Podcasts about solo parent society

Are you a single parent or do you know a single parent? Did you know that 34% of households in America are single parent households? On this week's episode of Embracing Your Season, host Paige Clingenpeel talks with special guest, Robert Beeson as he shares about the Solo Parent Society, a resource and support system for solo parents. He discusses how being a single parent to his three daughters for many years affected his decision to start this support system to encourage, equip and have a safe community for other solo parents to be a part of. Paige's Takeaways:We all need to be seen, known and supported in community.  Places to find support and community can be through the solo parent app, churches, neighbors or close friends. We are designed by God to be known, seen and loved.Recognize that your child needs you to be healthy.  We model for our kids how we take care of ourselves by self-care and creating safe boundaries in relationships with others. Our kids are watching how we interact in relationships and that trickles down to them and how they think they should be treated.  There are lots of resources available online about how to take care of yourself.Don't try to be both parents. We need to have or invite other trusted people into our kids' lives of opposite gender because we were not created to do it all by ourselves.  Forms of trusted adults can be guidance counselors, teachers, youth pastors, even therapists. We need to surround our kids intentionally so they can be spoken over by other people that come alongside the solo parent.If you are a single parent and your heart is desiring companionship again, make sure you are not pursuing a dating relationship to find completion.  Define what you are looking for in dating someone. Whether you are married or single, a spouse will not complete you or make you whole because we are created beings in the image of God.  That is who you are! Relationships are work and not complete freedom. Paige ClingenpeelQuestions About the Podcast? paigeclingenpeel@gmail.comFacebook: Paige ClingenpeelInstagram: paigeclingenpeelHomeWordRobert Beeson - Soloparent.orgBook - Going SoloSolo Parent App

This week Melinda is joined by someone familiar to some of you... Kimberley Mitchell is back with us! Kimberley Mitchell is Co-Host of the Solo Parent Society podcast and former guest panelist on See Hear Love. Kimberley has spent more than 3 decades in church ministry across Canada and the US, sharing encouragement through speaking, singing and writings. Her broadcast and music studies lead to many television and radio appearances as well as recording artist work. After eight years as a single mother, Kimberley married the love of her life, Brian. Kimberley has a son, Kai, and a daughter, Serena, and two bonus sons, Campbell, and Emerson who are all young adults. Kimberley and Brian, and their dog, Teddy, are now beginning that ‘empty nest' stage of life. They reside in Franklin, Tennessee.

This week Melinda is joined by someone familiar to some of you... Kimberley Mitchell is back with us! Kimberley Mitchell is Co-Host of the Solo Parent Society podcast and former guest panelist on See Hear Love. Kimberley has spent more than 3 decades in church ministry across Canada and the US, sharing encouragement through speaking, singing and writings. Her broadcast and music studies lead to many television and radio appearances as well as recording artist work. After eight years as a single mother, Kimberley married the love of her life, Brian. Kimberley has a son, Kai, and a daughter, Serena, and two bonus sons, Campbell, and Emerson who are all young adults. Kimberley and Brian, and their dog, Teddy, are now beginning that ‘empty nest' stage of life. They reside in Franklin, Tennessee.

In this episode of The Warrior Podcast I speak with Robert Beeson, founder of Solo Parent Society. Robert founded Essential Records back in the 90's and worked with artist such as Jars of Clay, Third Day, and more. In our conversation, Robert shares his story of growing up in South Africa, his experiences in the music industry, and raising his kids as a solo parent. Episode Links Books: Going Solo - Robert Beeson Abba's Child - Brennan Manning The Voice of the Heart - Chip Dodd Parenting with Heart - Chip Dodd Crazy Love - Francis Chan Letters to the Church - Francis Chan  Solo Parents Society Website: https://soloparent.org/ Solo Parent Podcast: https://soloparent.org/podcast RE:sist Facebook Group: www.facebook.com/thewarriorsguildformen RE:sist Website: www.resistmovement.net

On so many levels, the life of a single parent can be heartbreaking, over and over again. After experiencing repeated hurts, it can be hard to believe that something good will come. Our focus this month is on courage and this week, on the podcast, Dr. Chip Dodd joins Robert and Kimberley to talk about having the courage to find the gift of hurt. Dr. Chip Dodd is the best-selling author of seven books including one which serves as a foundational tool for many of the things we do here at Solo Parent Society, called “The Voice of the Heart.” For over 30 years, Chip has poured his heart and experience in education into serving others. He is a counselor, mentor, speaker, author, a friend of ours, and he is committed to helping people know themselves better by living fully in relationship with each other and, ultimately, with God. So much fruit has come from Dr. Dodd's work. In his book “The Voice of the Heart”, he shares that courage is the “gift of hurt” and, in order for each of us to reach that gift, we have to be willing to hurt. Dr. Dodd admits that finding the gift of hurt starts out very counter-intuitive. For the full show notes, tips and links, visit SoloParentSociety.com Receive a free SPS Welcome Toolkit with links to groups, info and a free book. Join our daily meditational devotional Download our free app - APPLE | ANDROID

On so many levels, the life of a single parent can be heartbreaking, over and over again. After experiencing repeated hurts, it can be hard to believe that something good will come. Our focus this month is on courage and this week, on the podcast, Dr. Chip Dodd joins Robert and Kimberley to talk about having the courage to find the gift of hurt. Dr. Chip Dodd is the best-selling author of seven books including one which serves as a foundational tool for many of the things we do here at Solo Parent Society, called “The Voice of the Heart.” For over 30 years, Chip has poured his heart and experience in education into serving others. He is a counselor, mentor, speaker, author, a friend of ours, and he is committed to helping people know themselves better by living fully in relationship with each other and, ultimately, with God. So much fruit has come from Dr. Dodd's work. In his book “The Voice of the Heart”, he shares that courage is the “gift of hurt” and, in order for each of us to reach that gift, we have to be willing to hurt. Dr. Dodd admits that finding the gift of hurt starts out very counter-intuitive. For the full show notes, tips and links, visit SoloParentSociety.com Receive a free SPS Welcome Toolkit with links to groups, info and a free book. Join our daily meditational devotional Download our free app - APPLE | ANDROID

Guests David and Helen Smallbone joined the Solo Parent Society podcast with Robert and Kimberly to talk about the importance of two essential communities for single parents: Cross-generational community and Habitual community. These communities are significant. Cross-generational relationships are more than mother-daughter or father-son connections. The Bible is full of stories of the younger generation being mentored and taught by the older generation and we see countless examples of elders passing on wisdom. Anchoring relationships like these are so important particularly during times of struggle. David and Helen Smallbone moved from Australia to the United States many years ago with no money, with their six kids and another one on the way. God used their most difficult circumstances and seemingly impossible season to build an incredible story and influence around the world. Helen homeschooled all seven of their children while David set out to provide for his family in the music industry. Fast forward to today and David manages his sons' band, For King & Country, and daughter, Rebecca St. James, both who have had a profound impact on millions of people with their music. But one of the most beautiful things about David and Helen is their commitment to love and care for the brokenhearted. Helen is raising dozens of animals on their farm, while working on a book, mentoring moms, and hosting a podcast for a ministry she leads called MumLife Community which is an incredible example of both cross-generational and habitual community. David meanwhile is a mentor and friend to Robert, and they walk together every week as a beautiful example of consistent community formed on purpose, by habit. For the full show notes, tips and links go to SoloParentSociety.com Receive a free SPS Welcome Toolkit with links to groups, info and a free book! Join our daily meditational devotional Download our free app - APPLE | ANDROID

Guests David and Helen Smallbone joined the Solo Parent Society podcast with Robert and Kimberly to talk about the importance of two essential communities for single parents: Cross-generational community and Habitual community. These communities are significant. Cross-generational relationships are more than mother-daughter or father-son connections. The Bible is full of stories of the younger generation being mentored and taught by the older generation and we see countless examples of elders passing on wisdom. Anchoring relationships like these are so important particularly during times of struggle. David and Helen Smallbone moved from Australia to the United States many years ago with no money, with their six kids and another one on the way. God used their most difficult circumstances and seemingly impossible season to build an incredible story and influence around the world. Helen homeschooled all seven of their children while David set out to provide for his family in the music industry. Fast forward to today and David manages his sons' band, For King & Country, and daughter, Rebecca St. James, both who have had a profound impact on millions of people with their music. But one of the most beautiful things about David and Helen is their commitment to love and care for the brokenhearted. Helen is raising dozens of animals on their farm, while working on a book, mentoring moms, and hosting a podcast for a ministry she leads called MumLife Community which is an incredible example of both cross-generational and habitual community. David meanwhile is a mentor and friend to Robert, and they walk together every week as a beautiful example of consistent community formed on purpose, by habit. For the full show notes, tips and links go to SoloParentSociety.com Receive a free SPS Welcome Toolkit with links to groups, info and a free book! Join our daily meditational devotional Download our free app - APPLE | ANDROID

Our theme this month is community and what better place to start than talking about the community we create in our weekly Solo Parent Society groups. Life is so full of surprises as single parents, the last thing we may want to do is jump into something unknown with potential strangers and sharing. We hear from so many single parents that they love the idea of Solo Parent Society, but they're scared to join. And this makes sense! After hurt, you want to guard your heart and it can feel uncomfortable. We know community is important. It can be very intimidating jumping into something out of our comfort zone. Who will be in the group? Will there be people with ulterior motives? Today we are taking a glimpse into what happens in our groups and what single parents can expect. When Solo Parent Society first started, our groups met in person in different places across the U.S. When Covid hit, our groups stopped meeting until one of our leaders, single mom, Elizabeth, approached Robert and asked about starting an online group. That was the beginning of a new way of doing things at Solo Parent Society. We now have online groups meeting, seven days a week, attended by single parents from all over the U.S., Canada, New Zealand, Uganda, London and more. What's it like to join a Solo Parent Society group in person? For the full show notes, tips and links visit SoloParentSociety.com Download our free SPS Welcome Toolkit with links to groups, info and a free book. Join our daily meditational devotional Download our free app - APPLE | ANDROID

Our theme this month is community and what better place to start than talking about the community we create in our weekly Solo Parent Society groups. Life is so full of surprises as single parents, the last thing we may want to do is jump into something unknown with potential strangers and sharing. We hear from so many single parents that they love the idea of Solo Parent Society, but they're scared to join. And this makes sense! After hurt, you want to guard your heart and it can feel uncomfortable. We know community is important. It can be very intimidating jumping into something out of our comfort zone. Who will be in the group? Will there be people with ulterior motives? Today we are taking a glimpse into what happens in our groups and what single parents can expect. When Solo Parent Society first started, our groups met in person in different places across the U.S. When Covid hit, our groups stopped meeting until one of our leaders, single mom, Elizabeth, approached Robert and asked about starting an online group. That was the beginning of a new way of doing things at Solo Parent Society. We now have online groups meeting, seven days a week, attended by single parents from all over the U.S., Canada, New Zealand, Uganda, London and more. What's it like to join a Solo Parent Society group in person? For the full show notes, tips and links visit SoloParentSociety.com Download our free SPS Welcome Toolkit with links to groups, info and a free book. Join our daily meditational devotional Download our free app - APPLE | ANDROID

Single fathers must navigate their own set of unique challenges.  If you are a single dad, you know the fear that can topple your fragile confidence as you seek to parent your children alone. Robert Beeson of the Solo Parent Society joins Chris Brooks to help you find your footing and gain strength & courage to be the dad your child needs.

Trust is hard when you've felt betrayed and left alone. We wonder if we will ever be able to trust again. Trust can exist but there is a risk. This topic of rebuilding trust after hurt and destroyed relationships is one we hear often in our Solo Parent groups. So, how do we build trust again? Single mom, Elizabeth, joins Robert and Kimberley to discuss rebuilding trust. As single parents, many of us have felt a breach of trust at some point or another. Our spouse's affair, marital abandonment, and the fact that God would allow something bad to happen is difficult to process. This kind of hurt is one of the primary wounds we carry. The topic trust can be dark, heavy, hard, and scary. When we've experienced abandonment, not necessarily through divorce or loss but even early on in our childhoods, deep wounding and hurts occur. We carry those hurts with us into our relationships and then, when things fall apart, the pain and damage is even greater. We find ourselves asking again, “Who can I trust?” That question resonates and reverberates into every area of our lives. As a missionary kid, Robert grew up going to boarding school. He didn't have his family around him and he felt very abandoned. That wound was an early set up for later issues with fear of abandonment and difficulty with trust. When things come up like divorce or death, it triggers wounds like this from our past in a domino effect. The core issue with building trust again is understanding how our past experiences have shaped us. The first step is getting connected to our own heart, understanding our wounds, and breaking down our abandonment issues. When we have people in our lives who were supposed to protect us, accept, and love us unconditionally, and they don't, that has a profound impact on us. To build trust again, we need to understand what led us to that place of fear and learn what safe relationships are supposed to look like. We need to consider the impact of our trust issues. How does our lack of trust play out in our relationships? For complete show notes click - https://soloparentsociety.com/blog/2021/05/09/how-to-build-trust. For more about Solo Parent Society - https://bit.ly/SPSZoomWelcome

Trust is hard when you’ve felt betrayed and left alone. We wonder if we will ever be able to trust again. Trust can exist but there is a risk. This topic of rebuilding trust after hurt and destroyed relationships is one we hear often in our Solo Parent groups. So, how do we build trust again? Single mom, Elizabeth, joins Robert and Kimberley to discuss rebuilding trust. As single parents, many of us have felt a breach of trust at some point or another. Our spouse’s affair, marital abandonment, and the fact that God would allow something bad to happen is difficult to process. This kind of hurt is one of the primary wounds we carry. The topic trust can be dark, heavy, hard, and scary. When we’ve experienced abandonment, not necessarily through divorce or loss but even early on in our childhoods, deep wounding and hurts occur. We carry those hurts with us into our relationships and then, when things fall apart, the pain and damage is even greater. We find ourselves asking again, “Who can I trust?” That question resonates and reverberates into every area of our lives. As a missionary kid, Robert grew up going to boarding school. He didn’t have his family around him and he felt very abandoned. That wound was an early set up for later issues with fear of abandonment and difficulty with trust. When things come up like divorce or death, it triggers wounds like this from our past in a domino effect. The core issue with building trust again is understanding how our past experiences have shaped us. The first step is getting connected to our own heart, understanding our wounds, and breaking down our abandonment issues. When we have people in our lives who were supposed to protect us, accept, and love us unconditionally, and they don’t, that has a profound impact on us. To build trust again, we need to understand what led us to that place of fear and learn what safe relationships are supposed to look like. We need to consider the impact of our trust issues. How does our lack of trust play out in our relationships? For complete show notes click - https://soloparentsociety.com/blog/2021/05/09/how-to-build-trust. For more about Solo Parent Society - https://bit.ly/SPSZoomWelcome

