Solo Parent Society

This week we're discussing what it really means to Heal What You Can't Erase. For so many solo parents, pain feels like something to avoid, something that has to be buried, fixed, or outrun. But what if healing doesn't begin by pushing past the ache, but by stepping directly into it? Whether it's overthinking to stay in control, using willpower to force peace, or burying shame so deeply we forget it's there, the pain we carry is not a sign of weakness. It's often the doorway to wholeness. In this powerful episode, we're joined by Christopher Cook, a podcast host, leadership coach, and author of Healing What You Can't Erase, who guides us into a deeper understanding of why true transformation can only begin from the inside out. Today, we cover three main points: Why self-help and willpower can't heal what was never meant to be carried alone. How overthinking, busyness, and even good habits can become armor that protects us from deeper wounds. Why grief is not the end of the story…it's the beginning of peace. RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE: Healing What You Can't Erase by Christopher Cook Win Today with Christopher Cook – Weekly podcast focused on mental, emotional, and spiritual health We want to answer any Solo Parent questions you may have. Submit your listener questions HERE. Full Show Notes  Learn more about Solo Parent Follow us on Instagram

This week we're discussing what it really means to tell the difference between a healthy coping strategy and a hidden vice. When you're walking through the exhaustion, grief, or stress of solo parenting, it's easy to reach for anything that brings a moment of relief. But what happens when that "relief" starts taking more than it gives? Whether it's overworking, social scrolling, constant busyness, or even pouring into your kids or community, some behaviors that seem helpful can quietly become harmful. This week, we're joined by Amber Fuller, a counselor with a Masters in Marriage and Family Therapy (MMFT), to explore how to recognize the difference, and how to care for your needs in ways that lead to healing, not just distraction. Today, we cover three main points: What common vices solo parents turn to and why How to distinguish between a healthy coping strategy and a destructive vice Practical ways to meet your needs without avoiding your pain We want to answer any Solo Parent questions you may have. Submit your listener questions HERE. Full Show Notes Learn more about Solo Parent Follow us on Instagram  

This week we're discussing the idea that You're Being Trained, And You Don't Even Know It.  In this conversation with Amber Fuller - a counselor with a Masters in Marriage and Family Therapy (MMFT) - we explore how our digital world is training us in ways we don't even realize—and how reclaiming stillness might be one of the most healing things we can do. It's easy to think we're just scrolling, checking, or Googling, but what if the constant presence of technology is actually shaping how we relate to ourselves, to others, and even to God? For solo parents especially, those quiet, in-between moments can be some of the only opportunities we have to connect inwardly. But what happens when silence feels impossible? When we're too distracted to be still? In this episode, we explore why stillness matters, what we're losing in our addiction to connectivity, and how to take back our attention. Today, we cover three main points: Who or what is training us? The cost of constant connectivity Reclaiming the value of stillness and waiting We want to answer any Solo Parent questions you may have. Submit your listener questions HERE. Full Show Notes Learn more about Solo Parent Follow us on Instagram  

This week we're discussing what it really means to Stop Chasing Peace and Start with This. Our guest today is Laurie Lokey, a licensed professional counselor and co-founder of Resilient Love. Laurie specializes in trauma recovery and relationship health, and her compassionate, no-nonsense approach helps people move from self-protection to deep emotional connection.  Her work blends clinical expertise with personal experience in a warm, accessible way. For so many solo parents, peace feels like something we have to earn…by fixing ourselves, performing, or knowing all the right answers. But often, the more we try to "get better," the more disconnected we feel from who we really are. What if peace isn't found in doing more, but in learning to just be? Today, we cover three main points: Why fixing ourselves doesn't work How shame hijacks healing Finding peace in the present moment   RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE: billandlaurielokey.com: Free video teachings on relationships and emotional health resilientloveprogram.com: Group program focused on healing and self-reconnection We want to answer any Solo Parent questions you may have. Submit your listener questions HERE. Full Show Notes Learn more about Solo Parent Follow us on Instagram

This week we are discussing The Growth Secret No One Talks About. We often equate growth with activity and achievement, but in doing so, we overlook one of its most profound forms—the ability to sit with discomfort without immediately seeking a way out. How can we embrace stillness as a path to growth?  Today, we cover three main points: How to redefine growth The power of stillness Stillness as a tool We want to answer any Solo Parent questions you may have. Submit your listener questions HERE. Additional Resources: Full Show Notes  Download our Solo Parent App  Join a Solo Parent Group Learn more about Solo Parent Follow us on Instagram

