Podcasts about mother doesn

Welcome to the last episode of season one of Motherhood Reimagined. To mark the end of this season I have invited a return guest to the show. Sige was my guest for the second episode of the first season. During that interview, Sige was pregnant with her son and told us she would come back to tell us how she felt about the single-mother-by-choice path. It has been thirteen months since our last conversation and she is very honest and raw about the first year with her child. She shares her struggle with me and reflects on how her feelings have changed since our first episode together. Sige has an unusual living arrangement that she recommends to other single parents. We also discuss dating and how parenthood changes your expectations of a partner. I was really glad to have Sige back on the show and I feel her point-of-view is important for anyone curious about the single-mother-by-choice option. Some highlights of today’s conversation: Welcome back Sige to the show. The arch Sige experienced during her son’s first year. The struggle with resentment and sleep deprivation. Sige’s emotional roller coaster over the last year. How she has dealt with going back to work. Sige’s support system and feelings of isolation. Why mindset is the most important part of parenthood. The unique co-living arrangement Sige has and why it is great. The qualities she is looking for in a partner now. Sige’s opinion on single parenthood. A revisit of our first conversation and Sige’s answers now. The “secret club of parenthood.” The single mom stigma and how Sige copes with it. Sige’s advice to women considering the single mother path. Resources Sign up to be a podcast guest Motherhood Reimagined Website Motherhood Reimagined Tribe Motherhood Reimagined: When Becoming a Mother Doesn’t Go As Planned: A Memoir by Sarah Kowalski Sarah’s email Thank you for joining me for the end of season one. In a few weeks, I will begin a second season. Please feel free to share your feedback with me and take a look at my other content.

Vivian began her path to motherhood with a plan to conceive a child with a close friend. Sadly, she miscarried and a new plan was in order. She chose a sperm donor and moved forward on her journey. We discuss the difficulty of changing “the plan” and what it taught Vivian about herself. She has also made the decision to have a second child via a sperm donor. She explains why she felt now was the time and her hopes for a larger family. We explore the excitement of finding half-siblings and how it fleshes out the family experience for both the mother and child. Vivian is very candid about her ideas of motherhood and how it has evolved over time. Specifically, she discusses the shame she felt during her dating years around admitting that she wanted a family. Unfortunately, this shame is very common with career women and Vivian is very honest about her reasons and mental hurdles she had to conquer to ultimately choose the single-mother-by-choice path. Some highlights of today’s conversation: Vivian’s romantic notion of marriage and family. The shame of admitting out loud the desire for a family. The original baby plan that failed. How Vivian switched her thinking from a personal agreement with a friend to using a sperm donor. The factors she considered to select her sperm donor. Vivian's plan for a second child and where that stands currently. Connecting with half-sibling families and how it helps everyone involved. Why Vivian decided to try for a second child. The pros and cons of raising a toddler. The irrational fears using a donor brings to the surface and how to combat them. How Vivian’s view on her donor has changed. Vivian’s support team and learning to ask for help. How motherhood has changed Vivian’s approach to life. Why you need a plan for your child in the event of your death. Resources Sign up to be a podcast guest Motherhood Reimagined Website Motherhood Reimagined Tribe Motherhood Reimagined: When Becoming a Mother Doesn’t Go As Planned: A Memoir by Sarah Kowalski Sarah’s email Thank you for joining me fo