Many single parents struggle with feeling confident. Whether rooted in messages we received in childhood, or the experiences we've had in past relationships, confidence can elude us. Sometimes we just don't feel like we are enough. Single mom, Marissa, joins Robert and Kimberley as they talk about how to grow in confidence. Staring down the road of so many unknowns as a single parent can leave us wondering if we have what it takes. When Marissa became a single mom, she cried out to God and said, “I can't do this and here's why”, and God said, “Let me show you that we can. Let me show you that it's going to be okay, but you're right, you can't, but I can.” Recently, she had shoulder surgery and while once she might have thought, “How will I ever do this on my own?”, she's found that it's been remarkable to discover that now she is confident God will show up with what she needs. Being thrust into single parenthood, often unexpectedly, we don't always go into our new circumstances with full confidence. Sometimes we enter, like Marissa did, with eroded confidence already. She shares what it was like to take those first steps. The first thing was simply to wake up the next day and then do it again the day after that. When we are wounded, our heads are still spinning and we can't see clearly. We need to focus on just waking up, but as time passes, and weeks become months and then years, we find out we are making progress. As single parents, oftentimes we want to find the strength within ourselves. We think that's where we will find confidence. But, more important than that is knowing that when push comes to shove, our kids will eat and we will make it through to tomorrow, not because of our own strength but because of the people who will come around us. Often when we think of self-confidence, we think it means self-reliance. That's not what we are talking about here. The challenge of having to parent alone can become a strength because we realize we can't do it on our own. It leads us to turn to God as our greatest source of confidence and strength. When we don't know what to do, when our circumstances seem too big for us, we find ourselves having to turn to God and admit our need for Him and for other people. For complete show notes click - https://soloparentsociety.com/blog/2021/04/29/how-to-grow-in-confidence For more about Solo Parent Society - https://bit.ly/SPSZoomWelcome

Many single parents struggle with feeling confident. Whether rooted in messages we received in childhood, or the experiences we’ve had in past relationships, confidence can elude us. Sometimes we just don’t feel like we are enough. Single mom, Marissa, joins Robert and Kimberley as they talk about how to grow in confidence. Staring down the road of so many unknowns as a single parent can leave us wondering if we have what it takes. When Marissa became a single mom, she cried out to God and said, “I can’t do this and here’s why”, and God said, “Let me show you that we can. Let me show you that it’s going to be okay, but you’re right, you can’t, but I can.” Recently, she had shoulder surgery and while once she might have thought, “How will I ever do this on my own?”, she’s found that it’s been remarkable to discover that now she is confident God will show up with what she needs. Being thrust into single parenthood, often unexpectedly, we don’t always go into our new circumstances with full confidence. Sometimes we enter, like Marissa did, with eroded confidence already. She shares what it was like to take those first steps. The first thing was simply to wake up the next day and then do it again the day after that. When we are wounded, our heads are still spinning and we can’t see clearly. We need to focus on just waking up, but as time passes, and weeks become months and then years, we find out we are making progress. As single parents, oftentimes we want to find the strength within ourselves. We think that’s where we will find confidence. But, more important than that is knowing that when push comes to shove, our kids will eat and we will make it through to tomorrow, not because of our own strength but because of the people who will come around us. Often when we think of self-confidence, we think it means self-reliance. That’s not what we are talking about here. The challenge of having to parent alone can become a strength because we realize we can’t do it on our own. It leads us to turn to God as our greatest source of confidence and strength. When we don’t know what to do, when our circumstances seem too big for us, we find ourselves having to turn to God and admit our need for Him and for other people. For complete show notes click - https://soloparentsociety.com/blog/2021/04/29/how-to-grow-in-confidence For more about Solo Parent Society - https://bit.ly/SPSZoomWelcome

Single parents, our lives have been ripped apart… just fragments of the way we used to be. We can tend to feel completely broken and empty. The idea of feeling whole again can seem so far out of reach. How can we move towards finding wholeness when all we see are the scraps of what used to be. Often, we don't even know how we feel other than defeated and broken. Today we talk about how to feel whole again with our expert guest. For over 30 years, Dr. Chip Dodd has poured his heart, experience, and education into serving others. He is a counselor, mentor, speaker, and author of bestselling books. One of which comes up regularly in our Solo Parent Society groups called the 'voice of the heart', which invites us to know our hearts to better know ourselves and live fully in relationships with others and ultimately God. Chip explains that, in his view, Solo Parent Society is just a name for, what do you do when dreams get broken? What do you do when your heart gets pierced? It's about recovery of heart, inviting people to return to their dreams, and in spite of what's happened, to allow your experiences to become part of your empowerment or victory story. So wholeness is about the recovery of heart, either in ways you never had or ways that you returned to renew. So wholeness really means sanity. Sanity is your head and your heart connected and your ability to tolerate vulnerability and trust that God is with you. That's wholeness. I can use my head to ask myself, what are you feeling? How are you? And then, and I can take that language, and I can present myself in vulnerability to another human being who gets it and then trust that God is in the midst of this. So wholeness comes as we develop the ability to stay present in the struggle and focus on five things that build a sense of wholeness, remembering that pain doesn't stop, in other words, wholeness isn't perfection. For the complete show notes click - https://soloparentsociety.com/blog/2021/04/25/how-to-feel-whole-again

Single parents, our lives have been ripped apart… just fragments of the way we used to be. We can tend to feel completely broken and empty. The idea of feeling whole again can seem so far out of reach. How can we move towards finding wholeness when all we see are the scraps of what used to be. Often, we don't even know how we feel other than defeated and broken. Today we talk about how to feel whole again with our expert guest. For over 30 years, Dr. Chip Dodd has poured his heart, experience, and education into serving others. He is a counselor, mentor, speaker, and author of bestselling books. One of which comes up regularly in our Solo Parent Society groups called the 'voice of the heart', which invites us to know our hearts to better know ourselves and live fully in relationships with others and ultimately God. Chip explains that, in his view, Solo Parent Society is just a name for, what do you do when dreams get broken? What do you do when your heart gets pierced? It's about recovery of heart, inviting people to return to their dreams, and in spite of what's happened, to allow your experiences to become part of your empowerment or victory story. So wholeness is about the recovery of heart, either in ways you never had or ways that you returned to renew. So wholeness really means sanity. Sanity is your head and your heart connected and your ability to tolerate vulnerability and trust that God is with you. That's wholeness. I can use my head to ask myself, what are you feeling? How are you? And then, and I can take that language, and I can present myself in vulnerability to another human being who gets it and then trust that God is in the midst of this. So wholeness comes as we develop the ability to stay present in the struggle and focus on five things that build a sense of wholeness, remembering that pain doesn’t stop, in other words, wholeness isn't perfection. For the complete show notes click - https://soloparentsociety.com/blog/2021/04/25/how-to-feel-whole-again

Robert Beeson was suddenly a single dad. “My wife left me -- and left me with our three daughters who were 9, 7 and 4 at the time. It was the darkest season.” He turned to his church for comfort and support but was saddened to find very few Christian resources address the deep loneliness and doubt many single parents endure. Out of his own need to be part of a welcoming faith community, he founded the Solo Parent Society. “The number one need (as a single parent) is for you to know you are not alone.” K-LOVE’s Marya Morgan reports. (Educational Media Foundation - All Rights Reserved 2021)

Robert Beeson was suddenly a single dad. “My wife left me -- and left me with our three daughters who were 9, 7 and 4 at the time. It was the darkest season.” He turned to his church for comfort and support but was saddened to find very few Christian resources address the deep loneliness and doubt many single parents endure. Out of his own need to be part of a welcoming faith community, he founded the Solo Parent Society. “The number one need (as a single parent) is for you to know you are not alone.” Air1's Marya Morgan reports. (Educational Media Foundation - All Rights Reserved 2021)

Being a single parent is complicated enough much less when we discover that our kids are the “problem”. Founder of Solo Parent Society, Robert Beeson, shares that one of the hardest parts of his parenting journey was finding out times that his kids weren’t making the wisest decisions. But that’s just part of life. Kids are kids. They are learning, they are growing, and they will make mistakes. But no parent wants to get the phone call that lets them know their kid hasn’t made the best choices. Parenting can be overwhelming, and as single parents, we see our kids struggling to overcome the pain and hurts of life. Sometimes this pain comes out as bullying, depression, or acting out. How do we look at these struggles from the perspective of love-based parenting? Crystal Paine hosts her own show “The Crystal Paine Show”, she’s the best-selling author of “Say Goodbye to Survival Mode” and “Money Making Mom”, and she’s the founder of www.moneysavingmom.com. Crystal is releasing a brand-new book called “Love Centered Parenting: The No Fail Guide to Launching Your Kids”. She wrote the book after walking through a difficult season in her own family and feeling called to share the lessons learned with others. Crystal has four kids from 16 years old to ten months old and is also a foster parent. She wrote the book to help other parents not feel so alone, especially for those whose kids are hurting and whose pain is being manifested in challenging behavior and poor choices. Crystal said the key is recognizing what is underneath the bad behaviors. She said parents often see big feelings coming out sideways, in various ways like anger, depression, aggression, or anything in between. Crystal’s experience with this hit a crisis point the day she found herself walking into the emergency room saying, “My child is suicidal.” It was a day she never ever envisioned as a parent. Crystal said it just hit her, “That gut wrenching feeling of desperation that something’s really wrong and I can’t fix it.” Her child was so angry, mouthing off, acting out, and saying scary things. As parents, they didn’t know what to do so they started to work with a therapist. The therapist began to work with her child and after several weeks, she came to Crystal and said, “It seems like you are trying so hard to fix your child. What would it look like to walk with your child?” That question started Crystal on a journey to begin paying attention to how she interacted with her kids. So often, she said, something would come up - a phone call from school, the kids fighting, or someone acting up – and she would swoop in to fix it. She would correct and preach sermons and lecture. In her constant correcting, she realized she was spending so little time connecting with her kids and just walking with them. She began to recognize that, just like her kids’ behaviors were evidence of so much going on beneath the surface, that applied to her too. She was parenting from a place within herself that was operating from a set of lies that she was inadequate, a failure, and a disappointment. Those big feelings and lies below the surface were showing up in her continual attempts to manage and control their behavior. To read the full show notes and links to her books go to -https://soloparentsociety.com/blog/2021/03/08/when-our-child-is-the-problem

Being a single parent is complicated enough much less when we discover that our kids are the “problem”. Founder of Solo Parent Society, Robert Beeson, shares that one of the hardest parts of his parenting journey was finding out times that his kids weren’t making the wisest decisions. But that’s just part of life. Kids are kids. They are learning, they are growing, and they will make mistakes. But no parent wants to get the phone call that lets them know their kid hasn’t made the best choices. Parenting can be overwhelming, and as single parents, we see our kids struggling to overcome the pain and hurts of life. Sometimes this pain comes out as bullying, depression, or acting out. How do we look at these struggles from the perspective of love-based parenting? Crystal Paine hosts her own show “The Crystal Paine Show”, she’s the best-selling author of “Say Goodbye to Survival Mode” and “Money Making Mom”, and she’s the founder of www.moneysavingmom.com. Crystal is releasing a brand-new book called “Love Centered Parenting: The No Fail Guide to Launching Your Kids”. She wrote the book after walking through a difficult season in her own family and feeling called to share the lessons learned with others. Crystal has four kids from 16 years old to ten months old and is also a foster parent. She wrote the book to help other parents not feel so alone, especially for those whose kids are hurting and whose pain is being manifested in challenging behavior and poor choices. Crystal said the key is recognizing what is underneath the bad behaviors. She said parents often see big feelings coming out sideways, in various ways like anger, depression, aggression, or anything in between. Crystal’s experience with this hit a crisis point the day she found herself walking into the emergency room saying, “My child is suicidal.” It was a day she never ever envisioned as a parent. Crystal said it just hit her, “That gut wrenching feeling of desperation that something’s really wrong and I can’t fix it.” Her child was so angry, mouthing off, acting out, and saying scary things. As parents, they didn’t know what to do so they started to work with a therapist. The therapist began to work with her child and after several weeks, she came to Crystal and said, “It seems like you are trying so hard to fix your child. What would it look like to walk with your child?” That question started Crystal on a journey to begin paying attention to how she interacted with her kids. So often, she said, something would come up - a phone call from school, the kids fighting, or someone acting up – and she would swoop in to fix it. She would correct and preach sermons and lecture. In her constant correcting, she realized she was spending so little time connecting with her kids and just walking with them. She began to recognize that, just like her kids’ behaviors were evidence of so much going on beneath the surface, that applied to her too. She was parenting from a place within herself that was operating from a set of lies that she was inadequate, a failure, and a disappointment. Those big feelings and lies below the surface were showing up in her continual attempts to manage and control their behavior. To read the full show notes and links to her books go to -https://soloparentsociety.com/blog/2021/03/08/when-our-child-is-the-problem

Today, we wrap up our theme for this month on balance and our focus this week on creating a balanced home structure. There’s a really strong chance that the very reason you know about Solo Parent Society and you have decided to take the time out of your day to listen to Sound Mind Set is because, regardless of how much you were a part of the issue, someone in your life knocked you off balance. Maybe you were the one who knocked your family off balance. But regardless of blame or fault, you have been fighting, working to get life back into focus, back into balance for a while. For so many of us, balance won’t be solved with a one-week crash course, but rather through a one-day-at-a-time attitude towards health. We live in a world today that has lost the true biblical concept of grace and forgiveness. We turn on the news to hear another horrible stat and to see that somehow evil seemed to win again. Many passages in the New Testament encourage us that, no matter how bad anyone else gets, how bad the culture gets, we must keep steady in our faith and follow God. Even if that means walking against the grain and walking alone. Listen to 2 Peter 3:17-18: My dear friends, you have been warned ahead of time! So don’t let the errors of evil people lead you down the wrong path and make you lose your balance. Let the wonderful kindness and the understanding that come from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ help you to keep on growing. Praise Jesus now and forever! Amen. Did you hear the contrast between verse 17 and verse 18? Listen again … My dear friends, you have been warned ahead of time! So don’t let the errors of evil people lead you down the wrong path and make you lose your balance. Let the wonderful kindness and the understanding that come from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ help you to keep on growing. Praise Jesus now and forever! Amen. Scripture warns us that to keep our balance and stay on the right path, we have to stay away from evil. How? By growing in the wonderful kindness and understanding of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Let me be honest. When we dive into our weekly themes, there are no Bible passages that say “Here’s 5 ways to balance your home life.” That will be true of a lot of our topics. Yet, I hope you are gaining the insight from weeks like this that while it is not that cut-and-dried, the Bible does tell us many more than 5 ways of how to balance all of life, including home. But we have to dig in, look deep, and draw out the truth from God’s Word. We pray that has happened for you this week. Let’s pray together: “Heavenly Father, one thing about the world getting worse is that the disparity between good and evil, right and wrong, You and Satan, are quite clear. Help me every day to stay away from evil by staying close to You. With You, in You, I have nothing to fear and everything to gain. As above, so below.”