This week we are discussing How To Feel Better In Minutes. When we're hit with overwhelming feelings, sometimes we need an immediate solution. We don't have time to unpack it with a therapist or we don't have the energy to completely change our lifestyle, but we have a strong felt need. What are some easy and tangible ways to feel better within a matter of minutes? Today, we cover three main points:  How to feel better where you are. How to boost yourself emotionally. Responding to physical needs. We want to answer any Solo Parent questions you may have. Submit your listener questions HERE. Additional Resources: Full Show Notes  Download our Solo Parent App  Join a Solo Parent Group Learn more about Solo Parent Follow us on Instagram

This week we are talking with Justin and Trisha Davis about ‘One Choice Away From Change.'   Sometimes, we are so stuck in unhealthy relationship patterns with others or ourselves, that we don't even realize it. Or, we just don't know how to break that cycle and build lasting change, so we're left with hurt, disappointment, discouragement, and exhaustion. With so many responsibilities and pressure already on our shoulders, how do we as single parents identify and overcome these dysfunctional cycles that hold us back, one choice at a time?    Justin and Trisha Davis are pastors, speakers, and the founders of RefineUs Ministries. They coauthored Beyond Ordinary: When a Good Marriage Just Isn't Good Enough, and Justin's book Being Real > Being Perfect: How Transparency Leads to Transformation is a USA Today bestseller. Justin and Trisha have five kids and live in Indianapolis.   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!   Learn More About Solo Parent   

This week we are discussing the One Thing That's Standing in the Way of the Future You Want.   Sometimes, pain numbs us to the point that we can't see a future we're motivated to move toward. We feel stuck, directionless, and not excited about what lies ahead. How do we move forward in positive expectation?   Today, we cover three main points:  How to define horizonlessness Normalizing horizonlessness Looking toward the future   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!   Learn More About Solo Parent 

This week we are discussing ‘What If I Need to Rock the Boat?'   We all know what instability feels like, and many of us don't want to rock the boat even more if we don't have to. But, sometimes we get stuck in what feels comfortable and we recognize things aren't as they should be; they're not healthy and not moving us forward. How do we lean into rocking the boat in a sustainable, positive, and purposeful way?    Today, we cover three main points:  1) Normalizing and demystifying instability. 2) Why instability can lead to stability.  3) How to purposefully disrupt your life.   LINK TO SHOWNOTES 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!   Learn More About Solo Parent 

This week we are discussing ‘How Long, Oh  Lord?' with Marty Solomon.   The pain, chaos, and instability that leads to single parenting is so intense we want it to end as soon as possible—but it doesn't, and we don't know when it will. We feel like we're wandering in the desert with no relief in sight. Is it possible to find hope and not live in fear of the rug being pulled out when things are stable?    Marty Solomon grew up in the Reformed tradition before attending Boise Bible College and getting his B.A. in Christian Ministries. In 2008 he studied in Israel with Ray Vander Laan and was challenged to grapple with his own Jewish heritage. As he learned more about the wider conversation surrounding the Bible, especially through a Jewish context, he began to develop BEMA Discipleship as a way to share his experience with others. He found his way into Impact Campus Ministries, seeing college students as in the perfect stage of life to experiment with the methods he saw in Jesus. Marty began leading trips of his own to Israel and Turkey in 2014. After a few iterations of his BEMA material, The BEMA Podcast was launched in 2016, making it accessible to a global audience. He and his wife, Becky, currently live in Cincinnati; they are committed to the work of ministry together and of raising their two kids, Abigail and Ezekiel.   You can find these things and more from Marty at martysolomon.com.   Find Marty's book martysolomon.com/books.   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!   Learn More About Solo Parent   

