit with links to groups, info and a free book click - https://soloparent.org/welcome-toolkit Join our FREE daily meditational devotional - pod.link/1517894054 Download our free app - APPLE - https://apple.co/3fKOd6F ANDROID - https://bit.ly/2TvjtOs

Fund conversations that matter: donate.accessmore.com TOPIC & GUEST This week we're discussing Moving Forward With Courage with Annie F. Downs. PAIN POINT When we become single parents we experience loss of a relationship, spouse, or our envisioned future, and with that often comes the loss of courage. We get stuck and don't know how to keep going, much less face the challenges ahead. How do we find the courage to move forward toward living our fullest life? GUEST BIO Annie F. Downs is a bestselling author, sought-after speaker, and successful podcast host based in Nashville, Tennessee. Engaging and honest, she makes readers and listeners alike feel as if they've been longtime friends. Founder of the That Sounds Fun Network—which includes her aptly named flagship show, That Sounds Fun—and author of multiple bestselling books like “100 Days to Brave” and “Remember God,” Annie shoots straight and doesn't shy away from the tough topics. But she always finds her way back to the truth that God is good and that life is a gift. Annie is a huge fan of laughing with friends, confetti, soccer, and boiled peanuts (preferably from a backroads Georgia gas station). FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON ANNIE F. DOWNS CLICK HERE! LINK TO SHOW NOTES For all the detailed show notes, tips and links click - https://soloparent.org/show-notes-blog ASK US ANYTHING! We want to answer any Solo Parent questions you may have. Go to SoloParent.org/TalkToUs and ask us anything…it can be related to a topic we cover on the podcast, something you are facing or just something you are curious about. We want you to be part of our podcast! To receive a free SPS Welcome Toolkit with links to groups, info and a free book click - https://soloparent.org/welcome-toolkit Join our FREE daily meditational devotional - pod.link/1517894054 Download our free app - APPLE - https://apple.co/3fKOd6F ANDROID - https://bit.ly/2TvjtOs

Fund conversations that matter: donate.accessmore.com TOPIC & GUESTThis week we're discussing Living Fearless with author Jamie Winship PAIN POINTIt's always inspiring to hear someone confidently say, “This is what I am called to do” or “This is who I am.” Yet, many of us aren't sure what our true identity is. Instead, without even realizing it, we function in a false identity created by fear, shame, trauma, or negative perception. How do we come fully into our true selves to courageously live on purpose? GUEST BIOJamie Winship has decades of experience bringing peaceful solutions to some of the world's highest conflict areas. After a distinguished law enforcement career in the metro Washington, DC area, he worked in high-conflict areas in the Middle East for almost three decades. Jamie has worked with leaders in professional sports, business, education, law enforcement, government, non-profit, and other sectors. He and his wife Donna are co-founders of Identity Exchange which helps individuals and teams discover new levels of creativity and resiliency within the framework of true identity. He is the author of Living Fearless: Exchanging the Lies of the World for the Liberating Truth of God. For more resources, visit:https://www.jamiewinship.comhttps://www.identityexchange.com Follow Identity Exchange on social media:https://instagram.com/identityexchange Follow Jamie Winship on social media:Instagram: https://instagram.com/thejamiewinshipFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/thejamiewinship ORDER Jamie Winship's Book, Living Fearless: Exchanging the Lies of the World for the Liberating Truth of God → https://amzn.to/4c1AYJz LINK TO SHOW NOTESFor all the detailed show notes, tips and links click - https://soloparent.org/show-notes-blog ASK US ANYTHING! We want to answer any Solo Parent questions you may have. Go to SoloParent.org/TalkToUs and ask us anything…it can be related to a topic we cover on the podcast, something you are facing or just something you are curious about. We want you to be part of our podcast! To receive a free SPS Welcome Toolkit with links to groups, info and a free book click - https://soloparent.org/welcome-toolkit Join our FREE daily meditational devotional - pod.link/1517894054 Download our free app - APPLE - https://apple.co/3fKOd6F ANDROID - https://bit.ly/2TvjtOs

TOPICThis week we're discussing Courage To Doubt. We often think of doubt as something negative—as a weakness or a lack of certainty. And if we're doubting our beliefs and they're wrapped in our identity, it can be especially scary. Yet, doubt can actually be a positive thing. How can we encourage our kids to have a healthy relationship with doubt? 3 MAIN POINTSToday, we cover three main points:1) Viewing doubt as either “good” or “bad” (*only spending a short amount of time on this point, focusing mainly on Topic #2 and #3)2) Courage to doubt faith3) Courage to doubt ourselves LINK TO SHOWNOTESFor all the detailed show notes, tips and links click - https://soloparent.org/show-notes-blog ASK US ANYTHING! We want to answer any Solo Parent questions you may have. Go to SoloParent.org/TalkToUs and ask us anything…it can be related to a topic we cover on the podcast, something you are facing or just something you are curious about. We want you to be part of our podcast! To receive a free SPS Welcome Toolkit with links to groups, info and a free book click - https://soloparent.org/welcome-toolkit Join our FREE daily meditational devotional - pod.link/1517894054 Download our free app - APPLE - https://apple.co/3fKOd6F ANDROID - https://bit.ly/2TvjtOs