Our homes have become more than just a traditional home for us during the pandemic. It’s now our workplace and our kids school too. That’s why the topic of balance at home is so important. Our lives look so different than they did a year. Even without the challenges of COVID-19, a single parent home can be chaotic. We are juggling all kinds of things. So, how do we create a stable, balanced home life for our kids? Here are 5 suggestions:Develop a support network. Raising kids is difficult even with two parents. Without a network, we can easily become overwhelmed. Having a support system strengthens, reinforces, and encourages us as parents bearing the weight alone. Having people in our lives who fill us up is crucial so we can create a balanced home life for our kids to launch from. Create a routine. This can be a game changer as a single parent! When we build a framework for our schedule and daily needs, we add consistency that can help us move forward with less chaos. Set a specific bedtime, get your kids alarm clocks so they can learn to wake up on time, decide on simple meal ideas that you go back to often. It’s hard to put these things in place but once you do, they become the best friend of a frazzled single parent! And, kids need routine. Routine gives kids securityTake time for yourself. When we invest in ourselves, we are investing in our home life too. This may sound counterintuitive but taking care of yourself pays dividends at home. When you are centered and present, you provide an anchor of stability for your kids. A single parent who finds daily moments of peace for their own hearts is in a much better place to establish balance at home for their kids.Stay positive. This isn’t always easy, but we can choose our attitude. Yes, we will have days full of tears but after the tears are over, we have a choice. We can walk out of that trusting God and walking in the truth that He is with us. We can choose joy. Smile – often, be kind, hug your kids! Notice the good things your kids are doing. If you find yourself complaining, turn it around and find thing to be grateful for. This is where the rubber meets the road. Ask God to show you how to maintain a positive attitude even when life is complicated, because our hope is in Him. Set aside time for your kids. We need quality time with our kids, and not just family time but individual time. Be deliberate about setting aside time to focus on each one. One on one time highlights their importance and makes our kids feel seen and loved. If your schedule is overwhelmed, it doesn’t have to be a ton of time. Quality time trumps quantity. Our intentionality matters more than the amount.As you seek to put practices like these in place, remember to give yourself grace. We are all works in progress. Balance in any area is challenging, so give up the ideal of being able to do this perfectly. Perfect balance is impossible, but your efforts will pay off. Stay encouraged, single parents! You may not be able to measure the effectiveness of what you’re doing to stabilize your home in the immediate, maybe not even in the next five years, but your kids are watching and they are carrying it with them. Single parents, as you seek balance in this new year, you are not alone. As you walk the journey of solo parenting, we want to offer encouragement and hope any way we can. Join our Solo Parent Society community by participating in one of our online groups meeting Monday through Saturday every week. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram (@soloparentsociety)....

Our homes have become more than just a traditional home for us during the pandemic. It’s now our workplace and our kids school too. That’s why the topic of balance at home is so important. Our lives look so different than they did a year. Even without the challenges of COVID-19, a single parent home can be chaotic. We are juggling all kinds of things. So, how do we create a stable, balanced home life for our kids? Here are 5 suggestions:Develop a support network. Raising kids is difficult even with two parents. Without a network, we can easily become overwhelmed. Having a support system strengthens, reinforces, and encourages us as parents bearing the weight alone. Having people in our lives who fill us up is crucial so we can create a balanced home life for our kids to launch from. Create a routine. This can be a game changer as a single parent! When we build a framework for our schedule and daily needs, we add consistency that can help us move forward with less chaos. Set a specific bedtime, get your kids alarm clocks so they can learn to wake up on time, decide on simple meal ideas that you go back to often. It’s hard to put these things in place but once you do, they become the best friend of a frazzled single parent! And, kids need routine. Routine gives kids securityTake time for yourself. When we invest in ourselves, we are investing in our home life too. This may sound counterintuitive but taking care of yourself pays dividends at home. When you are centered and present, you provide an anchor of stability for your kids. A single parent who finds daily moments of peace for their own hearts is in a much better place to establish balance at home for their kids.Stay positive. This isn’t always easy, but we can choose our attitude. Yes, we will have days full of tears but after the tears are over, we have a choice. We can walk out of that trusting God and walking in the truth that He is with us. We can choose joy. Smile – often, be kind, hug your kids! Notice the good things your kids are doing. If you find yourself complaining, turn it around and find thing to be grateful for. This is where the rubber meets the road. Ask God to show you how to maintain a positive attitude even when life is complicated, because our hope is in Him. Set aside time for your kids. We need quality time with our kids, and not just family time but individual time. Be deliberate about setting aside time to focus on each one. One on one time highlights their importance and makes our kids feel seen and loved. If your schedule is overwhelmed, it doesn’t have to be a ton of time. Quality time trumps quantity. Our intentionality matters more than the amount.As you seek to put practices like these in place, remember to give yourself grace. We are all works in progress. Balance in any area is challenging, so give up the ideal of being able to do this perfectly. Perfect balance is impossible, but your efforts will pay off. Stay encouraged, single parents! You may not be able to measure the effectiveness of what you’re doing to stabilize your home in the immediate, maybe not even in the next five years, but your kids are watching and they are carrying it with them. Single parents, as you seek balance in this new year, you are not alone. As you walk the journey of solo parenting, we want to offer encouragement and hope any way we can. Join our Solo Parent Society community by participating in one of our online groups meeting Monday through Saturday every week. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram (@soloparentsociety)....

We've all heard we need to "let go and let God," but that is often easier said than done. Going Solo author Robert Beeson of Solo Parent Society talks about the freedom he discovered in his "solo season" as a single dad, and shares how he was able to give God control over his life. Robert offers 4 ways we can experience that same freedom: Prayer, Perspective, Practices, & Pause. He also discusses the transformation that awaits us in surrender, and the power we can gain in "feeling and dealing" with difficult emotions like anger. Learn more about Solo Parent Society Take the "What's Your Loneliness Type" Quiz Check out our Sponsor Faithful Counseling 10% off first month offer Follow Agape Moms on Facebook or Instagram and join the Beloved Collective private Facebook group Subscribe to Agape Moms' Weekly Video Devotional on YouTube

Worth – Teaching Our Kids WorthWe live in a time where our kids are being battered around by all kinds of voices and comparisons, more than when we were kids for sure. 24/7 they are hearing lies about ways they don’t measure up. Depression, anxiety, and suicide are on a serious increase. As adults, we are facing these things too, but we have history, context, and experience to know that these things come and go but our kids don’t.Especially during the pandemic, the hopelessness, and questions about “Am I worth it” can be very loud voices. With current events like this, it’s more important than ever to notice what our kids are going through and identify how they are feeling about themselves. Teaching our kids how to have a healthy sense of worth is paramount. All this month we’ve been building our idea of worth using the acronym VIP, value, identity, and purpose. We are going to use these same ideas to explore practical ways to teach a healthy sense of worth to our kids. First, psychologists agree a good place for parents to start is by modeling what healthy self-worth looks like themselves. We don’t have to be perfect or have everything figured out to do this. The process is as important, if not more important, than being able to show our kids we know and understand our value, identity, and purpose. Teaching our kids is reinforcing their value, identity, and purpose in our every day lives. Identity and purpose will come later as they grow in their own story and along their own life path. But we can teach our kids value from day one to create a foundation of healthy worth. Teaching value is first found in understanding who God is. We often measure ourselves by comparing ourselves with other people. We may not have the same characteristics, traits, or attributes as someone else and we can determine incorrectly that somehow means we are less valuable. But the good news is that value has everything to do with God and nothing to do with us. When we start with who He is, we can accept that our great Creator who hung the stars and moon and created everything on earthy also thought it was important for each of us to be created. He loves us dearly and brought us to life because we each needed to be here. His decision to create us demonstrates our intrinsic value. But how do we teach this to our kids? We can do this in three practical ways every day. 1. Show affection2. Speak affirmation3. Create spaceShow AffectionWe can first encourage a sense of worth in our kids by showing them affection. Our kids need to know how much they are valued by us. They need to know we are so glad they are here, and they are not an accident. We can’t assume our kids know how proud of them we are or how glad we are to be their mom or dad. We must demonstrate it by showing them affection. Our kids need daily reminders that we are happy to have time with them and that we enjoy being around them. We can show them this with hugs, sitting together and just being close to them, or telling them with words or acts of service that they matter to us. Showing affection can look lots of different ways, like being at their sporting event, remembering their favorite things and taking time to know what’s important to them. With older kids, don’t let them isolate to their rooms too much. It’s normal for teens to want some space but make it a priority to be near them when you can - after work, at meals, at bedtime. Use eye contact and body language to show them you care. Being in each other’s physical presence helps our kids develop a sense of their importance and their value. Smile and let your eyes light up when they enter the room. Set aside other things whenever possible to show them they are worthy of your...

Worth – Teaching Our Kids WorthWe live in a time where our kids are being battered around by all kinds of voices and comparisons, more than when we were kids for sure. 24/7 they are hearing lies about ways they don’t measure up. Depression, anxiety, and suicide are on a serious increase. As adults, we are facing these things too, but we have history, context, and experience to know that these things come and go but our kids don’t.Especially during the pandemic, the hopelessness, and questions about “Am I worth it” can be very loud voices. With current events like this, it’s more important than ever to notice what our kids are going through and identify how they are feeling about themselves. Teaching our kids how to have a healthy sense of worth is paramount. All this month we’ve been building our idea of worth using the acronym VIP, value, identity, and purpose. We are going to use these same ideas to explore practical ways to teach a healthy sense of worth to our kids. First, psychologists agree a good place for parents to start is by modeling what healthy self-worth looks like themselves. We don’t have to be perfect or have everything figured out to do this. The process is as important, if not more important, than being able to show our kids we know and understand our value, identity, and purpose. Teaching our kids is reinforcing their value, identity, and purpose in our every day lives. Identity and purpose will come later as they grow in their own story and along their own life path. But we can teach our kids value from day one to create a foundation of healthy worth. Teaching value is first found in understanding who God is. We often measure ourselves by comparing ourselves with other people. We may not have the same characteristics, traits, or attributes as someone else and we can determine incorrectly that somehow means we are less valuable. But the good news is that value has everything to do with God and nothing to do with us. When we start with who He is, we can accept that our great Creator who hung the stars and moon and created everything on earthy also thought it was important for each of us to be created. He loves us dearly and brought us to life because we each needed to be here. His decision to create us demonstrates our intrinsic value. But how do we teach this to our kids? We can do this in three practical ways every day. 1. Show affection2. Speak affirmation3. Create spaceShow AffectionWe can first encourage a sense of worth in our kids by showing them affection. Our kids need to know how much they are valued by us. They need to know we are so glad they are here, and they are not an accident. We can’t assume our kids know how proud of them we are or how glad we are to be their mom or dad. We must demonstrate it by showing them affection. Our kids need daily reminders that we are happy to have time with them and that we enjoy being around them. We can show them this with hugs, sitting together and just being close to them, or telling them with words or acts of service that they matter to us. Showing affection can look lots of different ways, like being at their sporting event, remembering their favorite things and taking time to know what’s important to them. With older kids, don’t let them isolate to their rooms too much. It’s normal for teens to want some space but make it a priority to be near them when you can - after work, at meals, at bedtime. Use eye contact and body language to show them you care. Being in each other’s physical presence helps our kids develop a sense of their importance and their value. Smile and let your eyes light up when they enter the room. Set aside other things whenever possible to show them they are worthy of your...

Worth – Discovering Your Purpose Worth is made up of our value, identity, and purpose (V.I.P.). Understanding each of these elements helps us know we are VIP’s in God’s kingdom. Each one of us has intrinsic value because we were created by our Creator. We each have a unique identity shaped and informed by our history, story, strengths, and passions. And, we were created on purpose for a purpose – to walk out the plan God set in place and to do the works He planned in advance for us to do. Discovering your purpose is part three of our series on worth. Your purpose is a path. It’s a process of discovery, not a destination. There are two distinctives to pay attention to in discovering your purpose. They are your design and your path. The first is our design. To understand our purpose and unlock our power, we must value our design. This starts with knowing and believing we are uniquely created by the Designer for a specific purpose. When we are anchored in this knowledge, we can embrace our unique design. Some of us believe we have to fit in, perform, or look and behave in certain ways to accomplish our purpose. Instead of trying to fit into these boxes, we need to look into God’s word to discover our design. Our design isn’t found in fashion magazines or other worldly measure like career achievements or accumulating material things. This isn’t God’s design.God’s design for us is not the same as that of culture or society. “Comparison is the thief of joy” and when we look to worldly standards to measure our design, we can easily lose sight of our godly purpose. We need to be intentional and look to God instead to discover our gifting and purpose. Luke 13:20 says, “He asked, “To what can I compare the kingdom of God? It is like leaven that a woman took and mixed into three measures of flour, until all of it was leavened.” Yeast is tiny and unseen yet it acts throughout the entire batch of dough causing it to rise. Start asking God to reveal the “leaven” He has placed in you. Look for those areas that are evidence of His Spirit acting inside of you for His kingdom. God created you with unique gifts to be used for unique purposes. Take some time to explore how He designed you. Former single mom, Kimberley, shares something her daughter said when she was 8 years old. “Hey Mom, the word “us” is part of “Jesus” so that means we belong together. Jesus and us.” Yes! So simple and yet so profound. Jesus and us. We were made for connection with Him. We were created to know and follow Him. Both our design and our path our part of our purpose. And His purpose for our lives is so much better and higher than our own. When we open ourselves up to God and His purposes for us, it can look a lot different than we expect but it is so much better. Robert Beeson, founder of Solo Parent Society, says his solo season revealed more of God’s plan for him than ever before. It is at rock bottom that we sometimes find our deepest connection to God and understand ourselves more than could have in any other circumstances. Being intentional about our solo season and asking God to show us who He created us to be can be pivotal. We can come out on the other side transformed, ready to embrace our design and the path we are on, however unexpected. And our path is the second part of discovering our purpose. Often when we think of purpose, we think of it as a destination or something we determine. And that just isn’t the case. Purpose is not an objective, it’s an outcome. Purpose is found in our design and in the path that God has us on, even when that path includes hardships, trials, and brokenness.Everything happens on purpose for a purpose. Sometimes we get in a rush. We get impatient and we want to see the ending, but God gives us “just enough light for the step we’re on”. Our purpose...

