Single Mother Survival Guide

In this super length episode, we celebrate 200 episodes of the Single Mother Survival Guide podcast and the amazing community that this has become.

I have invited several past guests on the show to answer three questions:

1. What has been your lowest moment (or most challenging experience) as a single mum?
2. What is your favourite thing about being a single mum and why?
3. What is your top tip for single mums?

Thank you to my guests: Krystal, Lisa Kennedy, Evie Farrell, Dapnee, Ashlene Marshall, Isabelle Silbery, Hayley, Melissa Wilson, Nadia Mori, Zoe Hendrix, Amy, Farrah Greville (Miller), and my anonymous guest.

The details for each individual episodes with each guest are listed below.

Thank you also to my listeners from 147 countries of the world. This community wouldn't be what it is without you. Forever grateful.

This is for you xx

Links mentioned in the episode:

Listen to Episodes 174 and 175 with Krystal.

Listen to Episodes 127 and 128 with Lisa Kennedy.

Listen to Episode 172 with Evie Farrell.

Listen to Episodes 184, 185, and 186 with Dapnee.

Listen to Episode 115 with Ashlene Marshall.

Listen to Episodes 136 and 137 with Isabelle Silbery.

Listen to Episodes 131, 132, 133, and 188 with Hayley.

Listen to Episodes 94 and 95 with my anonymous guest.

Listen to Episode 82 with Melissa Wilson.

Listen to Episodes 21, 55, 71, 83, and 111 with Nadia Mori.

Listen to Episode 112 with Zoe Hendrix.

Listen to Episodes 152 and 153 with Amy.

Listen to Episodes 34, 35, and 87 with Farrah Greville (Miller).

To contact Julia, email: [email protected].

Visit us at Single Mother Survival Guide.

Or connect with Single Mother Survival Guide on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, or Pinterest

In this episode, I chat about the Black Lives Matter movement and what I'm personally doing - listening and educating both myself and my daughter.

Links mentioned in the episode:

To contact Julia, email: [email protected].

Visit us at Single Mother Survival Guide.

Or connect with Single Mother Survival Guide on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, or Pinterest

Lisa was 31 when she went to see an IVF specialist to enquire about becoming a single mum by choice. She soon discovered that being a single mother by choice was the path she wanted to embark on.

At 33 she had her son, Teddy, by using donor sperm.

Lisa is now 35, and in this episode she shares:

• her experience of undertaking two IUIs,
• the process of undertaking IVF (in April 2018, and getting 5 embryos by the end of it),
• her experience of miscarriage,
• the process of picking a donor, and
• what it was like telling people that she was pregnant (and single) and how they reacted.

Lisa also openly shares the struggle she had when the baby arrived and how hard it was doing everything solo, especially during the first four months. She talks about how she underestimated how hard it would be to do everything on her own, and especially how hard it was not having the mental and emotional support, despite having a wonderful support network.

This is an open and honest account of what it's like to be a single mum with a new baby, by choice, or otherwise.

Links mentioned in the episode:

Listen to my journey of becoming a single mother by choice in Episodes 158, 182, and 197.

Listen to other podcast episodes with single mothers by choice - Episodes 76, 59, 14, and 195.

Connect with Lisa on Instagram here.

To contact Julia, email: [email protected].

Visit us at Single Mother Survival Guide.

Or connect with Single Mother Survival Guide on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, or Pinterest

One of the hardest things my guest this week had to come to terms with was breaking her marriage vows... "till death do us part". But when her husband continued to suffer from depression for over a decade and had no interest in getting better she couldn't go on anymore.

In this episode she discusses:

• What it was like living with a spouse who had depression, and how his failure to get help for issues affected her, their relationship, and their entire family.
• Having a child with special needs and educational needs
• How the valued the support she received from her friends and family.
• What it was like living with an ex before parting ways in a living arrangement way.
• Going through grief during a pandemic.
• How her faith helped her to find her inner strength, power and wisdom to take the next step.
• And so much more!

Links mentioned in the episode:

To contact Julia, email: [email protected].

Visit us at Single Mother Survival Guide.

Or connect with Single Mother Survival Guide on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, or Pinterest

Staying organised is a great way to look after your future self and keep you happier. In this episode, I share some quick tips so you can look after your future self too.

I also share some exciting news with you!