TOPICThis week we're discussing Courage to Have Difficult Conversations with Our Kids PAIN POINTThere are certain conversations dealing with challenging, confusing, traumatizing, or sensitive topics that some of us would rather avoid talking about with our kids, for a variety of reasons. But the reality is that we cannot always shelter our kids from the difficulties of our world today—and the ability to talk about tough stuff is a skill that we, as parents, need to have. How can we find courage to have difficult conversations with our kids? 3 MAIN POINTSToday, we cover three main points:The myths we believe about hard topicsEstablishing a safe and supportive environmentConversations with younger kids vs. older kids LINK TO SHOWNOTESFor all the detailed show notes, tips and links click - https://soloparent.org/show-notes-blog ASK US ANYTHING! We want to answer any Solo Parent questions you may have. Go to SoloParent.org/TalkToUs and ask us anything…it can be related to a topic we cover on the podcast, something you are facing or just something you are curious about. We want you to be part of our podcast! To receive a free SPS Welcome Toolkit with links to groups, info and a free book click - https://soloparent.org/welcome-toolkit Join our FREE daily meditational devotional - pod.link/1517894054 Download our free app - APPLE - https://apple.co/3fKOd6F ANDROID - https://bit.ly/2TvjtOs TOPICThis week we're discussing Courage to Have Difficult Conversations with Our Kids PAIN POINTThere are certain conversations dealing with challenging, confusing, traumatizing, or sensitive topics that some of us would rather avoid talking about with our kids, for a variety of reasons. But the reality is that we cannot always shelter our kids from the difficulties of our world today—and the ability to talk about tough stuff is a skill that we, as parents, need to have. How can we find courage to have difficult conversations with our kids? 3 MAIN POINTSToday, we cover three main points:The myths we believe about hard topicsEstablishing a safe and supportive environmentConversations with younger kids vs. older kids LINK TO SHOWNOTESFor all the detailed show notes, tips and links click - https://soloparent.org/show-notes-blog ASK US ANYTHING! We want to answer any Solo Parent questions you may have. Go to SoloParent.org/TalkToUs and ask us anything…it can be related to a topic we cover on the podcast, something you are facing or just something you are curious about. We want you to be part of our podcast! To receive a free SPS Welcome Toolkit with links to groups, info and a free book click - https://soloparent.org/welcome-toolkit Join our FREE daily meditational devotional - pod.link/1517894054 Download our free app - APPLE - https://apple.co/3fKOd6F ANDROID - https://bit.ly/2TvjtOs

TOPIC & GUESTThis week we're discussing Creating Safe and Secure Connections with Relationship Expert Julie Menanno PAIN POINTWe are all born with a need to connect and form bonds. We want secure relationships that are full of deep trust, safety, comfort, and confidence. But often, our relationships are not what we imagined they would be. Enter: Attachment theory. It refers to the emotional bond between people—and how we give and receive love, beginning at infancy. Our attachment style informs the formation of all our relationships. So how can we use attachment theory in our favor, to deepen our bonds with those we love most? GUEST BIOJulie Menanno is a licensed marriage and family therapist specializing in Emotionally Focused Therapy for couples. She also provides insight and advice for couples at @TheSecureRelationship on Instagram, with over one million followers. She founded and runs the Bozeman Therapy & Counseling clinic, and The Secure Relationship Coaching. She lives in Bozeman, Montana, with her husband and six children. Today, we cover three main points:1)Can you explain attachment theory to our listeners?2)What are the different attachment styles?3)How do we discover our own attachment style? LINK TO SHOW NOTESFor all the detailed show notes, tips and links click - https://soloparent.org/show-notes-blog ASK US ANYTHING! We want to answer any Solo Parent questions you may have. Go to SoloParent.org/TalkToUs and ask us anything…it can be related to a topic we cover on the podcast, something you are facing or just something you are curious about. We want you to be part of our podcast! To receive a free SPS Welcome Toolkit with links to groups, info and a free book click - https://soloparent.org/welcome-toolkit Join our FREE daily meditational devotional - pod.link/1517894054

TOPICThis week we're discussing How Codependency Ruins Relationships. PAIN POINTThe things we do as codependents is all about trying to protect a relationship and develop deeper connections—but in actuality, codependency keeps us outside of a true relationship. How does codependency ruin relationships and how can we break free from these unhealthy patterns? 3 MAIN POINTSToday, we cover three main points:1) The five core symptoms of codependency2) The backward logic of codependency3) Breaking free from codependency LINK TO SHOWNOTESFor all the detailed show notes, tips and links click - https://soloparent.org/show-notes-blog ASK US ANYTHING! We want to answer any Solo Parent questions you may have. Go to SoloParent.org/TalkToUs and ask us anything…it can be related to a topic we cover on the podcast, something you are facing or just something you are curious about. We want you to be part of our podcast! To receive a free SPS Welcome Toolkit with links to groups, info and a free book click - https://soloparent.org/welcome-toolkit Join our FREE daily meditational devotional - pod.link/1517894054 Download our free app - APPLE - https://apple.co/3fKOd6F ANDROID - https://bit.ly/2TvjtOs