After her mother passed away, Laura decided she needed to make another connection with another human being and began her unconventional path to motherhood. She went through three years of multiple attempts at IUI (Intrauterine insemination) and several miscarriages. Finally, in 2014, Laura was able to conceive her daughter with IVF (In vitro fertilization.) Laura is very honest about the long and grueling process that led to her pregnancies. We discuss the sperm donor process and how opened id donors interact with sperm banks. Laura also shares the relief of having half-siblings to help ease her daughter’s curiosity in the future. She tells me about their relationship with the other families and how she has approached the topic of her daughter’s conception. We also explore the loneliness of the single-mother-by-choice path. Laura encourages seeking out a community and finding other moms to connect with. Some highlights of today’s conversation: Laura’s ideas of normal and expectations of motherhood. Why her mother’s death kick-started her single-mother-by-choice journey. The medications and processes Laura went through. The three-year process of IUIs and miscarriages. The devastation of losing her babies later in pregnancy. The shift to IVF and the successful pregnancy. How Laura found mom groups and forums. Laura’s donor selection process and the final choice. Laura’s concern about having an opened id donor and how her daughter will react. The benefit of being in contact with half-siblings and their families. The surprising closeness of Laura and her daughter. The isolation of the single-mom-by-choice and how to fight it. Laura’s advice to women considering this path. Resources Sign up to be a podcast guest Motherhood Reimagined Website Motherhood Reimagined Tribe Motherhood Reimagined: When Becoming a Mother Doesn’t Go As Planned: A Memoir by Sarah Kowalski Sarah’s email Thank you for joining us for Motherhood Reimagined. You can contact us through the website or Twitter

My guest today is Jackie, a single-mom-by-choice who wanted to have a co-parenting agreement at the beginning of her journey. The plans for co-parenting fell through and Jackie conceived her child with a sperm donor. Jackie talks about how she approached the co-parenting arrangement and why it didn’t work out. She also discusses her difficult pregnancy and recovery. Jackie dealt with postpartum depression after her delivery. She shares what it was like to cope with those startling feelings and how she reached out for help. We also talk about how to build a support system and why it is good to start early to build your village. Jackie authors a blog called Oakland Choice Mom and hopes to encourage women to consider the single-mother-by-choice option. Some highlights of today’s conversation: Jackie’s early ideas of motherhood and family. Why she wanted to pursue the single-mother-by-choice option. Jackie’s attempts to arrange a co-parenting relationship and why it didn’t happen. How she approached the co-parenting agreement with her friend. How Jackie underestimated the difficulty of the donor process. How she chose her sperm donor. The importance of not having expectations with your donor experience. How Jackie coped with postpartum depression and found the resources to help. Jackie’s support system and how she built it. The Oakland Choice Mom blog. Resources Oakland Choice Mom Blog Oakland Choice Mom Facebook Sign up to be a podcast guest Motherhood Reimagined Website Motherhood Reimagined Tribe Motherhood Reimagined: When Becoming a Mother Doesn’t Go As Planned: A Memoir by Sarah Kowalski Sarah’s email Thank you for joining us for Motherhood Reimagined. You can contact us through the website or Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram

Karin chose to be a single-mother-by-choice in her late 20s. She is now married with a step-daughter and two-parent family structure. I asked Karin to tell me what it was like to date while pregnant and how she weeded out the creeps from the serious candidates. She also tells me about her plans to conceive a child through a friend’s sperm donation and the shift to a sperm donor bank when her original plan didn’t work. She describes the mindset she went through while looking for a new sperm donor. Tragedy struck during her pregnancy when her daughter’s twin was born stillborn. She is very frank about that disappointment and her regrets about that baby’s treatment. We then move on to how Karin met her partner and how they blended two families. She shares her experience as a step-mom and explains the pros and cons of choosing to parent with someone else. She encourages parents to look for their “tribes” and build a community for themselves and their family. Some highlights of today’s conversation: Karin’s early expectations of motherhood. Her plans to conceive her child with a friend. How she chose her sperm donor when the original plan didn’t work. The heartbreak of giving birth to one live child and one stillborn. How Karin balanced dating and pregnancy. When she realized she wanted a blended family. How she met her partner. The upside of parenting with another person. The downside of being part of a partnership. Karin’s life as a step-mom. How she was able to blend her family. Karin’s advice for pregnant women who want to date. Her regrets from her pregnancy. How Karin built a community and tribe for her daughter. Resources Center for Loss in Multiple Births (CLIMB) Sign up to be a podcast guest Motherhood Reimagined Website Motherhood Reimagined Tribe Motherhood Reimagined: When Becoming a Mother Doesn’t Go As Planned: A Memoir by Sarah Kowalski Sarah’s email Thank you for joining us for Motherhood Reimagined. You can contact us through the websi