Worth – Discovering Your Purpose Worth is made up of our value, identity, and purpose (V.I.P.). Understanding each of these elements helps us know we are VIP’s in God’s kingdom. Each one of us has intrinsic value because we were created by our Creator. We each have a unique identity shaped and informed by our history, story, strengths, and passions. And, we were created on purpose for a purpose – to walk out the plan God set in place and to do the works He planned in advance for us to do. Discovering your purpose is part three of our series on worth. Your purpose is a path. It’s a process of discovery, not a destination. There are two distinctives to pay attention to in discovering your purpose. They are your design and your path. The first is our design. To understand our purpose and unlock our power, we must value our design. This starts with knowing and believing we are uniquely created by the Designer for a specific purpose. When we are anchored in this knowledge, we can embrace our unique design. Some of us believe we have to fit in, perform, or look and behave in certain ways to accomplish our purpose. Instead of trying to fit into these boxes, we need to look into God’s word to discover our design. Our design isn’t found in fashion magazines or other worldly measure like career achievements or accumulating material things. This isn’t God’s design.God’s design for us is not the same as that of culture or society. “Comparison is the thief of joy” and when we look to worldly standards to measure our design, we can easily lose sight of our godly purpose. We need to be intentional and look to God instead to discover our gifting and purpose. Luke 13:20 says, “He asked, “To what can I compare the kingdom of God? It is like leaven that a woman took and mixed into three measures of flour, until all of it was leavened.” Yeast is tiny and unseen yet it acts throughout the entire batch of dough causing it to rise. Start asking God to reveal the “leaven” He has placed in you. Look for those areas that are evidence of His Spirit acting inside of you for His kingdom. God created you with unique gifts to be used for unique purposes. Take some time to explore how He designed you. Former single mom, Kimberley, shares something her daughter said when she was 8 years old. “Hey Mom, the word “us” is part of “Jesus” so that means we belong together. Jesus and us.” Yes! So simple and yet so profound. Jesus and us. We were made for connection with Him. We were created to know and follow Him. Both our design and our path our part of our purpose. And His purpose for our lives is so much better and higher than our own. When we open ourselves up to God and His purposes for us, it can look a lot different than we expect but it is so much better. Robert Beeson, founder of Solo Parent Society, says his solo season revealed more of God’s plan for him than ever before. It is at rock bottom that we sometimes find our deepest connection to God and understand ourselves more than could have in any other circumstances. Being intentional about our solo season and asking God to show us who He created us to be can be pivotal. We can come out on the other side transformed, ready to embrace our design and the path we are on, however unexpected. And our path is the second part of discovering our purpose. Often when we think of purpose, we think of it as a destination or something we determine. And that just isn’t the case. Purpose is not an objective, it’s an outcome. Purpose is found in our design and in the path that God has us on, even when that path includes hardships, trials, and brokenness.Everything happens on purpose for a purpose. Sometimes we get in a rush. We get impatient and we want to see the ending, but God gives us “just enough light for the step we’re on”. Our purpose...

Worth: Uncovering Our Identity Single parents have often walked a challenging path experiencing hurts and obstacles along the way. These difficulties can shake their sense of worth leaving them feeling empty and unsure of who they are. Regaining a sense of worth is found in recovering our sense of value, uncovering our identity, and realizing our purpose. Each component builds on the other. The first one, our value, is unchangeable and intrinsic. God determines our value which is foundational to our sense of worth. The second component is our identity. Our identity is made up of characteristics that distinguish us from one another. It’s our individual stories that set us apart. Finally, our worth helps inform our purpose. We were created intentionally by God to fulfill good works planned for us. When we have a solid understanding of our value, identity, and purpose, we can walk with confidence in our worth, knowing we were created by God, on purpose for a purpose. One of the components needed for a healthy sense of worth is uncovering our identity. We can gain valuable knowledge of who we are through four facets: 1) our history, 2) the setbacks we’ve experienced, 3) our unique strengths, and 4) our individual passion. History First, our history starts with our family of origin. Part of understanding our identity lies in understanding how we grew up and how it impacted us. Whether raised in a big family or as an only child, whether under ideal circumstances or difficult ones, our upbringing has shaped and molded us into who we are today. Understanding our history helps us understand our identity today. The story of Joseph illustrates how our family of origin can shape us. Joseph was a favored son and his brothers became jealous as a result. His childhood experiences of having dreams and being able to interpret them are a big part of his family history. Your family history matters too. Setbacks Another facet of our identity are the setbacks we’ve faced. Each one of us has experienced different hardships and difficulties that inform our identity and sense of who we are. Joseph was betrayed and sold into slavery by his brothers. He was accused of something he didn’t do and was thrown into prison. These hardships impacted his identity just like we are impacted by our own. Adversities like divorce, abuse, illness, or betrayal change our life trajectory and the way we see ourselves. Some alter our identity while others reinforce it or cause us to reinvent part of who we are. Strengths Like our history and setbacks, our strengths are another facet of identity. Our unique talents and strengths help us understand who we were created to be. Some of our experiences develop these strengths and others reveal ones we didn’t even know were there. Each strength informs part of our identity. Taking inventory of our strengths is an important part of recognizing our worth. One of Joseph’s strengths was charisma. He first found favor with his father and later with those he encountered while he was a slave and in prison. Joseph also knew how to interpret dreams. This gift from God gave him an advantage and set him up to gain stature in Egypt. Knowing our strengths is a key facet to knowing our identity. Passion Passion is the final facet in discovering our identity. We can find our passion by looking at the things we are drawn to, like nurturing kids, being creative, or starting a business. When we take the time to understand our individual passions, we gain a greater understanding of our identity too. Sometimes the turmoil we have faced as a single parent can rob us of some of our passion, but these same adversities can also fuel it. Taking time to recognize our passions is...

Worth: Uncovering Our Identity Single parents have often walked a challenging path experiencing hurts and obstacles along the way. These difficulties can shake their sense of worth leaving them feeling empty and unsure of who they are. Regaining a sense of worth is found in recovering our sense of value, uncovering our identity, and realizing our purpose. Each component builds on the other. The first one, our value, is unchangeable and intrinsic. God determines our value which is foundational to our sense of worth. The second component is our identity. Our identity is made up of characteristics that distinguish us from one another. It’s our individual stories that set us apart. Finally, our worth helps inform our purpose. We were created intentionally by God to fulfill good works planned for us. When we have a solid understanding of our value, identity, and purpose, we can walk with confidence in our worth, knowing we were created by God, on purpose for a purpose. One of the components needed for a healthy sense of worth is uncovering our identity. We can gain valuable knowledge of who we are through four facets: 1) our history, 2) the setbacks we’ve experienced, 3) our unique strengths, and 4) our individual passion. History First, our history starts with our family of origin. Part of understanding our identity lies in understanding how we grew up and how it impacted us. Whether raised in a big family or as an only child, whether under ideal circumstances or difficult ones, our upbringing has shaped and molded us into who we are today. Understanding our history helps us understand our identity today. The story of Joseph illustrates how our family of origin can shape us. Joseph was a favored son and his brothers became jealous as a result. His childhood experiences of having dreams and being able to interpret them are a big part of his family history. Your family history matters too. Setbacks Another facet of our identity are the setbacks we’ve faced. Each one of us has experienced different hardships and difficulties that inform our identity and sense of who we are. Joseph was betrayed and sold into slavery by his brothers. He was accused of something he didn’t do and was thrown into prison. These hardships impacted his identity just like we are impacted by our own. Adversities like divorce, abuse, illness, or betrayal change our life trajectory and the way we see ourselves. Some alter our identity while others reinforce it or cause us to reinvent part of who we are. Strengths Like our history and setbacks, our strengths are another facet of identity. Our unique talents and strengths help us understand who we were created to be. Some of our experiences develop these strengths and others reveal ones we didn’t even know were there. Each strength informs part of our identity. Taking inventory of our strengths is an important part of recognizing our worth. One of Joseph’s strengths was charisma. He first found favor with his father and later with those he encountered while he was a slave and in prison. Joseph also knew how to interpret dreams. This gift from God gave him an advantage and set him up to gain stature in Egypt. Knowing our strengths is a key facet to knowing our identity. Passion Passion is the final facet in discovering our identity. We can find our passion by looking at the things we are drawn to, like nurturing kids, being creative, or starting a business. When we take the time to understand our individual passions, we gain a greater understanding of our identity too. Sometimes the turmoil we have faced as a single parent can rob us of some of our passion, but these same adversities can also fuel it. Taking time to recognize our passions is...

Divorce, unplanned pregnancy, death of a spouse, or leaving an abusive relationship can shake our sense of who we are. So much of our identity gets wrapped up in the roles we play, and we sometimes let our value be defined by external circumstances. Four things that can help when it comes to knowing our value is 1) reverence, 2) refuting lies, 3) replacing lies and 4) remembering the truth . Reverence Value starts with reverence, ascribing worth and honor to God. This is the most important anchor point for our value. We have a Creator who sits on a throne. To understand ourselves, we must understand Who created us. We are not mistakes. When we know and believe that God is real, powerful, and praiseworthy, it helps us realize our value too. We were intentionally designed for a purpose by our Creator. This is the foundation of our value. Our value starts with God. Knowing Him helps us understand ourselves and our value. Solo Parent Society founder, Robert Beeson, began to reverence God  more when he began to make space to just get still before Him. As a single dad, he found himself questioning things and needing rest. Ultimately, he started asking God to help him in his unbelief. In those quiet, honest moments, he began to realize how big God is and how powerful He is. In the stillness, he started to reverence God and to realize that God put him on this earth for a reason. He started to realize his value in a deeper way. Nothing we say or do changes our value. Our greatest accomplishments or failures do not affect our value. We are made in God’s image, covered by His grace, and empowered by His presence. We are His and we belong to Him. This is the most amazing testament to our value. We were created in love by our Divine Creator. Refuting lies To recognize our value, we must also be able to refute lies. Each of us has been damaged in some way by false beliefs about ourselves, lies we’ve been told or believed from our family of origin, a significant other, former spouse, or other people. These voices diminish our value, so we need to identify what those voices are saying and recognize them as lies. The enemy wants us to believe the lies. He has come only to “steal, kill, and destroy”. As lies confront us, we must ask instead, “Who does God say you are?”. Sometimes we feel comfortable believing lies. We get so used to them, they become normal. The truth can be more difficult for us to believe but we must intentionally identify lies and refute them. What is one lie you need to refute? For the complete show notes with links, click here-https://soloparentsociety.com/2020/11/02/worth-recovering-our-value/

Divorce, unplanned pregnancy, death of a spouse, or leaving an abusive relationship can shake our sense of who we are. So much of our identity gets wrapped up in the roles we play, and we sometimes let our value be defined by external circumstances. Four things that can help when it comes to knowing our value is 1) reverence, 2) refuting lies, 3) replacing lies and 4) remembering the truth . Reverence Value starts with reverence, ascribing worth and honor to God. This is the most important anchor point for our value. We have a Creator who sits on a throne. To understand ourselves, we must understand Who created us. We are not mistakes. When we know and believe that God is real, powerful, and praiseworthy, it helps us realize our value too. We were intentionally designed for a purpose by our Creator. This is the foundation of our value. Our value starts with God. Knowing Him helps us understand ourselves and our value. Solo Parent Society founder, Robert Beeson, began to reverence God  more when he began to make space to just get still before Him. As a single dad, he found himself questioning things and needing rest. Ultimately, he started asking God to help him in his unbelief. In those quiet, honest moments, he began to realize how big God is and how powerful He is. In the stillness, he started to reverence God and to realize that God put him on this earth for a reason. He started to realize his value in a deeper way. Nothing we say or do changes our value. Our greatest accomplishments or failures do not affect our value. We are made in God’s image, covered by His grace, and empowered by His presence. We are His and we belong to Him. This is the most amazing testament to our value. We were created in love by our Divine Creator. Refuting lies To recognize our value, we must also be able to refute lies. Each of us has been damaged in some way by false beliefs about ourselves, lies we’ve been told or believed from our family of origin, a significant other, former spouse, or other people. These voices diminish our value, so we need to identify what those voices are saying and recognize them as lies. The enemy wants us to believe the lies. He has come only to “steal, kill, and destroy”. As lies confront us, we must ask instead, “Who does God say you are?”. Sometimes we feel comfortable believing lies. We get so used to them, they become normal. The truth can be more difficult for us to believe but we must intentionally identify lies and refute them. What is one lie you need to refute? For the complete show notes with links, click here-https://soloparentsociety.com/2020/11/02/worth-recovering-our-value/

Rebecca and friend Robert share about the importance of relying on God in the midst of trials, and the need for community support. This episode focuses on the challenges of singleness and single-parenting. Guest Robert Beeson is founder of Solo Parent Society (a community for single parents) and hosts a weekly podcast for single parents. He and his wife Barbara live in Franklin, TN and have 6 kids.