TOPIC & GUESTThis week we're discussing Building Healthy Relationships with Our Kids (Featuring Solo Kids Colton & Zara) PAIN POINTAs single parents, we all want healthy relationships with our kids. And, as any parent knows, it's not as easy as it sounds and there's certainly not a cut-and-dry way of doing this. But are there some good practices to put into place to cultivate openness, mutual respect, trust, and connection? GUEST BIOColton Lee is the oldest son of regular contributor, Marissa Lee. Colton is a Class of 2024 high school graduate and he will be heading to Ole Miss to study Accounting. Zara Beeson is the youngest of Robert's three daughters. Zara graduated from Dental School and is a Certified Dental Assistant at a practice in Franklin, TN. LINK TO SHOW NOTESFor all the detailed show notes, tips and links click - https://soloparent.org/show-notes-blog ASK US ANYTHING! We want to answer any Solo Parent questions you may have. Go to SoloParent.org/TalkToUs and ask us anything…it can be related to a topic we cover on the podcast, something you are facing or just something you are curious about. We want you to be part of our podcast! To receive a free SPS Welcome Toolkit with links to groups, info and a free book click - https://soloparent.org/welcome-toolkit Join our FREE daily meditational devotional - pod.link/1517894054 Download our free app - APPLE - https://apple.co/3fKOd6F ANDROID - https://bit.ly/2TvjtOs

TOPIC & GUESTThis week we're discussing Using Loneliness to Your Advantage with Dr. Chip Dodd PAIN POINTIf there is one word to describe single parenting, it's “loneliness.” We are reminded throughout the day—in big and small ways—that we don't have a partner for companionship. Loneliness hits when we miss our kids if we're co-parenting. And we're always keenly aware there's no one to share the responsibilities, experiences, decision-making, and mental load with; no one to laugh (or cry) with after the kids go to bed. How can we use loneliness to our advantage? GUEST BIOChip Dodd is an author, a speaker, and a counselor. He holds a PhD in counseling and is the author of many books including “The Voice of the Heart,” which has been a cornerstone resource for us here at Solo Parent. LINK TO SHOW NOTESFor all the detailed show notes, tips and links click - https://soloparent.org/show-notes-blog ASK US ANYTHING! We want to answer any Solo Parent questions you may have. Go to SoloParent.org/TalkToUs and ask us anything…it can be related to a topic we cover on the podcast, something you are facing or just something you are curious about. We want you to be part of our podcast! To receive a free SPS Welcome Toolkit with links to groups, info and a free book click - https://soloparent.org/welcome-toolkit Join our FREE daily meditational devotional - pod.link/1517894054 Download our free app - APPLE - https://apple.co/3fKOd6F ANDROID - https://bit.ly/2TvjtOsWherever You Go I Want You To Know is available here. Save 25% by using code: Go25

TOPICThis week we're discussing Building Authentic Relationships When You Don't Have Time PAIN POINTWe crave deep and authentic relationships with other people but developing them takes time and emotional availability. How do we build authentic relationships when we're running scarce on time or energy? 3 MAIN POINTSToday, we cover three main points:1) Who are we giving our time to?2) Quality vs. quantity3) Making friendship the new romance LINK TO SHOWNOTESFor all the detailed show notes, tips and links click - https://soloparent.org/show-notes-blog ASK US ANYTHING! We want to answer any Solo Parent questions you may have. Go to SoloParent.org/TalkToUs and ask us anything…it can be related to a topic we cover on the podcast, something you are facing or just something you are curious about. We want you to be part of our podcast! To receive a free SPS Welcome Toolkit with links to groups, info and a free book click - https://soloparent.org/welcome-toolkit Join our FREE daily meditational devotional - pod.link/1517894054 Download our free app - APPLE - https://apple.co/3fKOd6F ANDROID - https://bit.ly/2TvjtOs Wherever You Go I Want You To Know is available here. Save 25% by using code: Go25

