Sara dives into the reality of those everyday moments that can quickly spiral, even with the best routines in place. After a particularly chaotic morning, she reflects on how her child’s difficulty with transitions first showed up, what it felt like to seek support, and how working with an occupational therapist shifted her perspective from “behavior” to “needs.”

Sara shares the tools that have helped her family most, including visual schedules and timers, and why predictability can make such a difference. This episode is an honest look at preparation versus inevitability, the emotional weight of solo parenting, and the ongoing work of learning to offer yourself the same grace you give your child.

Want more? Follow @parentingpartyofone on Instagram.
Have a topic to dive into, story to share, or question to ask? Email [email protected].

🎙 Hosted, Produced & Edited by: Sara Amin
🎨 Cover Art by: Esha Janssens-Sannon

Sara used to think co-sleeping was one of those things you just … don’t do. You know the warnings: they’ll never leave your bed, you’ll lose your space, it’s a bad habit. And then one tired, casual “whatever” night turned into nine months (so far).

From early hesitations to the unexpected gifts, this episode isn’t just about co-sleeping. It’s about questioning the “rules” of parenting, trusting your instincts, and being open to the things you swore you’d never do … that might actually make your life better.

Want more? Follow @parentingpartyofone on Instagram.

Have a topic to dive into, story to share, or question to ask? Email [email protected].

🎙 Hosted, Produced & Edited by: Sara Amin
🎨 Cover Art by: Esha Janssens-Sannon

For Sara, a solo parent who can’t simply say “Watch the kids, I’ll be right back,” grocery shopping is a family affair that frequently involves donuts, Hot Wheels, deli orders, self-checkout “teamwork,” and her four-year-old saying hello to literally every person in the store.

In this episode, Sara breaks down why she believes her son is obsessed with the grocery store. Hint: it’s what he gets to buy, what he gets to do, what he gets to see, and most importantly, who he gets to do it all with. She reflects on why these ordinary moments can become such big experiences for kids and highlights the joy in watching weekly rituals turn into meaningful memories.

Plus: the day she told a small strategic lie, and why her son’s been announcing it loudly in public ever since.

Want more? Follow @parentingpartyofone on Instagram. Have a topic to dive into, story to share, or question to ask? Email [email protected].

🎙 Hosted, Produced & Edited by: Sara Amin

🎨 Cover Art by: Esha Janssens-Sannon

After six straight days stuck at home (weekend, holidays, and strep throat included), Sara is reminded of a hard truth of solo parenting: when you’re the only adult in the house, your battery is the household battery.

In this episode, Sara unpacks why reset days aren’t indulgent — they’re infrastructure. From productivity marathons to lunches with friends to extended-edition movie binges, she explores the difference between micro-breaks and the macro-resets parents actually need.

Sara also challenges the idea that “selfless” is the gold standard of motherhood — and makes the case that depletion is not devotion. Because reset isn’t selfish. It’s maintenance.

Want more? Follow @parentingpartyofone on Instagram.

Have a topic to dive into, story to share, or question to ask? Email [email protected].

🎙 Hosted, Produced & Edited by: Sara Amin
🎨 Cover Art by: Esha Janssens-Sannon

It’s the very first installment of Tiny Tales — three small stories from regular life that somehow feel enormous in the moment.

First: the whiplash of watching your child greet their daycare bestie like a tiny executive … when you wiped their butt 14 minutes earlier.

Then: a confession about Sara’s true job title — Chauffeur — and her very reasonable belief that parents deserve a luxury car partition and 20 minutes of uninterrupted silence.

And finally: the surprisingly intimate, wildly under-discussed reality of motherhood — how often you will stick your finger into someone else’s nose … and the strategic manicure decisions that follow.

No big thesis. No tidy takeaway. Just the tension of this stage: they are deeply attached to you and steadily becoming their own person. You are their everything … and slowly, beautifully, not their everything.

Tiny stories. Big feelings. And the absurd, sticky magic of raising a human mostly on your own.

Want more? Follow @parentingpartyofone on Instagram. Have a topic to dive into, story to share, or question to ask? Email [email protected].