My guest today is Marni, a single-mother-by-choice who chose the path when the community wasn’t very accessible. She does an excellent job of painting what it was like twelve years ago and the challenges of finding donors. Marni needed both an egg donor and a sperm donor to conceive her son. At the time of Marni’s process, her choices were very limited and sperm donors were always anonymous. She explains how she chose her donors and why she actually had to fight for her sperm donor in the end. She expresses how much the community has changed since her process. The community is much easier to reach out to now. Marni has also raised her son largely on her own away from her family. We discuss the importance of “getting over yourself” and asking for help. It doesn’t mean you are weak. She is also proof that you don’t need family support to raise a child, a common stumbling block for some women. Marni offers a unique perspective on the single-mother-by-choice path. She chose her path at a time when it was not a favorable option, culturally speaking. Which makes it a testament to the drive and resilience of Marni and the community around her. Some highlights of today’s conversation: Marni’s early ideas of motherhood. Why she waited till 40 to try to conceive. The failed IUIs (Intrauterine inseminations) and the switch to IVF (In vitro fertilization.) Deciding to continue with an egg donor instead of adoption. How Marni chose her egg and sperm donors. Why she had to fight to get the same sperm donor as a college friend. What led to the decision to be open and honest with her son about his conception. Why every woman should have the option to stay at home (and why Marni doesn’t.) Asking for help and finding a supportive community to help you. The burden of being both good cop and bad cop. Why you don’t need family close to raise a child and how to make it work. Resources Sign up to be a podcast guest Motherhood Reimagined Website Motherhood Reimagined Tribe Motherhood Reimagined: When Becoming a Mother Doesn’t Go As Planned: A Memoir by Sarah Kowalski Sarah’s email Thank you for joining us for Motherhood Reimagined. You can contact us through the website or Twi

At the age of 38, Elena had her eggs frozen, by her early 40s, she was using those eggs and a sperm donor to conceive a child. She is now the proud mother of a healthy 3-year-old girl. Like most women, Elena had her own ideas of how motherhood was going to be but life went another direction. We discuss how Elena was able to move past her expectations of motherhood. She recommends the benefits of therapy and finding people you can trust to listen and help you sort through the complex emotions that come with this alternative path to motherhood. Elena shares what motherhood has been like for her and what she would tell other women considering the single-motherhood-by-choice path. The joy she feels when she discusses her daughter is really infectious. She truly enjoys the single-mother-by-choice path and is a heart-warming reminder that there is no “right” or “wrong” way to build a family. Some highlights of today’s conversation: Elena’s early ideas of motherhood. The decision to freeze her eggs and the realization she would need them. How therapy helped her let go of her expectations of motherhood. Why you should look for sperm donors that share similar traits to you. The importance of knowing the medical history of a sperm donor. Why Elena is taking the honest approach with her daughter regarding her conception. The overwhelming depth of love Elena feels for her daughter. How being an older and single mother creates appreciation. Why Elena feels she is more comfortable with motherhood. The unexpected exhaustion that comes with motherhood. Elena’s advice to other single-mothers-by-choice. How to find a support group and ask for the help you need. How Motherhood Reimagined is helping the alternative motherhood community. Resources Motherhood Reimagined Website Motherhood Reimagined Tribe Motherhood Reimagined: When Becoming a Mother Doesn’t Go As Planned: A Memoir by Sarah Kowalski Thank you for joining us for Motherhood Reimagined. You can contact us through the website or Twitter, Pinterest,