ROUNDTABLE FORMAT TOPICToday we are discussing Finding Peace in Singleness PAIN POINTAs a single parent, the topic of singleness brings up all sorts of hopes, fears, and emotions. Can we make peace with being single while still wanting or being open to romantic love? 3 MAIN POINTSToday, we cover three main points:The importance of self-reflection and being singleMaking peace with not getting what you wantNot settling for “less than” LINK TO SHOWNOTESFor all the detailed show notes, tips and links click - https://soloparent.org/show-notes-blog ASK US ANYTHING! We want to answer any Solo Parent questions you may have. Go to SoloParent.org/TalkToUs and ask us anything…it can be related to a topic we cover on the podcast, something you are facing or just something you are curious about. We want you to be part of our podcast! To receive a free SPS Welcome Toolkit with links to groups, info and a free book click - https://soloparent.org/welcome-toolkit Join our FREE daily meditational devotional - pod.link/1517894054 Download our free app - APPLE - https://apple.co/3fKOd6F ANDROID - https://bit.ly/2TvjtOs ASK US ANYTHING! We want to answer any Solo Parent questions you may have. Go to SoloParent.org/TalkToUs and ask us anything…it can be related to a topic we cover on the podcast, something you are facing or just something you are curious about. We want you to be part of our podcast! To receive a free SPS Welcome Toolkit with links to groups, info and a free book click - https://soloparent.org/welcome-toolkit Join our FREE daily meditational devotional - pod.link/151789405Wherever You Go I Want You To Know is available here. Save 25% by using code: Go25

TOPICThis week we're discussing “Making Peace with Letting Someone Down” PAIN POINTIt's easy to think making peace is “avoiding conflict” or “not standing up for yourself” because things do appear peaceful, but a lot of times, getting to a place of peace requires conflict or boundaries—and it's really hard to do. How do we make peace with letting someone down? 3 MAIN POINTSToday, we cover three main points:1) The difficulty of letting someone down2) What it looks like when you care too much3) How to do the work (and make peace with letting someone down) LINK TO SHOWNOTESFor all the detailed show notes, tips and links click - https://soloparent.org/show-notes-blog ASK US ANYTHING! We want to answer any Solo Parent questions you may have. Go to SoloParent.org/TalkToUs and ask us anything…it can be related to a topic we cover on the podcast, something you are facing or just something you are curious about. We want you to be part of our podcast! To receive a free SPS Welcome Toolkit with links to groups, info and a free book click - https://soloparent.org/welcome-toolkit Join our FREE daily meditational devotional - pod.link/1517894054 Download our free app - APPLE - https://apple.co/3fKOd6F ANDROID - https://bit.ly/2TvjtOs Save 25% at The Good Book.com. Use code Save 25 at checkout.

TOPICThis week we're discussing “Is It Peace or Denial”PAIN POINTWe thought we had forgiven the person who hurt us, but our feelings don't reflect it. We were expecting to stop feeling angry and hurt after we forgave. We're expecting peace and relief. But the pain remains. Does this mean we didn't truly forgive them? How do we know if we've really forgiven? 3 MAIN POINTSToday, we cover three main points: 1) Defining denial and its attributes 2) What peace feels like3) Moving from numbness into cultivating peace LINK TO SHOWNOTESFor all the detailed show notes, tips and links click - https://soloparent.org/show-notes-blog ASK US ANYTHING! We want to answer any Solo Parent questions you may have. Go to SoloParent.org/TalkToUs and ask us anything…it can be related to a topic we cover on the podcast, something you are facing or just something you are curious about. We want you to be part of our podcast! To receive a free SPS Welcome Toolkit with links to groups, info and a free book click - https://soloparent.org/welcome-toolkit Join our FREE daily meditational devotional - pod.link/1517894054 Download our free app - APPLE - https://apple.co/3fKOd6F ANDROID - https://bit.ly/2TvjtOs The Good Book is available here. Save 25% by using code: Go25

Fund conversations that matter: donate.accessmore.comThis week we're discussing How to Begin Healthy Tech Practices in Your Family with Andy Crouch In the past 20 years, technology has advanced at an outstanding, often overwhelming rate. It's ubiquitous; we use it at work, classrooms, homes, and churches. We use it to communicate, be entertained, interact with others, perform household tasks, navigate, wake us up, and countless other uses. It's at our beck and call 24/7. For all its positive and life-changing attributes, it also has incredibly addictive qualities that keep us from living in reality. As parents, we need to be intentional about how we use technology, but it increasingly feels like an uphill battle. How do we implement healthy and realistic technological use in our families? Andy Crouch is a partner for theology and culture at Praxis, a venture-building ecosystem advancing redemptive entrepreneurship. His writing explores faith, culture, and the image of God in the domains of technology, power, leadership, and the arts. He is the author of five books (plus another with his daughter, Amy Crouch) including one we're discussing today called The Tech-Wise Family: Everyday Steps for Putting Technology in Its Proper Place. Andy serves on the governing board of InterVarsity Christian Fellowship. For more than ten years he was an editor and producer at Christianity Today, including serving as executive editor from 2012 to 2016. He served the John Templeton Foundation in 2017 as a senior strategist for communication. His work and writing have been featured in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and Time. He lives with his family in Swarthmore, Pennsylvania. LINK TO SHOW NOTESFor all the detailed show notes, tips and links click - https://soloparent.org/show-notes-blog —> ASK US ANYTHING! We want to answer any Solo Parent questions you may have. Go to SoloParent.org/TalkToUs and ask us anything…it can be related to a topic we cover on the podcast, something you are facing or just something you are curious about. We want you to be part of our podcast! To receive a free SPS Welcome Toolkit with links to groups, info and a free book click - https://soloparent.org/welcome-toolkit Join our FREE daily meditational devotional - pod.link/1517894054Download our free app - APPLE - https://apple.co/3fKOd6F ANDROID - https://bit.ly/2TvjtOs

