Single Mother Survival Guide

This episode is relevant to you if you are trying to decide whether or not to get divorced or separate (you don't need to be married). This is one of the hardest decisions you’ll ever have to make. Too often, when making this decision, we rely on our feelings for answers, but doing this can confuse you and keep you in limbo, for months, or even years in many cases.  Today, I share some insights and reflection questions to help you determine if divorce or separation is the right move for you, or if you are able to take your relationship or marriage in a new direction. You don’t have to sit on the fence, stuck with indecision forever. If you are going through this right now, please know that you are not alone. May you find the strength and confidence to move forward with concrete plans for yourself and your children.   Links mentioned in the episode:  Join the Thrive Tribe waitlist HERE.  Download the E-book – Thirteen single mothers share their struggles, top tips, and their favourite things about being a sing

In this episode, I share with you a variety of options to get through the divorce process - from a full-on trial, to DIY, to mediation, to collaborative... Divorce is an emotional and stressful process, and can be a difficult time for families. There are a number of important decisions you have to make. It is critical to be prepared and we know it can be especially tough on kids. I hope the information I share with you helps you make the transition as smooth as possible for you and your children. Links mentioned in the episode:  Check out my recent episode where I talked about collaborative divorce HERE. (Episode 324) Join the Thrive Tribe waitlist HERE.  Download the E-book – Thirteen single mothers share their struggles, top tips, and their favourite things about being a single mother – HERE. To contact Julia, email: julia@singlemothersurvivalguide.com. Visit us at Single Mother Survival Guide. And join the email list there too. Or connect with Single Mother Survival Guide on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, o

In this episode, I discuss how you can be seen as credible during separation. It’s very important you appear as a credible person when you are dealing with lawyers, mediators, and even your ex. Credibility is important because it can help influence decisions and set reasonable expectations, and when you establish credibility, you establish you are thinking about what is important and best for the kids, and not letting your emotions get the better of you. So here, l give you tips on how you can establish your credibility. I hope what I discussed today will help you to remain objective, and to communicate with confidence and clarity. Links mentioned in the episode:  Join the Thrive Tribe waitlist HERE.  Download the E-book – Thirteen single mothers share their struggles, top tips, and their favourite things about being a single mother – HERE. To contact Julia, email: julia@singlemothersurvivalguide.com. Visit us at Single Mother Survival Guide. And join the email list there too. Or connect with Single Mother Su

In this episode, I talk to you about some ways you can improve your mindset. If you’ve listened to my past podcast episodes you will know that I am an advocate of developing and having the right mindset. Improving your frame of mind and the thoughts that run through your head can drastically alter your life. So, if you want to be a better version of yourself, learning how to improve your mindset can help you get there more quickly.   Links mentioned in the episode:  Check out my recent episode where I talked about the brain and the science behind our thoughts HERE. (Episode 332) Join the Thrive Tribe waitlist HERE.  Download the E-book – Thirteen single mothers share their struggles, top tips, and their favourite things about being a single mother – HERE. To contact Julia, email: julia@singlemothersurvivalguide.com. Visit us at Single Mother Survival Guide. And join the email list there too. Or connect with Single Mother Survival Guide on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, or Pinterest.

In this episode, I talk to you about how you can prepare yourself emotionally for divorce or separation. In today’s society, divorce is a present reality for all couples that decide to marry. If you are ever faced with this decision or life change, it's important to mentally and emotionally prepare yourself for the difficulties that may lie ahead. Divorce isn’t easy; it can be a traumatic experience for everyone involved as you deal with many complex issues. I hope this episode helps you see the silver lining. Instead of focusing on your current emotional state, know that your choices and preparation will allow you and your children to live in a home where you are no longer exposed to anger, an unhealthy relationship, and perhaps even domestic violence. Links mentioned in the episode:  Check out my recent episode on collaborative divorce HERE. If you live in the United States, you can check out www.findlaw.com/state to see applicable family and divorce laws in your location. Join the Thrive Tribe waitlist HER