Links mentioned in the episode:

To contact Julia, email: [email protected].

Visit us at Single Mother Survival Guide.

Or connect with Single Mother Survival Guide on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, or Pinterest

Prèma was 23 years old when she unexpectedly fell pregnant whilst having a fling. At 24 she gave birth and raised her daughter solo; the father having no interest in having a child.

A few years later, Prèma ended up in a relationship which over time became abusive; her partner rarely remembering the attacks. With time, however, she gained the strength to leave.

Prèma then met the love of her life, Simon, online, and together they welcomed a baby in 2019.

In this episode, Prèma shares her story. She also talks about her father's recent passing and the family dynamics of her own stepfamily, as well as her story of being adopted as a baby and later meeting her birth parents, and how that also helped shape decisions she made later in life.

Prèma now lives happily with her two daughters (aged 13 and 9 months) and Simon, studying, and also doing a job that she absolutely loves.

Links mentioned in the episode:

To contact Julia, email: [email protected].

Visit us at Single Mother Survival Guide.

Or connect with Single Mother Survival Guide on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, or Pinterest

Krista was 30 when she decided to become a single mother by choice. She was happy in her job, she had spent time travelling, and she owned her own house. The only thing missing for Krista was a child. And so her path to becoming a single mother by choice began.

In this episode, Krista shares her fertility treatment journey that she has been on for the last 3.5 years to become a single mother by choice. She discusses her 5 IUIs and further IVF treatments, and the emotional rollercoaster that these have entailed. She shares the joy of finally becoming pregnant after 3 years and then the heartbreak of going into early labour and delivering her daughter Stella at 20 weeks.

She talks about navigating the grief, the love and support she has received from people in her life, and facing her first Mother's Day as a mother, albeit a bereaved one.

Krista also talks about how absolutely certain she was that this was the right path for her, and the steps she is taking next. One of her key messages is to not let fear hold you back from becoming a single mother by choice.

Links mentioned in the episode:

Listen to my journey of becoming a single mother by choice in Episodes 158 and 182.

Listen to other podcast episodes with single mothers by choice - Episodes 76, 59, and 14.

Listen to Episode 039 - Mother's Day for Single Mums Mothers - here.

Connect with Krista on Instagram here.

To contact Julia, email: [email protected].

Visit us at Single Mother Survival Guide.

Or connect with Single Mother Survival Guide on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, or Pinterest

Dealing with heartbreak in a pandemic is not fun. But there can definitely be some positive things about it.

I have been saddened to hear of so many relationships (single mums with new partners) ending in the last couple of months.

In this week's episode, I tell you about the ending of my relationship and how I overcame those initial weeks - dealing with heartbreak in a pandemic.

You are not alone xx

Links mentioned in the episode:

Contact Lifeline or 1800 Respect.

Blog post - What You Need To Consider When Introducing A New Partner To Your Children.

To contact Julia, email: [email protected].

Visit us at Single Mother Survival Guide.

Or connect with Single Mother Survival Guide on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, or Pinterest

Single parenting in the time of coronavirus is no easy feat. In this week's episode, I share strategies to help get you through.

Links mentioned in the episode:

To contact Julia, email: [email protected].

Visit us at Single Mother Survival Guide.

Or connect with Single Mother Survival Guide on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, or Pinterest.

My guest in this week's episode continues her story from last week, about her experience with domestic violence, and specifically the sexual abuse she received from her partner of over 10 years. She left him two and a half years ago when she was 8 months pregnant with her second daughter. Her daughters are now two and four.

This week she shares how her relationship came to an end.

She also talks about:

• How she hung onto the relationship in the hope that he would change.
• The suicide threats she received during their relationship.
• The fear that she had of the repercussions of taking out an AVO against her partner, and constantly worrying about how he would react about things.
• The support that she received from her family support worker as well as from the brother (and his wife) of her (ex) partner.
• Dealing with her experience living in a small town, and how domestic violence was such a foreign concept for her immediate community.
• The worry that she had about her kids.
• And so much more!

We also talk about the tremendous growth that she has had coming out the other side of her experience and the happiness that she now feels.

Links mentioned in the episode:

Listen to Part 1 HERE.

To contact Julia, email: [email protected].

Visit us at Single Mother Survival Guide.

Or connect with Single Mother Survival Guide on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, or Pinterest.