Fund conversations that matter: donate.accessmore.comTOPICThis week we're discussing How to Define and Move Towards Your Purpose PAIN POINTTrying to determine your purpose or navigating career growth might be the last thing on your mind as a single parent. But, having purpose and moving toward something is important. Being a single parent can feel limiting in many areas, whether it's a logistical difficulty like restricted time and energy or something more personal like self-doubt after our world has been irrevocably changed. How can we define and move toward our purpose while battling the unique obstacles we face as single parents? 3 MAIN POINTSToday, we cover three main points:1) What do we mean by “purpose”?2) What are some things that get in the way of moving to the next level?3) Recognizing your value as a single parent LINK TO SHOW NOTESFor all the detailed show notes, tips and links click - https://soloparent.org/show-notes-blog ASK US ANYTHING! We want to answer any Solo Parent questions you may have. Go to SoloParent.org/TalkToUs and ask us anything…it can be related to a topic we cover on the podcast, something you are facing or just something you are curious about. We want you to be part of our podcast! To receive a free SPS Welcome Toolkit with links to groups, info and a free book click - https://soloparent.org/welcome-toolkit Join our FREE daily meditational devotional - pod.link/1517894054 Download our free app - APPLE - https://apple.co/3fKOd6F ANDROID - https://bit.ly/2TvjtOs

Fund conversations that matter: donate.accessmore.comTOPIC & GUESTThis week we're discussing Financial Growth with Steve Coughran. PAIN POINTHave you ever thought “I wish I knew how to grow my finances in a way that doesn't require me to take on another job”? As a single parent, you likely don't have a lot of extra time to pour into a lucrative side hustle and you don't have the energy a pay raise or promotion requires. Is it possible that, as a working single parent, you can proactively grow your finances? GUEST BIOCFO of an international billion-dollar company and management consultant Steve Coughran has over two decades of experience driving business excellence. Known for his extensive research and writing on strategic growth and corporate financial management, Steve challenges conventional wisdom, earning the reputation of an “energetic trailblazer.” He is an expert on strategy and an acclaimed keynote speaker with over twenty years of experience driving corporate excellence. He is the author of numerous books including Reframing Rich: Creating a Better Relationship With Your Money, Yourself, and Others, and the podcast host of Boosting Your Financial IQ (and several more). LINK TO SHOW NOTESFor all the detailed show notes, tips and links click - https://soloparent.org/show-notes-blog ASK US ANYTHING! We want to answer any Solo Parent questions you may have. Go to SoloParent.org/TalkToUs and ask us anything…it can be related to a topic we cover on the podcast, something you are facing or just something you are curious about. We want you to be part of our podcast! To receive a free SPS Welcome Toolkit with links to groups, info and a free book click - https://soloparent.org/welcome-toolkit Join our FREE daily meditational devotional - pod.link/1517894054 Download our free app - APPLE - https://apple.co/3fKOd6F ANDROID - https://bit.ly/2TvjtOs

Fund conversations that matter: donate.accessmore.comTOPICThis week we're discussing How to Help Our Kids Grow Spiritually PAIN POINTIn America today, most parents don't feel like spiritual experts so they outsource it or hope their children will pick it up through exposure. But a child's spiritual formation is one that a parent needs to prioritize and be involved with. How do parents actively and effectively participate in their children's spiritual formation and growth? 3 MAIN POINTSToday, we cover three main points:1) Why parents are so important in their children's spiritual formation2) Who are our partners in our children's spiritual growth3) A spiritually vibrant home LINK TO SHOW NOTESFor all the detailed show notes, tips and links click - https://soloparent.org/show-notes-blog ASK US ANYTHING! We want to answer any Solo Parent questions you may have. Go to SoloParent.org/TalkToUs and ask us anything…it can be related to a topic we cover on the podcast, something you are facing or just something you are curious about. We want you to be part of our podcast! To receive a free SPS Welcome Toolkit with links to groups, info and a free book click - https://soloparent.org/welcome-toolkit Join our FREE daily meditational devotional - pod.link/1517894054 Download our free app - APPLE - ANDROID

Fund conversations that matter: donate.accessmore.comTOPICThis week we're discussing Getting Out of Our Comfort Zone PAIN POINTWe all like being in our comfort zone because it feels … comfortable. It's easy. When so much of our lives as single parents is challenging, it can feel good to simply hang out there. And after being through so much that has beaten us down, we don't have a clear grasp on our potential. But, to grow, stepping out of our comfort zone and into unfamiliar territory is important. How do we know when it's time to step out of our comfort zone and into growth? 3 MAIN POINTSToday, we cover three main points: 1) Defining the Comfort Zone2) Growth Zone and Panic Zone3) Moving into the Growth Zone LINK TO SHOW NOTESFor all the detailed show notes, tips and links click - https://soloparent.org/show-notes-blog ASK US ANYTHING! We want to answer any Solo Parent questions you may have. Go to SoloParent.org/TalkToUs and ask us anything…it can be related to a topic we cover on the podcast, something you are facing or just something you are curious about. We want you to be part of our podcast! To receive a free SPS Welcome Toolkit with links to groups, info and a free book click - https://soloparent.org/welcome-toolkit Join our FREE daily meditational devotional - pod.link/1517894054 Download our free app - APPLE - ANDROID