In this episode, I talk to you about the brain. I talk about how thoughts and habits are created in the brain and why it’s so important to be mindful of the way we think in order to create lasting change. How we think is very important. Ever heard of the phrase, “we become what we think about?” Thoughts are really important to people because they determine our well-being, how we act, how we behave, the choices we make, how we feel about ourselves, our relationships with others, and the quality of our lives. I hope this episode helps you understand yourself and your thoughts better and to be mindful of them so you can create new habits.  Links mentioned in the episode:  Join the Thrive Tribe waitlist HERE.  Download the E-book – Thirteen single mothers share their struggles, top tips, and their favourite things about being a single mother – HERE. To contact Julia, email: julia@singlemothersurvivalguide.com. Visit us at Single Mother Survival Guide. And join the email list there too. Or connect with Single Moth

In this episode, I talk about habits and how we can develop healthy habits that will support us in achieving our goals. Understanding how to build new habits is essential for making progress. And the first step is to start with your ‘why.’ Why do you want to reach your goal? As you set your goals for this new year, make a solid plan so they become a reality. You can then start creating new habits that align with your goals and that will help support you in reaching your goals.   I hope this episode helps you think of the new year as a fresh start. A new year is a unique opportunity. In this episode, I share a list of things to help you create new habits to achieve your goals this year. What you focus on becomes your reality. May you all live your life with intentions that will help you get closer to your goals. Links mentioned in the episode:  Join the Thrive Tribe waitlist HERE.  Download the E-book – Thirteen single mothers share their struggles, top tips, and their favourite things about being a single mot

In this week’s episode, I have my new husband Greg joining me! Get ready for laughter and cringe moments as Greg and I recall our highs and lows of 2022. And lastly, we want to share our wedding story with you! What a whirlwind of a year it has been. We are happy to end 2022 on a high note, and we look forward to more memories and experiences for next year. Thank you for being part of my journey and for allowing me to be a part of yours. From our family to yours, have a wonderful season of celebrations! Links mentioned in the episode:  Join the Thrive Tribe waitlist HERE.  Download the E-book – Thirteen single mothers share their struggles, top tips, and their favourite things about being a single mother – HERE. To contact Julia, email: julia@singlemothersurvivalguide.com. Visit us at Single Mother Survival Guide. And join the email list there too. Or connect with Single Mother Survival Guide on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, or Pinterest.

This week on the show, I have the legendary Bill Eddy joining me. Bill Eddy is a lawyer, therapist, mediator, and co-founder of the High Conflict Institute. He pioneered the High Conflict Personality Theory (HCP) and is the world’s leading expert on methods for managing disputes involving people with high-conflict personalities. He provides training on this subject to lawyers, judges, mediators, managers, human resource professionals, businesspersons, healthcare administrators, college administrators, homeowners’ association managers, ombudspersons, law enforcement, therapists, and others. He has worked as the senior family mediator at the National Conflict Resolution Center, a certified family law specialist representing clients in family court, and a licensed clinical social worker therapist. In 2021, he received the Lifetime Achievement award from the Academy of Professional Mediators. Bill serves on the faculty of the Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution at the Pepperdine University School of Law, and

Today I give the single mums out there a bit of a pep talk. The holiday season can bring so much stress and overwhelm to many single mums. Being a single mum during the holidays can be lonely, but it doesn’t mean you cannot be happy. There are still so many things to be grateful for.   I hope this episode helps you make your single-parent holiday season an awesome, incredible time with your kids. Holidays are some of the hardest times for a single parent, but with positivity and creativity, you can make it fun and develop new holiday traditions with your kids. You can do this! Links mentioned in the episode:  Join the Thrive Tribe waitlist HERE.  Download the E-book – Thirteen single mothers share their struggles, top tips, and their favourite things about being a single mother – HERE. To contact Julia, email: julia@singlemothersurvivalguide.com. Visit us at Single Mother Survival Guide. And join the email list there too. Or connect with Single Mother Survival Guide on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, or Pintere