I’m happy to welcome Jill to the podcast. Jill is a life coach and mentor for people facing big life-altering decisions. Her favorite topic to address is solo parenting. Jill is a single-mother-by-choice who had a definite idea of what her life was supposed to be. Jill is involved with an organization called Uncharted You. She shares what it was like to let go of her “fairy tale” and move forward in becoming the proud mother of her now healthy and thriving son. Jill tried IUI (Intrauterine insemination) early on in her journey but she miscarried. She explores that disappointment with me and focuses more on how she carried on with her dream for motherhood. Although Jill achieved her dream through egg and sperm donation, today’s episode is more so about letting go of your own expectations of motherhood and the reality that motherhood doesn’t end with the release form from the hospital. Some highlights of today’s conversation: Jill’s “fairy tale” and why she struggled with it. Her failed pregnancy and the 3-year process. How Jill let go of her fear, expectations, and the fairy tale. How she stayed focus on her goal. The powerful mother-by-choice community. How Jill’s journey led to personal growth. The pros and cons of solo parenting. There is no final destination as a mom. Don’t take yourself too seriously. Why the Family Book is a helpful resource. Let go of perfection and aim for progress. Alternative paths to motherhood are valid paths. Keep moving forward on your journey. Resources Motherhood Reimagined Website Motherhood Reimagined Tribe Motherhood Reimagined: When Becoming a Mother Doesn’t Go As Planned: A Memoir by Sarah Kowalski Uncharted You Jill’s email The Family Book by Todd Parr Thank you for joining us for Motherhood Reimagined. You can contact us through the website or Twitt

Gail Sexton Anderson is the CEO and founder of Donor Concierge, an organization that helps clients find egg and sperm donors. Gail explains how her organization approaches the sensitive topic of egg and sperm donation and surrogacy. She also offers great advice for women currently looking for donors or surrogates. Gail shares her observations of common hang-ups clients have regarding the donor and surrogacy process. She suggests ways to make the process more comfortable for the donor and the client, and how her organization fits into the system established by several agencies around the country. Some highlights of today’s conversation: Why Gail began Donor Concierge. The agencies and physicians Donor Concierge work with in tandem. How Donor Concierge helps their clients before and during the process. Gail’s advice for women looking for a gestational carrier. Her advice for women looking for egg and sperm donors. How Donor Concierge helps with the surrogacy process. The facts Gail thinks clients need to consider in the beginning. The pros and cons of using first-time donors. Tips for meeting a potential donor. The importance of transparency within your family and knowing what is best for your situation. Gail’s final advice to the audience. Resources Donor Concierge Motherhood Reimagined Website Motherhood Reimagined Tribe Motherhood Reimagined: When Becoming a Mother Doesn’t Go As Planned: A Memoir by Sarah Kowalski Thank you for joining us for Motherhood Reimagined. You can contact us through the website or Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram, and Facebook. Also, consider joining our Motherhood Reimagined Tribe to connect with other women just like you. Please join us for our next episode when we talk to another inspirational mother! Quotes:

Stacy is a single mother by choice who had a grueling eight-year journey to motherhood. She shares her struggles with infertility and the disappointments regarding the adoption and surrogacy processes. She researched every avenue available to her and suffered many miscarriages. In the end, the surrogacy process and adoption process paid off and she became the proud mother of two children. One through surrogacy and one through adoption. Stacy explores her emotions during this time. She also discusses the stigmas as well as the hidden angels she found during her journey. There are pearls of wisdom in this episode for every mother and every woman wanting to be a mother. Some highlights of today’s conversation: Stacy’s image of motherhood in the beginning. The string of miscarriages and hysterectomy that were a turning point. The avenues Stacy explored such as adoption and surrogacy. The failed attempts Stacy had to overcome. The day Stacy got the phone call about her two children –the 24 hours that ended her 8 year journey to motherhood with two kids. How not to give up on your desire to be a mother. The grieving process Stacy went through when letting go of the idea of biological children. The stigma regarding adopted children versus biological children. Stacy’s encouragement to future single-mothers-by-choice. What she likes about motherhood and what she doesn’t. Stacy’s parting advice to the audience. Resources Motherhood Reimagined Website Motherhood Reimagined Tribe Motherhood Reimagined: When Becoming a Mother Doesn’t Go As Planned: A Memoir by Sarah Kowalski Thank you for joining us for Motherhood Reimagined. You can contact us through the website or Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram, and Facebook. Also, consider joining our Motherhood Reimagined Tribe to connect with other women just like you. Please join us for our next episode when we talk