We've all experienced a time when emotions got the best of us and completely lost our cool. As single parents, we don't have a partner to co-regulate with or to cover for us as we fight to stabilize our emotions. Sometimes it feels nearly impossible to manage our responses well when we're already trying to manage everything else. How can we regulate big emotions on our own so that we can model healthy emotional regulation for our children? Today, we cover three main points: 1) The basics of emotional regulation 2) The importance of emotional regulation as a parent 3) Tools for stabilizing in unstable moments For all the detailed show notes, tips and links click - soloparent.org/show-notes-blog —> ASK US ANYTHING! We want to answer any Solo Parent questions you may have. Go to SoloParent.org/TalkToUs and ask us anything…it can be related to a topic we cover on the podcast, something you are facing or just something you are curious about. We want you to be part of our podcast! To receive a free SPS Welcome Toolkit with links to groups, info and a free book click - soloparent.org/welcome-toolkit Join our FREE daily meditational devotional - pod.link/1517894054 Download our free app - APPLE - ANDROID

Today we will be talking about the upcoming movie release Unsung Hero with David & Helen Smallbone. “Unsung Hero” follows Helen and David Smallbone after having lost everything when David's successful music company collapses. In 1991, with nothing more than their seven children, suitcases, and a love of music, the family left everything they knew in Australia and moved to the United States, hoping to rebuild their life into a bigger, brighter future. Based on an incredible true story, Helen's faith inspires her husband and children to hold onto theirs as they band together as a family in a brand-new country. With their own dreams on hold, David and Helen begin to realize the musical giftedness in their children, who would become two of the most successful acts in Inspirational Music history: five-time Grammy Award-winning artists for KING + COUNTRY and Rebecca St. James. “Unsung Hero” releases in movie theaters everywhere on April 26, 2024. For all the detailed show notes, tips and links click - soloparent.org/show-notes-blog For information on Unsung Hero Click Here! —> ASK US ANYTHING! We want to answer any Solo Parent questions you may have. Go to SoloParent.org/TalkToUs and ask us anything…it can be related to a topic we cover on the podcast, something you are facing or just something you are curious about. We want you to be part of our podcast! To receive a free SPS Welcome Toolkit with links to groups, info and a free book click - soloparent.org/welcome-toolkit Join our FREE daily meditational devotional - pod.link/1517894054 Download our free app - APPLE - ANDROID

There is so much uncertainty in our world today: our nation, the presidential election, wars, the stock market and economy, our health, the well-being of our children…the list goes on. When we find ourselves standing in the face of uncertainty, how can we deal with it in a healthy and sustainable way? Today, we cover three main points: 1) The desire for certainty 2) The benefits of uncertainty 3) The antidotes to uncertainty For all the detailed show notes, tips and links click - soloparent.org/show-notes-blog —> ASK US ANYTHING! We want to answer any Solo Parent questions you may have. Go to SoloParent.org/TalkToUs and ask us anything…it can be related to a topic we cover on the podcast, something you are facing or just something you are curious about. We want you to be part of our podcast! To receive a free SPS Welcome Toolkit with links to groups, info and a free book click - soloparent.org/welcome-toolkit Join our FREE daily meditational devotional - pod.link/1517894054 Download our free app - APPLE - ANDROID Every girl deserves a faith-filled adventure click here for the NIV Kingdom Girls Bible

Our kids encounter so many cultural influences and outside voices every day. Everything and everyone is vying for their attention, and information about literally anything is at their fingertips. How can we teach our children to stay true to themselves without micromanaging or sheltering them too much? Today, we cover three main points: 1).Identifying outside sources and influences 2).Establishing a safe home base 3).Helping our kids establish their personal values/identity For all the detailed show notes, tips and links click - soloparent.org/show-notes-blog —> ASK US ANYTHING! We want to answer any Solo Parent questions you may have. Go to SoloParent.org/TalkToUs and ask us anything…it can be related to a topic we cover on the podcast, something you are facing or just something you are curious about. We want you to be part of our podcast! To receive a free SPS Welcome Toolkit with links to groups, info and a free book click - soloparent.org/welcome-toolkit Join our FREE daily meditational devotional - pod.link/1517894054 Download our free app - APPLE - ANDROIDEvery girl deserves a faith-filled adventure click here for the NIV Kingdom Girls Bible

