Like a Mother

In my work writing about women, money and family in the United States, there are two prevailing issues:

1. Dads who do not live with their kids are barely involved. (Just 22% of dads who live apart from their children see them more than once weekly, per Pew.)
2. That pay gap will. not. close.

Here's the answer:

Start all custody negotiations at a default 50-50 visitation and custody, with no child support or alimony.

While there is great movement towards equally shared visitation time in at least 30 states, the majority of family courts still default to an antiquated model of custody and parenting.

Highlights include...

• Common arguments against shared parenting
• What is co-parenting?
• Why 50/50 custody is a feminist issue
• How shared custody benefits mothers and supports equal pay

Heather Shumaker, a Minneapolis-based journalist and married mom of two, agreed to be interviewed on this show, and I am so glad she did.

If you have any question at all about why you should stop micromanaging your kids, let them play freely, dirtily, creatively, check out this awesome episode.

Highlights include ...

• Improved language in kindergarteners
• Higher academic performance overall, including math, problem-solving and – yes, you, Type A parent! – standardized tests
• Better behavior when kids exercise
• How play promotes emotion regulation and empathy
• How to deal with judgy moms

Check out Heather Schumaker's awesome books that should be required reading for every new parent before they are allowed to check out of the hospital:

It's OK to Go Up the Slide: Renegade Rules for Raising Confident and Creative Kids

It's OK Not to Share and Other Renegade Rules for Raising Competent and Compassionate Kids

In this episode, I discuss what you should REALLY be doing for Mother’s Day. (Hint: It’s not church and brunch!)

In fact, my Mother’s Day plans don’t even involve my kids – and you know what? That’s perfectly fine. I’m also giving YOU permission to do whatever the hell you want.

Want to take a four-hour nap? Do it. Want to day drink? Do it! Want to get a babysitter and get your spa on? DO IT!

Want to have your kids with you this Mother’s Day? That works too! Define this special day for yourself. Own it and rock it, because you're a kickass single mom. xo

I'm so thrilled to have Katie Wilson, 21st congressional district candidate, on the Like A Mother podcast today. She shares with us what it's like being a politician, entrepreneur, and mother of two, plus:

• The public's definition of what constitutes a single mom
• Why it's important to raise kids to appreciate the struggle
• Why people don't trust the government and politicians - and how she's working to change that
• Healthcare for women, and why she personally advocates for  Planned Parenthood

Enter to win my Kickass Single Mom Grant at https://www.wealthysinglemommy.com/single-mom-grant/ 

Go to gobankingrates.com/singlemom and enter to win my book, The Kickass Single Mom as well as Nicole Lapin’s - Boss Bitch.

In today’s episode, I discuss…

• Why you need a side hustle
• How to get one
• What makes a good side hustle

Maybe you need a little extra cash, maybe you’re bored with your current career, or you want to safeguard yourself against a recession or an industry crash by having a fall-back plan. Maybe you’re interested in pursuing your passion project, but you’re not quite ready to make the leap into full-time business ownership. Whatever your reason is, you NEED a side hustle.

101 Legit Side Hustles: https://www.wealthysinglemommy.com/ways-to-make-money-right-now/

Loren Guillory moved to Dallas only to have her new job fall through at the last minute. Homeless and running out of resources, she eventually found assistance, got on her feet, and created First Stream Cleaning.

Starting her own business quickly boosted her esteem and enabled her to think bigger. Now she helps other women find their own opportunities as she explores her own potential.  

I hear it all the time: "I'm spending money on things I cant afford, just so I can give my kids memories!"

That's not helping anyone, especially not your kids.

In my own life, the moments and rituals that meant the most, gave me comfort and truly shaped me, were free. It's cliche but true.

The things that really matter aren't necessarily glamorous and expensive, but they do make you feel connected. It's important to teach our kids that. 

What memories will YOU make with your kids that they will remember fondly? 

The Kickass Single Mom Grant is sponsored by GoBankingRates— your partner in financial freedom. Go to gobankingrates.com/singlemom sign up for their awesome financial information newsletter. For signing up, you’re automatically entered to win a copy of my best selling book, the Kickass Single Mom and Nicole Lapin’s the Boss Bitch. You need both those books in your life.!

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In this episode, we hear from Kickass Single Mom Grant winner Jeannine Hamilton, 43, of Little Rock, Ark., is a single-mom of three. As the mother of an 8-year-old daughter with autism, she knows first-hand the financial, emotional and logistical challenges parents of these special kids face for simple tasks like shopping, house care — not to mention getting a break. That is why she started WE-CARE, an organization that provides free respite care for special needs families, and serves as a coordination point for all area organizations. She is also a new entrepreneur.

In her grant application, Jeannine wrote:

When I worked for the University of Central Arkansas at the Division of Outreach and Community Engagement, I suddenly realized that I could help solve a very important problem: Arkansas does not provide respite care as part of Medicaid services for families who take care of children with special needs. Many of these families are financially strapped and lack the ability to hire qualified babysitters.

My idea was to form a network between area nonprofits who try to provide respite care to special need families and the University.  This network provides a central calendar of respite events of all the organizations in the network for these families and the University would become one of these organizations by utilizing students who already major in fields that work with families with special needs.  The college students get important supervised "in the field" experience and the families receive free, quality and qualified respite care. Also, it is one of only two secular organizations in the network which helps to serve those families who are not comfortable with respite care in a church or religion different than their own.  

• What motivated Jeannine to start WE-CARE
• The unique child- and self-care challenges special-needs families face regarding child care
• Jeannine's advice to special needs families, no matter where you are located
• How Jeannine structures her day and week to find time to serve others

Learn more about WE-CARE

On today's episode, I interview colleague, fellow blogger and friend Liz Frugalwoods. She's a mother who – now in her mid-thirties – is already retired. We discuss her definition of financial independence, the importance of a holistic (and realistic!) financial approach, plus tips for frugal living. 

Liz is a firm believer in simple living and "smoothing out the happiness curve." You may even be surprised at what her family's day-to-day life really looks like.

Find out how she and her family became financially independent, and how you can do the same! 

Ever feel like your beef with someone – maybe with an ex, or even a friend or a boss – is getting to your head? Maybe you feel the negative effects of a grudge sending you spinning, weighing you down.

I'll admit it. I have a very active mental life, emotional life, creative life, and one of the things I’m really bad at is letting things go. But I know, and you know, that thoughts are energy, and energy manifests in your life. So, I have developed a way to change this negative pattern. 

In this episode, I'll show you how you can start cultivating more positivity in your life with just one simple trick. 

Because, although your anger and resentment is for someone else, it's affecting you and your loved ones. You deserve to clear your mind, once and for all.