How do we get past the things we’ve done or left undone, the weaknesses we have and the shame that we carry around? The concept of forgiving ourselves is difficult but important. Chip Dodd, author, speaker, counselor and resident expert for Solo Parent Society, talks about shame and forgiveness. Chip shares there is a big difference between guilt and shame. Chip says, “We are all made to belong and matter. That is essential.”  Healthy shame is when we recognize our need for connection, love and care. Admitting these innate needs is the experience of healthy shame. This is the common human experience. Chip says, “We are all made to need, to feel, to desire, to long and to hope. The gift of healthy shame is humility. We are all made out of dirt. I need you. You need me. I make mistakes and so do you.” Healthy shame also says, “I’m not God and neither are you.” This recognition of being human allows us to feel empathy for ourselves and for others and leads us to compassion. Guilt is whenever we do something that goes against a healthy value system. Guilt occurs when we do something that harms someone. Guilt occurs when we cause something, whereas shame is an awareness and understanding of our shared humanity. Healthy shame leads to good guilt. Good guilt is guilt that leads us to seek forgiveness for something we’ve done. Good guilt enables us to pursue relationship with someone we’ve hurt. Good guilt is restorative. Toxic shame on the other hand is not innate. It is something we take on when we are rejected often enough to internalize it into negative feelings or perceptions of ourselves. Toxic shame is not a healthy awareness of our humanity. “Toxic shame is contempt toward myself for being human”, according to Chip. This rejection of our normal humanity and needs is what typifies toxic shame. Toxic shame doesn’t come from God. It comes from those around us who have rejected and hurt us. “We begin to identify ourselves according to the relationships we experience”, says Chip, and this is where toxic shame comes from.  With toxic shame, to be in need is humiliating. With healthy shame, to be in need is humility. Toxic shame leads to seeking relief often in the form of addiction or unhealthy performance. In his book, Hope in the Age of Addiction, Chip shares that addiction is a reaction to toxic shame. We overcome toxic shame by embracing healthy shame. Healthy shame is the portal toward overall health.  For the complete show notes and links click here - https://soloparentsociety.com/2020/09/15/shame-forgiving-ourselves/

How do we get past the things we’ve done or left undone, the weaknesses we have and the shame that we carry around? The concept of forgiving ourselves is difficult but important. Chip Dodd, author, speaker, counselor and resident expert for Solo Parent Society, talks about shame and forgiveness. Chip shares there is a big difference between guilt and shame. Chip says, “We are all made to belong and matter. That is essential.”  Healthy shame is when we recognize our need for connection, love and care. Admitting these innate needs is the experience of healthy shame. This is the common human experience. Chip says, “We are all made to need, to feel, to desire, to long and to hope. The gift of healthy shame is humility. We are all made out of dirt. I need you. You need me. I make mistakes and so do you.” Healthy shame also says, “I’m not God and neither are you.” This recognition of being human allows us to feel empathy for ourselves and for others and leads us to compassion. Guilt is whenever we do something that goes against a healthy value system. Guilt occurs when we do something that harms someone. Guilt occurs when we cause something, whereas shame is an awareness and understanding of our shared humanity. Healthy shame leads to good guilt. Good guilt is guilt that leads us to seek forgiveness for something we’ve done. Good guilt enables us to pursue relationship with someone we’ve hurt. Good guilt is restorative. Toxic shame on the other hand is not innate. It is something we take on when we are rejected often enough to internalize it into negative feelings or perceptions of ourselves. Toxic shame is not a healthy awareness of our humanity. “Toxic shame is contempt toward myself for being human”, according to Chip. This rejection of our normal humanity and needs is what typifies toxic shame. Toxic shame doesn’t come from God. It comes from those around us who have rejected and hurt us. “We begin to identify ourselves according to the relationships we experience”, says Chip, and this is where toxic shame comes from.  With toxic shame, to be in need is humiliating. With healthy shame, to be in need is humility. Toxic shame leads to seeking relief often in the form of addiction or unhealthy performance. In his book, Hope in the Age of Addiction, Chip shares that addiction is a reaction to toxic shame. We overcome toxic shame by embracing healthy shame. Healthy shame is the portal toward overall health.  For the complete show notes and links click here - https://soloparentsociety.com/2020/09/15/shame-forgiving-ourselves/

Single parents, we know many of you experience incredible emotional upheaval as you adjust to parenting alone regardless of the reason, whether divorce, death of a loved one, or a personal decision of your own. That takes courage in and of itself. But then we end up needing continued strength and resilience to raise our kids as a solo parent in the aftermath of our own pain and struggle. Facing the reality of being a single parent is daunting. We don’t want to damage our kids and the fear of our own inadequacy is real. How do we find courage to parent in our brokenness? We talked to expert therapist, mentor, speaker, and bestselling author, Chip Dodd, to explore how to overcome these fears and move ahead with courage. Chip recently joined the Solo Parent Society team as our resident counseling expert and regular contributor to our podcast. Chip offers so much insight and wisdom in understanding healing and wholeness broken into 3 steps. For the complete show notes click here - https://soloparentsociety.com/2020/08/10/how-to-have-courage-to-parent-in-brokenness/

Single parents, we know many of you experience incredible emotional upheaval as you adjust to parenting alone regardless of the reason, whether divorce, death of a loved one, or a personal decision of your own. That takes courage in and of itself. But then we end up needing continued strength and resilience to raise our kids as a solo parent in the aftermath of our own pain and struggle. Facing the reality of being a single parent is daunting. We don’t want to damage our kids and the fear of our own inadequacy is real. How do we find courage to parent in our brokenness? We talked to expert therapist, mentor, speaker, and bestselling author, Chip Dodd, to explore how to overcome these fears and move ahead with courage. Chip recently joined the Solo Parent Society team as our resident counseling expert and regular contributor to our podcast. Chip offers so much insight and wisdom in understanding healing and wholeness broken into 3 steps. For the complete show notes click here - https://soloparentsociety.com/2020/08/10/how-to-have-courage-to-parent-in-brokenness/

On today’s episode, hosts Robert Beeson and Kimberley Mitchell, talk with financial expert, Dave Ramsey about personal growth. Personal growth can seem like a far-off goal when our lives have been turned upside down. Dave shares what personal growth looks like for him and what it can look like for solo parents too. Dave went through his own “shattered season” when his business went bankrupt, but he allowed that to shape his future. Now, he's on over 500 radio stations, he’s a bestselling author, and he’s a household name. Yes, our lives can feel shattered, “But,” Dave reminds us, “good things can come out of manure”. Things like bankruptcy and divorce are an ending but they are also a beginning. “You can’t go back, so all you can do is learn, get better, and go forward.” Dave says personal growth is about using the rear-view mirror to glance behind us we don’t make the same mistakes again, but to use the windshield more, so we can move toward new things intentionally. We can’t always choose our circumstances, but we can choose what we put into our spirits and brains. “These things aren’t likely found on TV or Instagram but instead in a book, in a Bible Study, in a Sunday school class”, Dave emphasized. And making personal growth a priority is essential, “...just like you would with exercise and brushing your teeth”. Dave also shared another key to personal growth is “naming the enemy to take his power away”. It’s easy to blame other people, play the victim card and get stuck. Dave has been there. Proverbs 13:12 says, “Hope deferred makes the heart sick.” “That’s human”, says Dave, “we get to have those moments, but we can’t stay there.” Instead, we must move toward the second part of that verse, “When desire comes, it is the tree of life.” “We need hopefulness instead of hopelessness”, says Dave, and “Nobody can steal our hope, we have to surrender it.” So, it’s also up to us to take it back. We can do this by naming blame and hopelessness and identifying a third enemy, fatigue. “It is emotionally expensive to be shattered”, says Dave. “We feel like we’ve been hit by a train, but we have to say, I’m not going to become a victim. I’m not going to surrender my hope. I'm going to rest, lick my wounds, and fill up the glass with something good.” “That”, Dave says, “is the personal growth part.” In the shattered spaces of our lives, terrible things do happen, but we must be careful not to focus only on those things. We must be deliberate about naming the good things in our lives. Dave said, “Get up every morning and make a blessings list. Gratitude is a powerful emotion and grateful people are highly attractive.” And who doesn’t want to be attractive? Personal growth isn't easy, but it’s necessary and empowering. When we come through a difficult season, we are no longer under the illusion of having it all together. We can surrender to not being perfect and realize God loves us anyway, just as we are. He forgives us and we can forgive ourselves too with hearts full of gratitude. Then we can move forward into new things and greater personal growth. Don’t miss the rest of Dave’s insights on personal growth! Follow Solo Parent Society on Facebook and on Instagram (@soloparentsociety) Learn more at www.soloparentsociety.com. You can also download the free Solo Parent Society app for iPhones or Androids from your app store. To learn more about Financial Peace University, visit Ramsey Solutions.

On today’s episode, hosts Robert Beeson and Kimberley Mitchell, talk with financial expert, Dave Ramsey about personal growth. Personal growth can seem like a far-off goal when our lives have been turned upside down. Dave shares what personal growth looks like for him and what it can look like for solo parents too. Dave went through his own “shattered season” when his business went bankrupt, but he allowed that to shape his future. Now, he's on over 500 radio stations, he’s a bestselling author, and he’s a household name. Yes, our lives can feel shattered, “But,” Dave reminds us, “good things can come out of manure”. Things like bankruptcy and divorce are an ending but they are also a beginning. “You can’t go back, so all you can do is learn, get better, and go forward.” Dave says personal growth is about using the rear-view mirror to glance behind us we don’t make the same mistakes again, but to use the windshield more, so we can move toward new things intentionally. We can’t always choose our circumstances, but we can choose what we put into our spirits and brains. “These things aren’t likely found on TV or Instagram but instead in a book, in a Bible Study, in a Sunday school class”, Dave emphasized. And making personal growth a priority is essential, “...just like you would with exercise and brushing your teeth”. Dave also shared another key to personal growth is “naming the enemy to take his power away”. It’s easy to blame other people, play the victim card and get stuck. Dave has been there. Proverbs 13:12 says, “Hope deferred makes the heart sick.” “That’s human”, says Dave, “we get to have those moments, but we can’t stay there.” Instead, we must move toward the second part of that verse, “When desire comes, it is the tree of life.” “We need hopefulness instead of hopelessness”, says Dave, and “Nobody can steal our hope, we have to surrender it.” So, it’s also up to us to take it back. We can do this by naming blame and hopelessness and identifying a third enemy, fatigue. “It is emotionally expensive to be shattered”, says Dave. “We feel like we’ve been hit by a train, but we have to say, I’m not going to become a victim. I’m not going to surrender my hope. I'm going to rest, lick my wounds, and fill up the glass with something good.” “That”, Dave says, “is the personal growth part.” In the shattered spaces of our lives, terrible things do happen, but we must be careful not to focus only on those things. We must be deliberate about naming the good things in our lives. Dave said, “Get up every morning and make a blessings list. Gratitude is a powerful emotion and grateful people are highly attractive.” And who doesn’t want to be attractive? Personal growth isn't easy, but it’s necessary and empowering. When we come through a difficult season, we are no longer under the illusion of having it all together. We can surrender to not being perfect and realize God loves us anyway, just as we are. He forgives us and we can forgive ourselves too with hearts full of gratitude. Then we can move forward into new things and greater personal growth. Don’t miss the rest of Dave’s insights on personal growth! Follow Solo Parent Society on Facebook and on Instagram (@soloparentsociety) Learn more at www.soloparentsociety.com. You can also download the free Solo Parent Society app for iPhones or Androids from your app store. To learn more about Financial Peace University, visit Ramsey Solutions.

In today's podcast, we deal with the topic of wholeness as part of our stability as single parents. Wholeness is defined as the state of being unbroken or undamaged but being a single parent can leave us feeling devastated and less than whole. It's especially challenging after some of our experiences and while feeling added pressure to have it all together for our kids. On today's podcast, Solo Parent Society founder, Robert Beeson, podcast co-host, Kimberley Mitchell, and single mom, Marissa Lee, discuss wholeness as something we find not in spite of brokenness but because of it. This may seem counterintuitive but brokenness can actually serve us well when we let God transform us through it. How do we do that? We need to anchor ourselves to Him and then wait for Him to repair and transform us. Anchoring: The act of dropping an anchor is an active process that requires knowing where you are. You can't lower an anchor in mud. It has to be dropped somewhere it will actually hold. As solo parents, we may find ourselves wanting to escape the storm of our brokenness but we cant. Instead, God promises to be with us in it so don't despise the storm. Embrace it as the place where God will meet you and anchor yourself to Him in the midst of it. How do we do this? Specific ways to anchor: Know where you are. Before you drop your anchor, assess your situation honestly. You can't go back to the shore you came from and you may not know where you are going. Instead, accept where you and then you can drop your anchor. Anchor yourself in God's Word. Single parents need to be equipped. We need truth and hope. Surround yourself with it. Play worship music. Find a key verse and use it as a screensaver, memorize it. Especially as solo parents, we cannot be self-reliant. We have to let the anchor of truth hold us firm. Once we are anchored in truth, then what? Well, then we wait. Waiting: Waiting isn't passive. It requires focus and determination to wait when we would rather run from our brokenness. Instead, we must accept where we are, lower our anchor and wait on God to repair us and see us through. Specific ways to wait: Take our thoughts captive. As we wait for God to open the next door and show us next steps, we must take every thought captive and make it obedient to Christ. Our thoughts are powerful and 70% of them are negative. We have to identify these negative thoughts as lies and speak back to them with truth. We have to be careful which voices we listen to. We need to remember we have a God who saved us! He wins in the end and He is with us in the wait. Be present. While we wait, we need to be present. Be present with your kids, with yourself and with God. Get quiet and still. Allow space for God to speak. Accept what is and find the beauty in it. Be patient with yourself, with your circumstances and with God. Let go of the past and the future. What matters today is what you do right now. Just do the next right thing. Remember, wholeness is not a destination but confidence in the One who created us. So, don't run from brokenness God is at work in it. Be expectant. Be patient Look for God in your brokenness and you will find Him. Anchor yourself to Him and wait. You are closer to wholeness than you ever thought. Find us on Facebook and on Instagram and at www.SoloParentSociety.com.

In today's podcast, we deal with the topic of wholeness as part of our stability as single parents. Wholeness is defined as the state of being unbroken or undamaged but being a single parent can leave us feeling devastated and less than whole. It's especially challenging after some of our experiences and while feeling added pressure to have it all together for our kids. On today's podcast, Solo Parent Society founder, Robert Beeson, podcast co-host, Kimberley Mitchell, and single mom, Marissa Lee, discuss wholeness as something we find not in spite of brokenness but because of it. This may seem counterintuitive but brokenness can actually serve us well when we let God transform us through it. How do we do that? We need to anchor ourselves to Him and then wait for Him to repair and transform us. Anchoring: The act of dropping an anchor is an active process that requires knowing where you are. You can't lower an anchor in mud. It has to be dropped somewhere it will actually hold. As solo parents, we may find ourselves wanting to escape the storm of our brokenness but we cant. Instead, God promises to be with us in it so don't despise the storm. Embrace it as the place where God will meet you and anchor yourself to Him in the midst of it. How do we do this? Specific ways to anchor: Know where you are. Before you drop your anchor, assess your situation honestly. You can't go back to the shore you came from and you may not know where you are going. Instead, accept where you and then you can drop your anchor. Anchor yourself in God's Word. Single parents need to be equipped. We need truth and hope. Surround yourself with it. Play worship music. Find a key verse and use it as a screensaver, memorize it. Especially as solo parents, we cannot be self-reliant. We have to let the anchor of truth hold us firm. Once we are anchored in truth, then what? Well, then we wait. Waiting: Waiting isn't passive. It requires focus and determination to wait when we would rather run from our brokenness. Instead, we must accept where we are, lower our anchor and wait on God to repair us and see us through. Specific ways to wait: Take our thoughts captive. As we wait for God to open the next door and show us next steps, we must take every thought captive and make it obedient to Christ. Our thoughts are powerful and 70% of them are negative. We have to identify these negative thoughts as lies and speak back to them with truth. We have to be careful which voices we listen to. We need to remember we have a God who saved us! He wins in the end and He is with us in the wait. Be present. While we wait, we need to be present. Be present with your kids, with yourself and with God. Get quiet and still. Allow space for God to speak. Accept what is and find the beauty in it. Be patient with yourself, with your circumstances and with God. Let go of the past and the future. What matters today is what you do right now. Just do the next right thing. Remember, wholeness is not a destination but confidence in the One who created us. So, don't run from brokenness God is at work in it. Be expectant. Be patient Look for God in your brokenness and you will find Him. Anchor yourself to Him and wait. You are closer to wholeness than you ever thought. Find us on Facebook and on Instagram and at www.SoloParentSociety.com.