We know our kids have gone through much-unwanted instability already, and we will do anything in our power to instill more stability in their lives. But sometimes, this requires us to make really hard decisions. How can we make good decisions for our family, even if it comes at a cost? Is stability even possible? Today, we cover three main points: 1) Making hard decisions.2) The costs of stability3) Stability hacks one bite at time. For all the detailed show notes, tips and links click - https://soloparent.org/show-notes-blog —> ASK US ANYTHING! We want to answer any Solo Parent questions you may have. Go to SoloParent.org/TalkToUs and ask us anything…it can be related to a topic we cover on the podcast, something you are facing or just something you are curious about. We want you to be part of our podcast! To receive a free SPS Welcome Toolkit with links to groups, info and a free book click - https://soloparent.org/welcome-toolkit Join our FREE daily meditational devotional - pod.link/1517894054 Download our free app - APPLE - ANDROID

Parenting is probably the biggest responsibility we'll ever have, and solo parenting may be one of the biggest challenges we'll ever face. Having a village of people supporting us on our best days and loving us on our worst days is paramount and the concept sounds great, but how do we go about building a village? Today, we cover three main points: 1) The meaning and purpose of a village 2) How to build a village 3) Roadblocks to villages For all the detailed show notes, tips and links visit soloparent.org/show-notes-blog —> ASK US ANYTHING! We want to answer any Solo Parent questions you may have. Go to SoloParent.org/TalkToUs and ask us anything…it can be related to a topic we cover on the podcast, something you are facing or just something you are curious about. We want you to be part of our podcast! Receive a free SPS Welcome Toolkit with links to groups, info, and a free book. Join our FREE daily meditational devotional - pod.link/1517894054 Download our free app - APPLE | ANDROID Every girl deserves a faith-filled adventure click here for the NIV Kingdom Girls Bible

Every girl deserves a faith-filled adventure click here for the NIV Kingdom Girls Bible Single Parent Day is in just a few days, on March 21st. For this episode, we wanted to do something special for our solos—and it just so happens that a lot of listeners have been asking us to tell the origin story of Solo Parent. This week we talked to Robert, Amber, and Elizabeth about how Solo Parent came into being. For this conversation, we also welcome back Kimberly Mitchell. Kim is a familiar voice from our podcast and played an instrumental part in the Solo Parent Story.For all the detailed show notes, tips and links visit soloparent.org/show-notes-blog—> ASK US ANYTHING! We want to answer any Solo Parent questions you may have. Go to SoloParent.org/TalkToUs and ask us anything…it can be related to a topic we cover on the podcast, something you are facing, or just something you are curious about. We want you to be part of our podcast!Receive a free SPS Welcome Toolkit with links to groups, info, and a free book.Join our FREE daily meditational devotional - pod.link/1517894054Download our free app - APPLE | ANDROID

Every morning, we wake up and we have to decide: Are we going to get out of bed…or not? There are days when it all feels like too much; the trials and tribulations of this world seem insurmountable and the lure of staying in bed and hiding from everything and everyone looks like the only solution. Every solo parent has experienced this feeling of overwhelm and knows… we still have to do it. Our kids are depending on us. Their world can't run without us. So, how do we get out of bed when we feel like we don't have what it takes? Our guest today is Dr. Alan Noble, an associate professor at Oklahoma Baptist University, and co-founder and editor-in-chief at Christ and Pop Culture. He has written for the Atlantic, Vox, The Gospel Coalition, Christianity Today, and First Things. He is the author of multiple books including the one we're discussing today—” On Getting Out of Bed: The Burden and Gift of Living.” For all the detailed show notes, tips and links visit soloparent.org/show-notes-blog —> ASK US ANYTHING! We want to answer any Solo Parent questions you may have. Go to SoloParent.org/TalkToUs and ask us anything…it can be related to a topic we cover on the podcast, something you are facing, or just something you are curious about. We want you to be part of our podcast! Receive a free SPS Welcome Toolkit with links to groups, info, and a free book. Join our FREE daily meditational devotional - pod.link/1517894054 Download our free app - APPLE | ANDROID Every girl deserves a faith-filled adventure click here for the NIV Kingdom Girls Bible

Fund conversations that matter: donate.accessmore.com One of the most heart-wrenching parts of parenting is seeing our kids struggle. When our child is dealing with physical pain, we rush to their aid and see what we can do to help. Even if they insist they're fine, you know a broken bone when you see it. But, mental health is altogether different. While mental illness can and does present itself physically, so much anxiety and depression happens inside the mind. Mental health is a serious topic, that thankfully has become more widely talked about and acknowledged in recent years. We often feel helpless or unsure of what to do when our child is mentally struggling—especially as solo parents. How do we effectively help our kids deal with anxiety or depression in a healthy way? How can we tell if our kids are okay? Our guest today is Kyle Cruze. Kyle is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in the state of Tennessee. His passion and expertise are with adolescent/teenage boys and their families who are struggling to navigate through the difficult and confusing aspects of this culture and life. Additionally, Kyle works closely with those recovering from alcohol/drug addiction. Kyle practices out of The Counseling Center at Christ Community Church in Franklin, TN. For all the detailed show notes, tips and links visit soloparent.org/show-notes-blog —> ASK US ANYTHING! We want to answer any Solo Parent questions you may have. Go to SoloParent.org/TalkToUs and ask us anything…it can be related to a topic we cover on the podcast, something you are facing, or just something you are curious about. We want you to be part of our podcast! Receive a free SPS Welcome Toolkit with links to groups, info, and a free book. Join our FREE daily meditational devotional - pod.link/1517894054 Download our free app - APPLE | ANDROID