🎙 Hosted, Produced & Edited by: Sara Amin
🎨 Cover Art by: Esha Janssens-Sannon

Every weekday at 8:10am, a timer goes off in Sara’s house. Some mornings, her son pops up and gets dressed. Other mornings? Not even close.

In this episode, Sara unpacks the phrase she hears herself saying — in that dreaded tone — when the clock is ticking and the bus is coming: “When Momi says it’s time, you say OK.” What starts as a practical boundary turns into a much bigger reflection on obedience, autonomy, raising a boy in a culture that already polices emotion, and being the only adult in the room.

If you’ve ever had a small parenting moment spiral into a big philosophical question, this one’s for you.

Want more? Follow @parentingpartyofone on Instagram.

Have a topic to dive into, story to share, or question to ask? Email [email protected].

🎙 Hosted, Produced & Edited by: Sara Amin
🎨 Cover Art by: Esha Janssens-Sannon

Sara once believed solo parenting was all about mastering one-on-one defense — one mom, one kid, fully focused. But after losing her son twice in four hours at a children’s museum (he's fine!), she realized something important: even when you’re parenting solo, you still need a zone.

In this episode, Sara shares the story that shifted her perspective — from sprinting through a crowded museum in full tactical-mom mode to experiencing the relief of a birthday party where every parent was watching every child. She reflects on what it means to build a village at 43, why “zone defense” doesn’t mean someone else is raising your child, and how community can lift 30 pounds off your chest when you didn’t even realize you were carrying it.

If you’re solo parenting, considering it, or simply craving more support in your own life, this one’s for you.

Want more? Follow @parentingpartyofone on Instagram.

Have a topic to dive into, story to share, or question to ask? Email [email protected].

🎙 Hosted, Produced & Edited by: Sara Amin
🎨 Cover Art by: Esha Janssens-Sannon

It’s mom and son’s birthday week(!) and Sara’s celebrating by sharing 4 hard-won lessons from her first 4 years of parenting.

From the never-ending cycle of planning and preparation (yes, even Friday nights require a mental checklist) to learning she can handle way more than she ever thought possible, Sara gets real about what it's like to navigate parenthood — especially solo.

She talks about taking advice from everyone and then trusting yourself to do your own thing, embracing the mystery of what's to come, and finding strength in moments that test you.

Want more? Follow @parentingpartyofone on Instagram.

Have a topic to dive into, story to share, or question to ask? Email [email protected].

🎙 Hosted, Produced & Edited by: Sara Amin
🎨 Cover Art by: Esha Janssens-Sannon

In Part 2 of The Journey Begins, Sara picks up where she left off — making plans with her doctor, having conversations with family and friends, connecting with a social worker and therapist, selecting her sperm donor (dun dun dun), getting inseminated, and finally hearing the words “you’re pregnant.”

In this deep dive, Sara gets real about the pressure of crafting your child’s origin story, what she chose to share (and not share) with friends and family, and why some decisions about her son's story belong to him alone.

Note: This is Part 2 of The Journey Begins. If you haven't listened to Part 1 yet, go back and start there.

Resources mentioned:

California Cryobank

Want more? Follow @parentingpartyofone on Instagram.

Have a topic to dive into, story to share, or question to ask? Email [email protected].

🎙 Hosted, Produced & Edited by: Sara Amin
🎨 Cover Art by: Esha Janssens-Sannon

This is the origin story. In the first-ever episode of Parenting, Party of One, Sara takes us through the winding path that led her to solo parenthood by choice. 

From telling her middle school counselor she wanted to be a mom, to navigating three long-term relationships in her 20s and 30s, to watching friends get married and have babies while wondering when her turn would come — Sara gets honest about the dreams, the doubts, and the decision that changed everything.

Note: This is Part 1 of The Journey Begins. Enjoy, then listen to Part 2!

Resources mentioned:

Shady Grove Fertility

Want more? Follow @parentingpartyofone on Instagram.

Have a topic to dive into, story to share, or question to ask? Email [email protected].

🎙 Hosted, Produced & Edited by: Sara Amin
🎨 Cover Art by: Esha Janssens-Sannon