Parenting is meant to be a team sport, but now we find ourselves having to do it alone. Often we ourselves already feel beat up, defeated, and even like a failure, so to parent from that position, with no checks and balances, can seem overwhelming. Knowing that parenting in and of itself is hard, we can find ourselves wondering, "How can I raise healthy kids on my own when it is designed to done as a team with my spouse.?" To address this pervasive fear, Solo Parent Society has pulled together 5 anchoring approaches to help raise healthy kids. These are not behavior modifiers for correction; rather, these are simple but profoundly helpful approaches to developing successful and healthy adults. Giving focus and deliberate effort to instilling these principles while our kids are in our care will better prepare them for their own enriched lives as adults. We call them our 5 R's: RELATIONSHIP This principle is paramount to all the others. We must teach (and model) the value and power of healthy relationships. Teaching our kids what healthy relational dynamics look like includes: -Learn that people are all different -Our emotions in conflict shouldn't match others who are elevated (Staying calm and not reactionary) -The power of really listening -There is a time to keep our mouths shut -Allowing them to teach us - and when they do TELL THEM -Pursue peoples hearts, not compliance RESPECT In a society that seems to have lost this fundamental principle, we must teach (and model) the importance of honoring others. It starts with them showing respect for our position in their lives - our job is to keep them safe, their job is to be a kid. Showing respect goes just beyond the parent-child relationship to include: -All of those in authority - adults, the other parent, teachers, government as examples. It is OK to differ from those in authority but it is critical to show respect. -The opposite sex - teach chivalry -Other races, traditions and people with differing opinions -Honoring others by making eye contact, shaking hands and being comfortable making conversation RULES While relationship and respect are fundamental principles, we must teach that in life, there are absolutes. Everything we do costs something - there is a cost to not being able to do whatever we want whenever we want it, there is also sometimes a more significant cost to getting our way all the time... called consequences. Rules and consequences are essential to teach the way the real world works, but always remember rules without relationship (trust) equals rebellion. RESPONSIBILITY Helping our kids develop an independent and contributing mindset is an investment into their future. Teaching them to fish over just bringing them a fish helps guide them into strong individuals. We can do this by showing them: -There are things they can do on their own -Helping out around the house develops a contributing mindset -The importance of a good work ethic - we work hard to accomplish what we want RISK Along with all the other principles teaching them that taking risks are an essential part of life. Embracing the famous quote, "What if I fall? Oh, but my darling, what if you fly?" -Failure is not bad - failure is often the best teacher, especially while they are in a safe place... in our care. -Teach our kids through modeling and discussing the importance of taking chances. These R's are not meant to be the exhaustive list of do's and don'ts - the point is to be deliberate about what we are investing into our kids' lives to mold them into successful and healthy adults. The goal is not to just correct our kids into compliant children but to guide them with anchoring principles that develop their character.

Parenting is meant to be a team sport, but now we find ourselves having to do it alone. Often we ourselves already feel beat up, defeated, and even like a failure, so to parent from that position, with no checks and balances, can seem overwhelming. Knowing that parenting in and of itself is hard, we can find ourselves wondering, "How can I raise healthy kids on my own when it is designed to done as a team with my spouse.?" To address this pervasive fear, Solo Parent Society has pulled together 5 anchoring approaches to help raise healthy kids. These are not behavior modifiers for correction; rather, these are simple but profoundly helpful approaches to developing successful and healthy adults. Giving focus and deliberate effort to instilling these principles while our kids are in our care will better prepare them for their own enriched lives as adults. We call them our 5 R's: RELATIONSHIP This principle is paramount to all the others. We must teach (and model) the value and power of healthy relationships. Teaching our kids what healthy relational dynamics look like includes: -Learn that people are all different -Our emotions in conflict shouldn't match others who are elevated (Staying calm and not reactionary) -The power of really listening -There is a time to keep our mouths shut -Allowing them to teach us - and when they do TELL THEM -Pursue peoples hearts, not compliance RESPECT In a society that seems to have lost this fundamental principle, we must teach (and model) the importance of honoring others. It starts with them showing respect for our position in their lives - our job is to keep them safe, their job is to be a kid. Showing respect goes just beyond the parent-child relationship to include: -All of those in authority - adults, the other parent, teachers, government as examples. It is OK to differ from those in authority but it is critical to show respect. -The opposite sex - teach chivalry -Other races, traditions and people with differing opinions -Honoring others by making eye contact, shaking hands and being comfortable making conversation RULES While relationship and respect are fundamental principles, we must teach that in life, there are absolutes. Everything we do costs something - there is a cost to not being able to do whatever we want whenever we want it, there is also sometimes a more significant cost to getting our way all the time... called consequences. Rules and consequences are essential to teach the way the real world works, but always remember rules without relationship (trust) equals rebellion. RESPONSIBILITY Helping our kids develop an independent and contributing mindset is an investment into their future. Teaching them to fish over just bringing them a fish helps guide them into strong individuals. We can do this by showing them: -There are things they can do on their own -Helping out around the house develops a contributing mindset -The importance of a good work ethic - we work hard to accomplish what we want RISK Along with all the other principles teaching them that taking risks are an essential part of life. Embracing the famous quote, "What if I fall? Oh, but my darling, what if you fly?" -Failure is not bad - failure is often the best teacher, especially while they are in a safe place... in our care. -Teach our kids through modeling and discussing the importance of taking chances. These R's are not meant to be the exhaustive list of do's and don'ts - the point is to be deliberate about what we are investing into our kids' lives to mold them into successful and healthy adults. The goal is not to just correct our kids into compliant children but to guide them with anchoring principles that develop their character.

As a single parent, sometimes we can feel like there’s a wall between us and God because we believe we’ve failed and are a disappointment, so we see ourselves as unworthy. For some of us that have lost our spouse to death we may feel angry for God letting this happen. These things can lead to comparing ourselves to other people that seem to have it all together spiritually or otherwise. Here is the good news, knowing God’s love can actually be more intimate during this solo season than in any other season, and it is the basis for everything we try to be about at Solo Parent Society. Here are the 3 areas of focus that we employ at SPS that help us encounter God’s love. Confession Confession is expressing the good and bad - The doubts and praise. Ultimately it is about expressing with our mouths (or writing it down) our completely transparent and honest feelings. A few questions that might be helpful: How do you feel when you think about coming into God’s presence? What do you think he may be disappointed in? Proud of? If you were to name a feeling that my be creating a wall what would that feeling be? The goal is to authentically be known in our most intimate state by God and at least one person and/ or a journal. Absolutes This is where we search out truth about what we have confessed. This could be as simple as a google search - “What does the bible say about anger/shame/doubt/ fear?” This step must take place AFTER we have transparently confessed what might be causing a wall between us and God. Whatever the wall is search scriptures about what God says about that. Study what God promises to take care of and find evidence of His faithfulness in our lives. Write those promises down and post them on the wall - Example Isaiah 54:4-5. Acceptance Taking what we have uncovered in our heart - Confession - and what we discover in our head - Absolutes - now we need to incorporate into a life style. One way is a remembering exercise. Step 1. Remember Practice remembrance by taking the time to list all of the ways God has worked in your life. Here are some helpful categories to write out some experiences: Childhood Teen years (middle and high school) Early adulthood (18-25 years old) Adulthood (25+ age) Other areas like in motherhood/fatherhood, marriage, etc. Step 2. Recognition Practice recognizing all the small ways God works in your life every day. This is a daily practice of gratitude. For example, each day write down three things for which you are grateful. Try to not repeat yourself. Write down new things or new ways to express gratitude even about a recurring blessing. You will likely have to get creative, which can cause you to be more aware of where and how God is at work in your life. Step 3. Repetition Continually repeat these practices. This isn't a one-and-done. Go back to your lists and add to them. Ask God to reveal the ways He is at work around you so you don’t miss anything. Our busy lives can often distract us from what is most important. The old adage “Count your blessings” may seem trite or cheesy, but in the Solo season, this attitude can be strategic in your growth and healing. God’s Love is personal and intimate. The obstacles or disappointments we believe create a wall between us and God are often the very things that create an opportunity to discover a more intimate relationship with Him. God doesn’t love me for what I do for Him, He just loves me, even when I do nothing at all… that is wild, wild stuff! Join our community Facebook.com/SoloParentSociety

As a single parent, sometimes we can feel like there's a wall between us and God because we believe we've failed and are a disappointment, so we see ourselves as unworthy. For some of us that have lost our spouse to death we may feel angry for God letting this happen. These things can lead to comparing ourselves to other people that seem to have it all together spiritually or otherwise. Here is the good news, knowing God's love can actually be more intimate during this solo season than in any other season, and it is the basis for everything we try to be about at Solo Parent Society. Here are the 3 areas of focus that we employ at SPS that help us encounter God's love. Confession Confession is expressing the good and bad - The doubts and praise. Ultimately it is about expressing with our mouths (or writing it down) our completely transparent and honest feelings. A few questions that might be helpful: How do you feel when you think about coming into God's presence? What do you think he may be disappointed in? Proud of? If you were to name a feeling that my be creating a wall what would that feeling be? The goal is to authentically be known in our most intimate state by God and at least one person and/ or a journal. Absolutes This is where we search out truth about what we have confessed. This could be as simple as a google search - "What does the bible say about anger/shame/doubt/ fear?" This step must take place AFTER we have transparently confessed what might be causing a wall between us and God. Whatever the wall is search scriptures about what God says about that. Study what God promises to take care of and find evidence of His faithfulness in our lives. Write those promises down and post them on the wall - Example Isaiah 54:4-5. Acceptance Taking what we have uncovered in our heart - Confession - and what we discover in our head - Absolutes - now we need to incorporate into a life style. One way is a remembering exercise. Step 1. Remember Practice remembrance by taking the time to list all of the ways God has worked in your life. Here are some helpful categories to write out some experiences: Childhood Teen years (middle and high school) Early adulthood (18-25 years old) Adulthood (25+ age) Other areas like in motherhood/fatherhood, marriage, etc. Step 2. Recognition Practice recognizing all the small ways God works in your life every day. This is a daily practice of gratitude. For example, each day write down three things for which you are grateful. Try to not repeat yourself. Write down new things or new ways to express gratitude even about a recurring blessing. You will likely have to get creative, which can cause you to be more aware of where and how God is at work in your life. Step 3. Repetition Continually repeat these practices. This isn't a one-and-done. Go back to your lists and add to them. Ask God to reveal the ways He is at work around you so you don't miss anything. Our busy lives can often distract us from what is most important. The old adage "Count your blessings" may seem trite or cheesy, but in the Solo season, this attitude can be strategic in your growth and healing. God's Love is personal and intimate. The obstacles or disappointments we believe create a wall between us and God are often the very things that create an opportunity to discover a more intimate relationship with Him. God doesn't love me for what I do for Him, He just loves me, even when I do nothing at all... that is wild, wild stuff! Join our community Facebook.com/SoloParentSociety

As a single parent, sometimes we can feel like there's a wall between us and God because we believe we've failed and are a disappointment, so we see ourselves as unworthy. For some of us that have lost our spouse to death we may feel angry for God letting this happen. These things can lead to comparing ourselves to other people that seem to have it all together spiritually or otherwise. Here is the good news, knowing God's love can actually be more intimate during this solo season than in any other season, and it is the basis for everything we try to be about at Solo Parent Society. Here are the 3 areas of focus that we employ at SPS that help us encounter God's love. Confession Confession is expressing the good and bad - The doubts and praise. Ultimately it is about expressing with our mouths (or writing it down) our completely transparent and honest feelings. A few questions that might be helpful: How do you feel when you think about coming into God's presence? What do you think he may be disappointed in? Proud of? If you were to name a feeling that my be creating a wall what would that feeling be? The goal is to authentically be known in our most intimate state by God and at least one person and/ or a journal. Absolutes This is where we search out truth about what we have confessed. This could be as simple as a google search - "What does the bible say about anger/shame/doubt/ fear?" This step must take place AFTER we have transparently confessed what might be causing a wall between us and God. Whatever the wall is search scriptures about what God says about that. Study what God promises to take care of and find evidence of His faithfulness in our lives. Write those promises down and post them on the wall - Example Isaiah 54:4-5. Acceptance Taking what we have uncovered in our heart - Confession - and what we discover in our head - Absolutes - now we need to incorporate into a life style. One way is a remembering exercise. Step 1. Remember Practice remembrance by taking the time to list all of the ways God has worked in your life. Here are some helpful categories to write out some experiences: Childhood Teen years (middle and high school) Early adulthood (18-25 years old) Adulthood (25+ age) Other areas like in motherhood/fatherhood, marriage, etc. Step 2. Recognition Practice recognizing all the small ways God works in your life every day. This is a daily practice of gratitude. For example, each day write down three things for which you are grateful. Try to not repeat yourself. Write down new things or new ways to express gratitude even about a recurring blessing. You will likely have to get creative, which can cause you to be more aware of where and how God is at work in your life. Step 3. Repetition Continually repeat these practices. This isn't a one-and-done. Go back to your lists and add to them. Ask God to reveal the ways He is at work around you so you don't miss anything. Our busy lives can often distract us from what is most important. The old adage "Count your blessings" may seem trite or cheesy, but in the Solo season, this attitude can be strategic in your growth and healing. God's Love is personal and intimate. The obstacles or disappointments we believe create a wall between us and God are often the very things that create an opportunity to discover a more intimate relationship with Him. God doesn't love me for what I do for Him, He just loves me, even when I do nothing at all... that is wild, wild stuff! Join our community Facebook.com/SoloParentSociety