This week we are discussing ‘How Much Change Can My Kids Take?' with Kyle Cruze.   Our kids have experienced so much change already, and we know stability is important. How much change can they endure before there are lasting consequences?    Kyle is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in the state of Tennessee. Since graduate school, Kyle has dedicated almost all his professional time to working with adolescent/teenage boys and their families. Recognizing the huge need that boys have for clarity and guidance, Kyle has sat with hundreds of kids and their parents with the goal of helping them navigate through the difficult and confusing 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 in college. It was through those experiences on and off the court that much of his curiosity and interest in people and their stories began. Prior to moving into full-time private practice, Kyle worked at a residential treatment center with high school boys and their families who were struggling with substance abuse and addiction. During these years, Kyle also frequently spoke at national conferences, local schools, and parent groups. Kyle was born and raised in Knoxville, TN. It was there that he met his wife Kristen who is a Franklin, TN native. Together they have two boys and a girl.   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!   Learn More About Solo Parent   

This week we are discussing ‘What is Stability?' as a single parent.   If you define the life of a single parent, you might say that instability is the word. The challenges and chaos of work-life balance, finances, emotional stress, and more are simply a given when you're a solo parent, and because of that, we may often feel like our situation is not stable. But what does stability actually mean? Are we actually creating a stable environment but we just don't realize it?    Today, we cover three main points:  1) How to tell the difference between uncertainty and instability. 2) Responding to the fluctuations of stability in seasons. 3) Practical ways to pursue stability.    LINK TO SHOWNOTES 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! Learn More About Solo Parent

This week we are discussing “When Your Child Triggers You”   Everyone who has been through trauma has triggers. Our children can often push those buttons and trigger a strong response from us—and single parents don't have a backup person to help out when this happens. If we're overwhelmed, we react to triggers instead of responding—and it doesn't go well. What do we do when our child triggers us, and how can we use them to our benefit?    Today, we cover three main points:  Defining Triggers Navigating Triggers The Healing Power of Triggers   LINK TO SHOWNOTES 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!   Learn More About Solo Parent 

This week we are discussing “Parenting a Child Who's Mad at You”    It's inevitable that our kids will be mad at us, whether they're five years old or twenty-five. Their anger can feel like a heavy weight loaded onto our already-exhausting life! How do we effectively and lovingly parent a child who's mad at us?   3 MAIN POINTS Today, we cover three main points:  Reasons Our Kids Get Angry Our Response (What We Can Do) Keeping Our Side of the Street Clean   LINK TO SHOWNOTES 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!   Learn More About Solo Parent 

In this week's episode - “The Three Phases of Solo Parenting” - we are honoring single parents as we lead up to National Single Parent Day.   In 1984, President Ronald Reagan signed Proclamation 516, designating March 21st as National Single Parent Day. The proclamation recognized the courage and dedication of single parents. Only those who have been on this often-lonely and overwhelming path know just how challenging it is to be a single parent.    We are all at different stages in our solo parent journey—some of us are just beginning, and some of us are decades past that point. We wanted to create something to help you figure out where you are in your journey. That's why we're introducing the Three Phases of Solo Parenting that you can download below—a framework shaped by the stories of thousands of single parents we've walked alongside.    To bring these phases to life, we have the honor of interviewing three solo parents, each sharing their unique story and representing one of these stages.   Triage Recovery Wellness   LINK TO SHOWNOTES For all the detailed show notes, tips and links click - https://soloparent.org/show-notes-blog   What stage of Solo Parenting are you in? Take the free SOLO PARENT WELLNESS ASSESSEMENT  *Assessment will automatically download.    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!   Learn More About Solo Parent 

This week we are discussing “Getting Out From Under the Single Parent Guilt”   As a single parent, we are second-guessing and undermining ourselves. We want what's best for our kids but don't feel like we're able to deliver it, so we overcompensate or feel like giving up. How can we parent from a place of balance rather than swinging from a pendulum of too hands-off or too involved?   Today, we cover three main points:  The Guilt Present, Not Perfect Good-Enough Parenting   LINK TO SHOWNOTES 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!   Learn More About Solo Parent 