Welcome to Motherhood Reimagined, the podcast that helps women who are choosing single motherhood to find a community and helpful resources to prepare for unconventional paths to motherhood. My guest today is Sige Weisman, a therapist who is currently expecting her first child via a natural IUI (intrauterine insemination.) Sige shares why she decided to leave a loving, yet unready relationship to pursue single motherhood. She explores her connection to love and family and how the IUI path has changed her thinking. She encourages women to let go of their fear of single motherhood and consider an unconventional pregnancy method. We also acknowledge the serious questions a woman needs to ask herself before going through the process. Sige is at an interesting crossroads that many women find themselves. I think Sige’s story is relatable for a lot of women and is exciting and beautiful. If you have a takeaway from today, let it be don’t let your desire for children take a backseat to a relationship. Some highlights of today’s conversation: Sige’s plans for her life in her early 20s. The conversation that made her consider an alternative path to motherhood. Sige’s plans to freeze her eggs and why it wasn’t an option for her. The serious relationship that was the catalyst to begin her IUI journey. How Sige decided to move forward with her motherhood path without a partner. How Sige separated her desire for children from her desire for romance. What she considered when choosing her donor. How Sige feels about being days away from motherhood. The loneliness that comes with single motherhood. Sige’s master’s research about middle age women’s attitudes about motherhood. The negative reactions to her pregnancy and questions she still needs to ask herself. Why Sige considers herself privileged to take this path to motherhood. Resources SF Women's Therapy California Cryobank Motherhood Reimagined website Motherhood Reimagined: When Becoming a Mother Doesn’t Go As Planned: A Memoir by Sarah Kowalski Thank you for joining us for Motherhood Reimagined. You can contact us through the website or Twitter, Pinterest

Abby is a twice single mother by choice. She shares her story about choosing the sperm donor path and why she chose to give the gift of an embryo to another hopeful mother. Abby compares her two pregnancies and discusses the trouble of having two children along with the joy of it. She offers advice to other mothers considering having a second child and tells a really touching story about embryo donation and what it has meant to her family. Some highlights of today’s conversation: Abby’s expectations for her family life. The events that lead to Abby’s decision to use a sperm donor. The lab issues and the rushed decision about her sperm donor at the last minute. Abby’s second pregnancy and how it differed from the first. Why Abby prefers single motherhood and doesn’t regret it. What Abby likes about motherhood and what she doesn’t. Why Abby decided to be an embryo donor. The process of donating the embryo and the impact on her family. Resources Motherhood Reimagined Website Motherhood Reimagined Tribe Motherhood Reimagined: When Becoming a Mother Doesn’t Go As Planned: A Memoir by Sarah Kowalski Thank you for joining us for Motherhood Reimagined. You can contact us through the website or Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram, and Facebook. Also, consider joining our Motherhood Reimagined Tribe to connect with other women just like you. Please join us for our next episode when we talk to another inspirational mother!

Welcome to Motherhood Reimagined, the podcast that helps women who are choosing single motherhood to find a community and helpful resources to prepare for unconventional paths to motherhood. My guest today is Janice Held, she is an architect who decided to conceive a child via a sperm and egg donor. Janice shares how her thinking changed during the donor process and how she soldiered on even when things didn’t go smoothly. We discuss her expectations of motherhood and the misconceptions that held her back from taking the donor path. We also cover the importance of having a support system during the donor process. Janice shares a very uplifting and all too common experience. The largest lesson I think listeners can take away from this episode is, listen to yourself, connect with yourself and do what you feel is best for you. Some highlights of today’s conversation: Janice’s early years and original plans for motherhood. What led to her decision to use both sperm and egg donor? Why Janice wanted to carry her own child. The fears and bias that kept Janice moving forward in the process. How she overcame those fears and bias. How meditation helped Janice to cope with the donor process.How Janice feels about having had a child at an older age. The importance of listening to yourself and knowing what you want. The new definition of family and how society is adjusting. Resources California Cryobank Motherhood Reimagined website Motherhood Reimagined: When Becoming a Mother Doesn’t Go As Planned: A Memoir by Sarah Kowalski Shady Grove Fertility Thank you for joining us for Motherhood Reimagined. You can contact us through the website or Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram, and Facebook. Please join us for our next episode when we talk to another inspirational mother!