As a single parent, sometimes we can feel like there’s a wall between us and God because we believe we’ve failed and are a disappointment, so we see ourselves as unworthy. For some of us that have lost our spouse to death we may feel angry for God letting this happen. These things can lead to comparing ourselves to other people that seem to have it all together spiritually or otherwise. Here is the good news, knowing God’s love can actually be more intimate during this solo season than in any other season, and it is the basis for everything we try to be about at Solo Parent Society. Here are the 3 areas of focus that we employ at SPS that help us encounter God’s love. Confession Confession is expressing the good and bad - The doubts and praise. Ultimately it is about expressing with our mouths (or writing it down) our completely transparent and honest feelings. A few questions that might be helpful: How do you feel when you think about coming into God’s presence? What do you think he may be disappointed in? Proud of? If you were to name a feeling that my be creating a wall what would that feeling be? The goal is to authentically be known in our most intimate state by God and at least one person and/ or a journal. Absolutes This is where we search out truth about what we have confessed. This could be as simple as a google search - “What does the bible say about anger/shame/doubt/ fear?” This step must take place AFTER we have transparently confessed what might be causing a wall between us and God. Whatever the wall is search scriptures about what God says about that. Study what God promises to take care of and find evidence of His faithfulness in our lives. Write those promises down and post them on the wall - Example Isaiah 54:4-5. Acceptance Taking what we have uncovered in our heart - Confession - and what we discover in our head - Absolutes - now we need to incorporate into a life style. One way is a remembering exercise. Step 1. Remember Practice remembrance by taking the time to list all of the ways God has worked in your life. Here are some helpful categories to write out some experiences: Childhood Teen years (middle and high school) Early adulthood (18-25 years old) Adulthood (25+ age) Other areas like in motherhood/fatherhood, marriage, etc. Step 2. Recognition Practice recognizing all the small ways God works in your life every day. This is a daily practice of gratitude. For example, each day write down three things for which you are grateful. Try to not repeat yourself. Write down new things or new ways to express gratitude even about a recurring blessing. You will likely have to get creative, which can cause you to be more aware of where and how God is at work in your life. Step 3. Repetition Continually repeat these practices. This isn't a one-and-done. Go back to your lists and add to them. Ask God to reveal the ways He is at work around you so you don’t miss anything. Our busy lives can often distract us from what is most important. The old adage “Count your blessings” may seem trite or cheesy, but in the Solo season, this attitude can be strategic in your growth and healing. God’s Love is personal and intimate. The obstacles or disappointments we believe create a wall between us and God are often the very things that create an opportunity to discover a more intimate relationship with Him. God doesn’t love me for what I do for Him, He just loves me, even when I do nothing at all… that is wild, wild stuff! Join our community Facebook.com/SoloParentSociety

As a single parent, sometimes we can feel like there's a wall between us and God because we believe we've failed and are a disappointment, so we see ourselves as unworthy. For some of us that have lost our spouse to death we may feel angry for God letting this happen. These things can lead to comparing ourselves to other people that seem to have it all together spiritually or otherwise. Here is the good news, knowing God's love can actually be more intimate during this solo season than in any other season, and it is the basis for everything we try to be about at Solo Parent Society. Here are the 3 areas of focus that we employ at SPS that help us encounter God's love. Confession Confession is expressing the good and bad - The doubts and praise. Ultimately it is about expressing with our mouths (or writing it down) our completely transparent and honest feelings. A few questions that might be helpful: How do you feel when you think about coming into God's presence? What do you think he may be disappointed in? Proud of? If you were to name a feeling that my be creating a wall what would that feeling be? The goal is to authentically be known in our most intimate state by God and at least one person and/ or a journal. Absolutes This is where we search out truth about what we have confessed. This could be as simple as a google search - "What does the bible say about anger/shame/doubt/ fear?" This step must take place AFTER we have transparently confessed what might be causing a wall between us and God. Whatever the wall is search scriptures about what God says about that. Study what God promises to take care of and find evidence of His faithfulness in our lives. Write those promises down and post them on the wall - Example Isaiah 54:4-5. Acceptance Taking what we have uncovered in our heart - Confession - and what we discover in our head - Absolutes - now we need to incorporate into a life style. One way is a remembering exercise. Step 1. Remember Practice remembrance by taking the time to list all of the ways God has worked in your life. Here are some helpful categories to write out some experiences: Childhood Teen years (middle and high school) Early adulthood (18-25 years old) Adulthood (25+ age) Other areas like in motherhood/fatherhood, marriage, etc. Step 2. Recognition Practice recognizing all the small ways God works in your life every day. This is a daily practice of gratitude. For example, each day write down three things for which you are grateful. Try to not repeat yourself. Write down new things or new ways to express gratitude even about a recurring blessing. You will likely have to get creative, which can cause you to be more aware of where and how God is at work in your life. Step 3. Repetition Continually repeat these practices. This isn't a one-and-done. Go back to your lists and add to them. Ask God to reveal the ways He is at work around you so you don't miss anything. Our busy lives can often distract us from what is most important. The old adage "Count your blessings" may seem trite or cheesy, but in the Solo season, this attitude can be strategic in your growth and healing. God's Love is personal and intimate. The obstacles or disappointments we believe create a wall between us and God are often the very things that create an opportunity to discover a more intimate relationship with Him. God doesn't love me for what I do for Him, He just loves me, even when I do nothing at all... that is wild, wild stuff! Join our community Facebook.com/SoloParentSociety

As a single parent, sometimes we can feel like there's a wall between us and God because we believe we've failed and are a disappointment, so we see ourselves as unworthy. For some of us that have lost our spouse to death we may feel angry for God letting this happen. These things can lead to comparing ourselves to other people that seem to have it all together spiritually or otherwise. Here is the good news, knowing God's love can actually be more intimate during this solo season than in any other season, and it is the basis for everything we try to be about at Solo Parent Society. Here are the 3 areas of focus that we employ at SPS that help us encounter God's love. Confession Confession is expressing the good and bad - The doubts and praise. Ultimately it is about expressing with our mouths (or writing it down) our completely transparent and honest feelings. A few questions that might be helpful: How do you feel when you think about coming into God's presence? What do you think he may be disappointed in? Proud of? If you were to name a feeling that my be creating a wall what would that feeling be? The goal is to authentically be known in our most intimate state by God and at least one person and/ or a journal. Absolutes This is where we search out truth about what we have confessed. This could be as simple as a google search - "What does the bible say about anger/shame/doubt/ fear?" This step must take place AFTER we have transparently confessed what might be causing a wall between us and God. Whatever the wall is search scriptures about what God says about that. Study what God promises to take care of and find evidence of His faithfulness in our lives. Write those promises down and post them on the wall - Example Isaiah 54:4-5. Acceptance Taking what we have uncovered in our heart - Confession - and what we discover in our head - Absolutes - now we need to incorporate into a life style. One way is a remembering exercise. Step 1. Remember Practice remembrance by taking the time to list all of the ways God has worked in your life. Here are some helpful categories to write out some experiences: Childhood Teen years (middle and high school) Early adulthood (18-25 years old) Adulthood (25+ age) Other areas like in motherhood/fatherhood, marriage, etc. Step 2. Recognition Practice recognizing all the small ways God works in your life every day. This is a daily practice of gratitude. For example, each day write down three things for which you are grateful. Try to not repeat yourself. Write down new things or new ways to express gratitude even about a recurring blessing. You will likely have to get creative, which can cause you to be more aware of where and how God is at work in your life. Step 3. Repetition Continually repeat these practices. This isn't a one-and-done. Go back to your lists and add to them. Ask God to reveal the ways He is at work around you so you don't miss anything. Our busy lives can often distract us from what is most important. The old adage "Count your blessings" may seem trite or cheesy, but in the Solo season, this attitude can be strategic in your growth and healing. God's Love is personal and intimate. The obstacles or disappointments we believe create a wall between us and God are often the very things that create an opportunity to discover a more intimate relationship with Him. God doesn't love me for what I do for Him, He just loves me, even when I do nothing at all... that is wild, wild stuff! Join our community Facebook.com/SoloParentSociety

Glad you could join us as we continue our Myths Summer series with Solo Parent Society's, Robert Beeson, today! If you weren't able to make it for today's talk you can catch up right here, enjoy the talk!

41. RAISING BOYS - ROBERT NOLAND by Solo Parent Society

41. RAISING BOYS - ROBERT NOLAND by Solo Parent Society

40. CHRISTIAN PARENTING PRINCIPLES - ROBERT NOLAND by Solo Parent Society

40. CHRISTIAN PARENTING PRINCIPLES - ROBERT NOLAND by Solo Parent Society

34. REJECTION by Solo Parent Society

34. REJECTION by Solo Parent Society

33. IT'S NOT OUR JOB by Solo Parent Society

33. IT'S NOT OUR JOB by Solo Parent Society

32. REDUCE STRESS by Solo Parent Society

32. REDUCE STRESS by Solo Parent Society

Robert Beeson offers you hope, strength, and courage for the single mom or dad in his brand new book, Going Solo: Hope and Healing for the Single Mom or Dad. Robert Beeson: As a former Grammy Award-winning music industry executive (founder of Essentials Records and Executive at Provident Music Group), Robert never expected to be a single parent to his three girls (ages 9, 7, and 4) when his wife left. He raised them on his own for eight years, and while he grew as a person in ways he never imagined possible, his eyes were also opened to the sheer volume and tremendous needs of the single parenting community. He has worked with Jars of Clay, Third Day, Casting Crowns, Michael W. Smith, just to name a few. Robert is the founder of iShine, a faith-based music and multimedia company geared to tweens. He remarried after 8 years to his beautiful wife, Barbara. They've been married for 3 1/2 years. Robert has 3 daughters and 3 stepsons. "Either we define the season or the season defines us." ~ Robert Beeson BOOK: Going Solo Connect with Robert Beeson Enjoy the multitude of topics discussed including iShine, American Idol, missions, substance abuse, and solo parenting. Be amazed how God redeems and uses him in the most impactful way through the journey. Southern California South Africa Zuzuland Boarding School The Affair The move back Fierce Independence Media Treverton College Marketing American Idol iShine Tweens Nashville Jars of Clay Christian Music Industry Daughters' births Shame Marriage Shortcomings Divorce Substance Abuse Anger Grace Prayer for mom Single Married Solo Parenting Status Solo Sign in Italy Whose we are Seasons The Open Door Margins Co-dependent/Enabler Where's mom? Utterence Truth Spirit of Hiding Transparency/Authenticity PAUSE Brokenness Communication Prayer Christ's Resurrection Solo Parent Society   BOOK: Going Solo Connect with Robert Beeson "God uses our story to inspire other people." ~ Robert Beeson "I will not fear for you are with me." ~ Isaiah 41:10   Quotes and statements within the interview: "You're not just moving towns, you're moving cultures." "I wasn't going to be at the mercy of anybody else." "YI would consider myself South African raised, certainly born in California." "I always had an affinity with music." "I loved being behind the scenes. I loved the marketing side of everything." "I was just a completely clean slate." "What I like about it is I like the stories behind, you know, the talent. I think that's really fascinating." "iShine came out of our story." "Your calling isn't so far outside of your experience." "God uses our stories to meet other people where they're at." "Pay attention to the fact that God is writing something in your life right now." "I was way over my head!" "The remarkable things is that God continued to use us and use what was going on with Essential Records to meet a lot of people where they're at." "I was living a contradictory life. I was the executive by day and the partier by night." "This shame kept compounding." "My relationship with God was more shame-based because I was very aware how far away I was from Him." "It wasn't a, you know, I don't care about you God. It was more like I was getting away with something." "We have to be aware of our shortcomings to be in a healthy relationship." "I didn't handle things right in the beginning of the divorce." "If you take shots at the Ex, the other parent, you are taking shots at your kids." "It (Single parenting) has become so much of a norm." "To me, my solo season became very much about this exclusive relationship that I had with my Father." "That day, everything changed for our family." "There was something very bonding about that moment and something very freeing about that moment where I let go of trying to pretend and spin it and you know, and just said, Ok. Let's just face this. But let's face it together." "My pursuit since all this kind of crumbled is to try and have authentic and transparent relationships." "When you start becoming transparent, there's freedom in it." "At the end of the day, God is interested in your heart and interested in your soul, not in what you do for Him." "I'm gonna be quiet with my Father, and I'm gonna let Him minister to my soul." "There's beauty in brokenness." "That God is not keeping score of what we do for Him He created us and pursues us because He loves us as His children." "God wasn't impressed with me. He just wanted me to slow down and have a relationship with me. And that He cares so intimately about the things in my life and the things that I care about, not in my performance." "I realized prayer is the on-going realtime relational kind of whisper."   SOLO PARENT SOCIETY [https://soloparentsociety.com] Create communities Provide resources Change the conversations What would you tell the parent in the middle of divorce/separation? Recognize that you are not alone. You are not destroyed. You are not damaged goods. You are actually at the brink of discovering what is really important in your life. Ask God to reveal to you exactly what He wants to show you in this period of time. Surrender to God. What has your story gifted you? Released me from "I'm not enough." Put me in touch with my actual self. "In releasing the performance aspect of the way I used to live, trying to think I had to measure up" "I've stopped pretending to be something that I'm not."   Resources mentioned in the episode: BOOK: Going Solo Connect with Robert Beeson SOLO PARENT SOCIETY [https://soloparentsociety.com] Solo Parent Society Podcast Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/soloparentsociety   "One step at a time leads to miles of greatness!"   Subscribe to Create Your Now TV on YouTube. Wanting help with goals, setting your schedule, or need someone to talk to (even if you don't know what you need)? It's time you TAKE A.I.M. ~ Action Ignites Motivation. This is FREE for you. Stop trying to do it by yourself. Put YOU first! Become your best selfie so you can live your life's purpose.   ANNOUNCEMENT: Ready to shine your light and tell your story. Please click on MY STRENGTH IS MY STORY. Here you can submit yourself to appear on the podcast or make recommendations as who you would like to hear. This is going to be a beautiful series!   Subscribe to Create Your Now TV on YouTube. Listen to Create Your Now on Spotify. Listen to Create Your Now on iHeart Radio. Click here. The Create Your Now Archives are LIVE!! You can subscribe and listen to all the previous episodes here.  http://bit.ly/CYNarchive1 and http://bit.ly/CYNarchive2 and http://bit.ly/CYNarchive3 and http://bit.ly/CYNarchive4 and http://bit.ly/CYNarchive5 Contact me at YourBestSelfie@CreateYourNow.com THE NO FUSS MEAL PLAN Instagram @CreateYourNow @Kristianne Wargo Twitter @KristianneWargo @CreateYourNow Facebook www.facebook.com/TheKISSCoach www.facebook.com/CreateYourNow   PERISCOPE USERS!!! Click here for ANDROID Users / GOOGLE  https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=tv.periscope.android Click here for APPLE Users  https://itunes.apple.com/app/id972909677   Read more from Kristianne, a contributor to The Huffington Post, MindBodyGreen, Thrive Global, Addicted2Succes, and She Owns It. https://addicted2success.com/success-advice/5-things-to-do-while-waiting-for-success-to-manifest-in-your-life/ http://www.huffingtonpost.com/kristianne-wargo/ http://bit.ly/9amHabits https://journal.thriveglobal.com/how-to-configure-a-sleep-pattern-fit-for-you-d8edd3387eaf#.sniv275c3 https://sheownsit.com/when-failure-is-your-middle-name/   DOMESTIC BEAUTIES (Announcements) 1. Come and let's connect on Facebook - Women Of IMPACT  http://facebook.com/groups/thewomenofimpact 2. Create Your Now ~ Your Best Selfie can be heard on iHeart Radio and Spotify! 3. Create Your Now Archive 1 is LIVE! You can subscribe and listen to all the previous episodes here. http://bit.ly/CYNarchive1 4. Create Your Now Archive 2 is LIVE! You can subscribe and listen to all the previous episodes here. http://bit.ly/CYNarchive2 5. Create Your Now Archive 3 is LIVE! You can subscribe and listen to all the previous episodes here. http://bit.ly/CYNarchive3 6. Create Your Now Archive 4 is LIVE! You can subscribe and listen to all the previous episodes here. http://bit.ly/CYNarchive4 7. Create Your Now Archive 5 is LIVE! You can subscribe and listen to all the previous episodes here. http://bit.ly/CYNarchive5 8. NEW Website! Go check it out and tell me what you think. http://www.createyournow.com 9. Sign Up for The A.I.M. Academy! You will be the first to learn all about it. http://createyournow.com/m-academy-2 10. Schedule a Discovery Call. This is a free 30-45 minute call for those serious about coaching with me. 11. Newsletter and Library: If you desire to get weekly emails, be sure to sign up here so you can stay connected. http://createyournow.com/library   Cover Art by Jenny Hamson   Music by Mandisa - Overcomer http://www.mandisaofficial.com Song ID: 68209 Song Title: Overcomer Writer(s): Ben Glover, Chris Stevens, David Garcia Copyright © 2013 Meaux Mercy (BMI) Moody Producer Music (BMI) 9t One Songs (ASCAP) Ariose Music (ASCAP) Universal Music -  Brentwood Benson Publ. (ASCAP) D Soul Music (ASCAP) (adm. at CapitolCMGPublishing.com) All rights reserved. Used by permission.