This week we are discussing “Helping Our Kids Grieve Loss” with Annie F. Downs and Tatum Green - authors of Where Did TJ Go?   None of us are exempt from loss. We have all lost someone we love in some way or another. This is a painful subject that we often don't know how to talk to our kids about—but it's also incredibly crucial that we do. How do we talk to our kids about grief and loss in a healthy, honest, and appropriate way? Our guests this week, New York Times bestselling author, Annie F. Downs and her sister, Tatum Green are Co-Authors on a new book - Where Did TJ Go? (Baker Books) and they will help us navigate this challenging topic.    Where Did TJ Go? helps children and families deal with grief and loss, offering comfort and hope.   After Green suffered the loss of a baby, Downs wrote a story for her nephew, Sam, about where his baby brother TJ went. Beautifully illustrated by Jennie Poh, Where Did TJ Go? helps grieving families explain what happened and what kind of experiences a child might be having in heaven with the God who loves them and makes everything good in its time.Tender and sincere, this story doesn't shy away from the hurt even as it offers comfort and hope to those left behind. "We are so hopeful that this book will serve families in their grief- giving parents some tools for starting conversations with their kids, and giving kids some vision and hope about eternity."   https://wheredidtjgo.com/ 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!   Learn More About Solo Parent 

This week we are discussing Teaching Our Kids Healthy Love   We want to teach our kids what healthy love or a healthy marriage looks like, but without two parents in the household, often what they've seen is broken or simply non-existent. How do we teach our kids about building healthy relationships when we aren't able to model it for them?    Today, we cover three main points:  Relationships are Relationships Setting the Tone  When our kids are in unhealthy relationships    LINK TO SHOWNOTES 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!   Learn More About Solo Parent 

This week we are discussing Navigating Single Parent Dating: FAQs    Dating is hard, period. There's no manual, no “right way” of doing things. But when you're a single parent, it gets even trickier; you have kids now and dating has changed significantly in this digital age. How can single parents navigate dating and all its complexities?    LINK TO SHOWNOTES 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 Is it Love or Loneliness?   Sometimes loneliness cuts so deep that we'll accept less than what we want or deserve; we're willing to take love from anyone we can get—both in romantic and non-romantic relationships. Sometimes it's really love, but other times it's simply a solution for our loneliness. How can we tell the difference in our relationships?    Today, we cover three main points:  How loneliness and love are intertwined Why we don't want to be lonely Questions to ask ourselves    LINK TO SHOWNOTES 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 Healthy vs Unhealthy Love with Laurie Lokey. As solo parents, we may not have experienced healthy relationships in our past, resulting in a distorted view of what relationships should actually look like. How can we define healthy relationships and what are some guidelines so that we're able to identify toxic or unsafe connections in our lives?  LAURIE LOKEY M.A.LPC-MHSP, CTT, EMDR-II Laurie co-founded Resilient Love with her husband, Bill, after decades of clinical work individually and leading couples intensives together. She is passionate about partnering with people on their journey to find hope and resiliency. She completed her master's degree at Trevecca University as a Licensed Professional Counselor and she has created an individual intensive therapy model for the healing of trauma which she continues to develop in her practice. Laurie's love for helping people heal from the impact of trauma led her to work with a specialist and traumatologist, Dr. Lee Norton. From their work, she developed her own modality called “Trauma Stage Processing,” which she and her husband, Bill, have taught to clinicians across the country. Laurie has worked as an intensive specialist for the past 15 years and has a thriving private practice based in Spring Hill, TN. Resilient Love is the culmination of decades of clinical therapy experience of her and Bill combined with their journey and wisdom of navigating life in light of the love of Jesus. https://www.resilientloveprogram.com/   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

  This week we are discussing Unnecessary Things: Wasteful Spending   As single parents, we often need to be thoughtful about how we spend our money because our resources tend to be very slim; there's always an opportunity cost involved. And when everything is stretched so thin, it's hard to know what is wasteful spending vs. wise spending—there's a huge learning curve on top of everything else we do. How can we retrain ourselves and our spending habits?     Today, we cover three main points:  1) What is wasteful spending?  2) The emotions around spending money. 3) How to spend mindfully.   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: No Regrets   Regret as a single parent runs deep. It can be in the day to day interactions with our kids, the thing we didn't say to our former spouse and wish we had, the choices we've made with our lives that got us where we are. But can all of these regrets actually serve us moving forward? How can we use regret to our advantage and actually have a better life because of them?    Today, we cover three main points:  1) Misconceptions of regret 2) The four core regrets 3) Using regret to grow and shape the future   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: 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 worry 2) Finding the root of the issue 3) 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

Visit donate.accessmore.com to give to help fund more episodes and shows like this. 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

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

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