Welcome the first episode of the Motherhood Reimagined podcast! I am your host Sarah Kowalski. I am an author, life coach, fertility doula, a certified Feldenkrais method practitioner, and Qigong instructor. I started this podcast as a way to unite women who are considering alternative paths to motherhood. I chose the “single mother by choice” path for myself and it has been one of my best decisions. Many women have personal bias and fears that keep them from being a mother. I want to help these women. I want to celebrate motherhood in all its forms. During this episode, I tell you my story. How I came to this unconventional path and how I hope to inspire and encourage my listeners to follow their hearts. Some highlights of today’s conversation: What the term “single mother by choice” means. My early ideas of motherhood and family. My journey to self-growth. My alternative path to motherhood. The mothers who are featured on my podcast. How my guests chose their sperm and egg donors and other standard questions I will ask on my show. Resources Motherhood Reimagined Website Motherhood Reimagined Tribe Motherhood Reimagined: When Becoming a Mother Doesn’t Go As Planned: A Memoir by Sarah Kowalski Thank you for joining us for Motherhood Reimagined. You can contact us through the website or Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram, and Facebook. Please join us for our next episode when we talk to another inspirational mother!

Biz and Theresa are too tired to talk about anything deep so we pull out our tiny screw drivers and talk about batteries! Plus Biz has cake guilt, Theresa has a super brain, and we talk to Sarah Kowalski, Esq. about her new book Motherhood Reimagined: When becoming a Mother Doesn’t Go As Planned, where she discusses fertility issues and single motherhood by choice. Sarah Kowalski's new book Motherhood Reimagined: When Becoming a Mother Doesn't Go As Planned will be out on October 17th, but you can pre-order it now. Also, don't forget to check out Sarah's FREE Ultimate Guide to Discussing Alternative Family Structures With Your Kids! Brooklyn: Tickets for One Bad Mother Live at The Bell House on Saturday October 14th are on sale now! Check out our book! You're Doing A Great Job!: 100 Ways You're Winning at Parenting! Thank you to all our listeners who support the show as monthly members of MaximumFun.org. Our sponsors this week are Care.com and Texture. To save 30% off a Care.com Premium membership, visit care.com/badmother when you subscribe! And go to texture.com/badmother to get your 14 day free trial! Share your genius and fail moments! Call 206-350-9485 Be sure to tell us at the top of your message whether you're leaving a genius moment, a fail, or a rant! Thanks!! Share a personal or commercial message on the show! Details at MaximumFun.org/Jumbotron. Subscribe to One Bad Mother in iTunes Join our mailing list Join the amazing community that is our private One Bad Mother Facebook group Follow One Bad Mother on Twitter Follow Biz on Twitter Follow Theresa on Twitter Like us on Facebook! Get a OBM tee, tank, baby shirt, or mug from the MaxFunStore You can suggest a topic or a guest for an upcoming show by sending an email to onebadmother@maximumfun.org. Show Music Opening theme: Summon the Rawk, Kevin MacLeod (http://incompetech.com) Ones and Zeros, Awesome, Beehive Sessions (http://awesomeinquotes.com, also avail on iTunes) Mom Song, Adira Amram, Hot Jams For Teens (http://adiraamram.com, avail on iTunes) Telephone, Awesome, Beehive Sessions (http://awesomeinquotes.com, also avail on iTunes) Closing music: Mama Blues, Cornbread Ted and the Butterbeans