31. OBSESSION - THE SECRET TO WHOLENESS by Solo Parent Society

31. OBSESSION - THE SECRET TO WHOLENESS by Solo Parent Society

30. SHAME by Solo Parent Society

30. SHAME by Solo Parent Society

27. GOD WITH US by Solo Parent Society

27. GOD WITH US by Solo Parent Society

Have you ever thought about the family dynamics that a blended family has to navigate?  Today Kimberley Mitchell shares the good, the bad, and the difficult family dynamics of a blended family, and how to navigate through difficult situations.   Kimberley Mitchell is known as “Just a Canadian Girl in Nashville” and is the co-host of the Solo Parent Society, as well as a blogger for See, Hear, Love, a Christian talk show based in Canada.  Today we will be discussing her experiences as a single mom, and what her transition to a blended family looked like.

Have you ever noticed how much our children compare themselves to each other?  Today Kimberley Mitchell explains how this comparison is heightened in a blended family situation, and how she believes the best way to combat this comparison game is love.   Kimberley Mitchell is known as “Just a Canadian Girl in Nashville” and is the co-host of the Solo Parent Society, as well as a blogger for See, Hear, Love, a Christian talk show based in Canada.  Today we will be discussing her experiences as a single mom, and what her transition to a blended family looked like.

Have you ever wondered what it is like for someone who is going from being a single parent to a blended family?  Today Kimberley Mitchell is going to share her experiences of becoming a blended family.   Kimberley Mitchell is known as “Just a Canadian Girl in Nashville” and is the co-host of the Solo Parent Society, as well as a blogger for See, Hear, Love, a Christian talk show based in Canada.  Today we will be discussing her experiences as a single mom, and what her transition to a blended family looked like.

22. SELF ESTEEM by Solo Parent Society

22. SELF ESTEEM by Solo Parent Society

Have you ever felt like God is no where to be seen?  Have you struggled to believe He has a purpose for the mess your life is in? Today Robert Beeson shares his own personal struggle, and explains how our perspective can dramatically change the capacity at which we are able to see God's will in our lives. To learn more about the Solo Parent Society, or to start your own Solo Parent Group, be sure to check out their website. I would also encourage you to purchase a copy of Robert's book, Going Solo. Robert Beeson is the Founder Essential Records, Former SVP of Provident Music Group. Founder, iShine & Solo Parent Society. Author of 'Going Solo" with Focus on the Family. 

Are you a solo parent or do you know a solo parent? Do you ever feel overwhelmed in this season of your life? Do you ever struggle knowing how to reach out to the solo parents in your own life?  Today Robert Beeson opens our eyes to the day in and day out life of a solo parent. He gives us practical advice on how to encourage someone in this season of their life, as well as encouragement for the solo parents out there. To learn more about the Solo Parent Society, or to start your own Solo Parent Group, be sure to check out their website. I would also encourage you to purchase a copy of Robert's book, Going Solo. Robert Beeson is the Founder Essential Records, Former SVP of Provident Music Group. Founder, iShine & Solo Parent Society. Author of 'Going Solo" with Focus on the Family. 

Matt sat down with Robert Beeson from the Solo Parent Society. After a long and successful career in the music and entertainment business, Robert recently left a company he founded to devote himself full time to his work with the Solo Parent Society. SPS is working to support the 1/3 of families in our country who are being led by a single parent. They create community, provide resources, and train churches to better support single parents. Regardless of what kind of parenting season you find yourself in right now, we think you'll find this conversation with Robert both encouraging and enlightening. His book Going Solo is available on Amazon. Check out soloparentsociety.com and the Solo Parent Society Facebook page as well.

You may not have heard of Robert Beeson, but you've certainly heard of a lot of the Christian artists he helped introduce to the world, including Jars Of Clay, Third Day, Casting Crowns and Michael W. Smith.   Robert's life changed dramatically when he found himself a divorced father with full custody of three daughters. This episode is about the unique challenges "solo parents" face, and how we can come together to create stronger families and communities. Find out more about how your church can get involved via the Solo Parent Society. http://www.soloparentsociety.com/

BRILLIANTLY BRAVE Episode #35- "Surviving Single Parenting" with Kimberly Mitchell. She discusses learning to trust God for 'herself' in those 'dark nights' alone as a single mom. Mitchell is co-host of the "Solo Parent Society" podcast. Find our blog at BrilliantlyBraveParenting.com or on Facebook at #BrilliantlyBraveParenting or watch our #iShine videos on YouTube. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/brilliantlybraveparenting/support

Robert Beeson, a former Grammy Award-winning music industry executive, never expected to be one of them, but found himself a single parent to his three girls, ages 9, 7 and 4, when his wife left. He raised them on his own for eight years, and while he grew as a person in ways he never imagined possible, his eyes were also opened to the sheer volume and tremendous needs of the single parenting community.   This April, Beeson will launch his book Going Solo: Hope and Healing for the Single Mom or Dad (April 2018), in which he shares his solo parenting journey, along with hope and encouragement for parents who find themselves walking a similar road.   What you'll learn Most challenging aspects of single parentings What the Solo Parent Society is and does How he differentiates between the terms “single” and “solo”? Tangible ways that listeners can support solo parents Why he’s leaving his career as a music executive This April, you’re releasing your first book, Going Solo. Why did you write this book and what is your hope for it? How listeners can—both single parents and those who want to help support them—become involved with Solo Parent Society   Where to learn more https://soloparentsociety.com/ Thanks for Listening! Thanks so much for taking the time to listen this week. I hope this information will help you be a happy, healthy and wealthy dad! If you enjoyed the show, please share it using the social media buttons at the bottom of the page. Also, please leave an honest review for the podcast on Itunes. Ratings and reviews are important to show visibility and will help these episodes reach more dads.    Connect with me www.FatherhoodFitnessFinance.com Instagram   Subscribe to Fatherhood | Fitness | Finance Subscribe

Missy Cook, wife and mother of 3 boys, woke up early on morning to her young husband suffering a massive cardiac arrest, who passed a few days later. Facing the trauma of her experience and now becoming a solo mom raising her boys on her own meant everything about life changed all of a sudden. Missy, a leader of a Solo Parent Society group in Nashville, TN shares her heartbreaking story and guides us through answering questions like: On top of overwhelming grief, what were some of the primary feelings you felt in the days following your husband's passing? How did the boys handle it initially? Looking back what were the 'life lines' to you in that season? Is there anything that you wish you handled differently? You now lead a Solo Parent Society group focusing on Parenting After Losing A Spouse, what would you say are common themes that come up from others that have lost a spouse? What would you say to others listening who may have lost a spouse, that feel all the things that you felt?

Missy Cook, wife and mother of 3 boys, woke up early on morning to her young husband suffering a massive cardiac arrest, who passed a few days later. Facing the trauma of her experience and now becoming a solo mom raising her boys on her own meant everything about life changed all of a sudden. Missy, a leader of a Solo Parent Society group in Nashville, TN shares her heartbreaking story and guides us through answering questions like: On top of overwhelming grief, what were some of the primary feelings you felt in the days following your husband's passing? How did the boys handle it initially? Looking back what were the 'life lines' to you in that season? Is there anything that you wish you handled differently? You now lead a Solo Parent Society group focusing on Parenting After Losing A Spouse, what would you say are common themes that come up from others that have lost a spouse? What would you say to others listening who may have lost a spouse, that feel all the things that you felt?

Missy Cook, wife and mother of 3 boys, woke up early on morning to her young husband suffering a massive cardiac arrest, who passed a few days later. Facing the trauma of her experience and now becoming a solo mom raising her boys on her own meant everything about life changed all of a sudden. Missy, a leader of a Solo Parent Society group in Nashville, TN shares her heartbreaking story and guides us through answering questions like: On top of overwhelming grief, what were some of the primary feelings you felt in the days following your husband's passing? How did the boys handle it initially? Looking back what were the 'life lines' to you in that season? Is there anything that you wish you handled differently? You now lead a Solo Parent Society group focusing on Parenting After Losing A Spouse, what would you say are common themes that come up from others that have lost a spouse? What would you say to others listening who may have lost a spouse, that feel all the things that you felt?

Missy Cook, wife and mother of 3 boys, woke up early on morning to her young husband suffering a massive cardiac arrest, who passed a few days later. Facing the trauma of her experience and now becoming a solo mom raising her boys on her own meant everything about life changed all of a sudden. Missy, a leader of a Solo Parent Society group in Nashville, TN shares her heartbreaking story and guides us through answering questions like: On top of overwhelming grief, what were some of the primary feelings you felt in the days following your husband's passing? How did the boys handle it initially? Looking back what were the 'life lines' to you in that season? Is there anything that you wish you handled differently? You now lead a Solo Parent Society group focusing on Parenting After Losing A Spouse, what would you say are common themes that come up from others that have lost a spouse? What would you say to others listening who may have lost a spouse, that feel all the things that you felt?

Welcome, everyone! It is such a good thing to have a community of support around you, and that is just what Solo Parent Life has become. Community support for a solo parent can mean the difference between giving up and growing strong during what can be a truly difficult season of parenthood. What makes this community even better is that it is inclusive of all types of solo parents, including single dads! I’m thankful that I can bring a single dad’s perspective to you today. My guest is Robert Beeson, who hosts his own podcast for us solo folks, “Solo Parent Society.” Robert has a big heart and an even bigger idea of what having a community mindset is all about. After a divorce that left him the full-time caregiver of his three girls, Robert decided that he had an opportunity to get rooted in his identity, strengthen his faith, and come out of a season of hardship even stronger than before. Solo Parent Society was born out of a desire to create resources that single parents can use—free from judgment! Through Solo Parent Society, Robert is taking the idea of community support group right to the people who need it most. He is right on the brink of launching Solo Parent Society material nationally, and I am excited that he gets the chance to be on the show. He adds so much value to our ongoing discussion about parenthood with vulnerability, passion, and a lot of inspiring personal growth. I hope you are ready because his passion is infectious. Robert shares why he created his podcast. Becoming a single parent can really strip away our identities. Single Parenthood can be life-changing in a positive way. The power of support groups for recovery. Finding a grounding point is key to finding yourself in the seasons of parenthood. There were not a lot of resources for single parents to build community, so Robert knew he needed to step in. There is value in telling our stories. Words of hope for those who might be struggling. How meditation and religious chanting has given Robert clarity. Have real conversations with your kids. Be present with them. How the Solo Parent Society has grown from a Nashville phenomenon and is growing nationally. Links: Check out the Beta Site for starting or finding a group near you. Soloparentsociety.com Don’t miss any of the Solo Parent Summit Interviews! Soloparentlife.com/summit

BRILLIANTLY BRAVE Episode #12 - "Get To Know Your Co-Host" with Robert Beeson, founder of iShine ministries and creator of Solo Parent Society. He shares about how he started in the music industry and the ministries he's been involved in, along with how and why he started iShine ministries. Find our blog at BrilliantlyBraveParenting.com or on Facebook at #BrilliantlyBraveParenting --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/brilliantlybraveparenting/support

ROBERT'S STORY - ROBERT BEESON For years, Robert's career as a Grammy Award winning music executive flourished and, by appearances, his family did too. But what was brewing below the surface eventually claimed his intact family. Robert's wife left him to raise his three daughters on his own. Robert discusses his 8 years as a single dad, starting Solo Parent Society, and his upcoming book.

ROBERT'S STORY - ROBERT BEESON For years, Robert's career as a Grammy Award winning music executive flourished and, by appearances, his family did too. But what was brewing below the surface eventually claimed his intact family. Robert's wife left him to raise his three daughters on his own. Robert discusses his 8 years as a single dad, starting Solo Parent Society, and his upcoming book.