Fund conversations that matter: donate.accessmore.com Falling in love after loss or a failed relationship is not for the faint of heart. Any solo parent knows life is already overwhelming—and to add a romantic element into the mix can feel risky. Love the first time around is often when you're young, inexperienced with the world, and marked with abandon, and recklessness. Does love feel the same the second time around? Today, we cover three main points: 1. The experience: How love feels and is experienced post-loss or post-growth. 2. The person: You're in a relationship with a completely different person, and you've also changed as a person. 3. Your former spouse: The coexistence of your love for your former spouse and your love for the next person.
 For all the detailed show notes, tips and links visit soloparent.org/show-notes-blog —> ASK US ANYTHING! We want to answer any Solo Parent questions you may have. Go to SoloParent.org/TalkToUs and ask us anything…it can be related to a topic we cover on the podcast, something you are facing, or just something you are curious about. We want you to be part of our podcast! Receive a free SPS Welcome Toolkit with links to groups, info, and a free book. Join our FREE daily meditational devotional - pod.link/1517894054 Download our free app - APPLE | ANDROID

Fund conversations that matter: donate.accessmore.com If we're honest, we need to admit we often don't know what healthy love looks like. Codependency can often feel like love. So, how can we tell the difference between love and codependency? Today, we cover three main points: 1) What is codependency? 2) What is a healthy connection? 3) How to set healthy limits For all the detailed show notes, tips and links visit soloparent.org/show-notes-blog —> ASK US ANYTHING! We want to answer any Solo Parent questions you may have. Go to SoloParent.org/TalkToUs and ask us anything…it can be related to a topic we cover on the podcast, something you are facing, or just something you are curious about. We want you to be part of our podcast! Receive a free SPS Welcome Toolkit with links to groups, info, and a free book. Join our FREE daily meditational devotional - pod.link/1517894054 Download our free app - APPLE | ANDROID

Loving as a single parent requires us to sacrifice in ways we didn't expect. But sometimes, we get caught up in the pain and it becomes tit for tat—it turns into a burdensome type of love. We know we have to step outside of ourselves and elevate what is best for our kids but how do we sacrificially love in a healthy way? Today, we cover three main points: 1) The meaning of sacrificial love 2) What sacrificial love is NOT 3) When you feel like you've given all you have For all the detailed show notes, tips and links visit soloparent.org/show-notes-blog —> ASK US ANYTHING! We want to answer any Solo Parent questions you may have. Go to SoloParent.org/TalkToUs and ask us anything…it can be related to a topic we cover on the podcast, something you are facing, or just something you are curious about. We want you to be part of our podcast! Receive a free SPS Welcome Toolkit with links to groups, info, and a free book. Join our FREE daily meditational devotional - pod.link/1517894054 Download our free app - APPLE | ANDROID

Solo parents have experienced an enormous amount of hurt and loss. Some of it is extremely painful—and understandably so. But in order to love our children well, we need to love our story and all the parts of ourselves that participated in it. How can we love ourselves and embrace our inherent value after so much pain? Today, we cover three main points: 1) Losing our value and why it's so important to have 2) Loving your whole story and letting it all be true 3) Steps to loving yourself For all the detailed show notes, tips and links visit soloparent.org/show-notes-blog —> ASK US ANYTHING! We want to answer any Solo Parent questions you may have. Go to SoloParent.org/TalkToUs and ask us anything…it can be related to a topic we cover on the podcast, something you are facing, or just something you are curious about. We want you to be part of our podcast! Receive a free SPS Welcome Toolkit with links to groups, info, and a free book. Join our FREE daily meditational devotional - pod.link/1517894054 Download our free app - APPLE | ANDROID

All single parents are grieving at some level. We know we need to step into the grief and not bypass it, but we aren't always equipped for the process, and we end up coping with grief in an unhelpful manner. How do we practice grief healthily and intentionally? Today, we cover three main points: 1) Defining grief and our understanding of it 2) Personal stories of grief 3) Four tasks of mourning For all the detailed show notes, tips and links visit soloparent.org/show-notes-blog —> ASK US ANYTHING! We want to answer any Solo Parent questions you may have. Go to SoloParent.org/TalkToUs and ask us anything…it can be related to a topic we cover on the podcast, something you are facing, or just something you are curious about. We want you to be part of our podcast! Receive a free SPS Welcome Toolkit with links to groups, info, and a free book. Join our FREE daily meditational devotional - pod.link/1517894054 Download our free app - APPLE | ANDROID