Today I talk about developing new traditions when it comes to dealing with holiday seasons as a single parent. I hope the ideas I share with you create meaningful and new memorable Christmas traditions. Every major life event, whether joyful or sad, brings on a period of transition as we adjust to the “new normal,” and it turns out that celebrating Christmas as a single parent can be just as good, or often (and especially over time), even better!  I hope this episode is insightful for you and provides you with hope. Give yourself a pat on the back, there is no better gift you can give to yourself knowing that you are thriving after dealing with adversity. Links mentioned in the episode: Join the Thrive Tribe waitlist HERE.  Download the E-book – Thirteen single mothers share their struggles, top tips, and their favourite things about being a single mother – HERE. To contact Julia, email: julia@singlemothersurvivalguide.com. Visit us at Single Mother Survival Guide. And join the email list there too. Or connec

In this ep, I chat about five different parent-child contact problems one might face. For example, in a recent podcast, I discussed a polarizing topic about parental alienation. Some believe in it and some don’t. Here, I spend a bit of time discussing this more to bring greater awareness and understanding of this topic. In this episode, I discuss: Parental alienation Estrangement Child empowerment Gatekeeping Parentification These five parent-child contact problems are things to be mindful of, so you are able to maintain positive parent-child relationships. Links mentioned in the episode:  Join the Thrive Tribe waitlist HERE.  Download the E-book – Thirteen single mothers share their struggles, top tips, and their favourite things about being a single mother – HERE. To contact Julia, email: julia@singlemothersurvivalguide.com. Visit us at Single Mother Survival Guide. And join the email list there too. Or connect with Single Mother Survival Guide on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, or Pinterest.

This week on the show, I have Susan Shofer joining me. Susan Shofer is a two-decade agency-licensed private investigator with over 1,100 testifying hours. Ten years ago, while working as a private investigator, Susan became a certified divorce coach. Her area of expertise is high-conflict divorce with a specialty in parental alienation. Susan is a member of the Parental Alienation Study Group, comprised of the most prominent mental health clinicians and legal professionals in the parental alienation space. She is also the Director of the Baltimore /Annapolis/ DC/ Northern Virginia NADP (National Association of Divorce Professionals). Susan’s passion and mission are to help people navigate through their high-conflict divorce using specific strategies unique to their cases. Her specialty is teaching targeted parents how to approach parental alienation with a true understanding of why it happens, how it must be litigated in court, and ways to effectively communicate with alienated children. In this episode we ta

This week on the show, I have Kurt Chacon joining me. Kurt Chacon is a collaborative lawyer and certified divorce coach based in Dallas, Texas.  As both a child of divorce and a parent of divorce, Kurt has seen divorce from every possible angle. This perspective is why his goal is always to mitigate the effects of divorce on children. He is a member of both the Collaborative Law and Family Law Sections of the State Bar of Texas. He is also a member of the Collaborative Law Institute of Texas (CLI-TX), Collaborative Divorce Denton County, and Collaborative Divorce Texas In this episode we talked about: Growing up as an only child with divorced parents. How he got involved with collaborative divorce, as someone who went through it firsthand. Going through his own divorce and having the need to be supported by a collaborative lawyer. The effects of divorce on children. What a collaborative divorce is and what the collaborative process looks like. Children's perspective on divorce. Situations where collaborative

In today’s episode, I share the seven mindset skills that are really important for kids under 10 to learn. While teaching children how to spell or solve math problems is essential, it is just as important to teach them life skills. Many kids these days are not equipped with knowing how to handle things like dealing with conflict and managing their emotions. Little life events can also cause life trauma. Having a positive mindset is developed through the experiences that happen in our kids' lives and how they interpret them. As parents, it starts with us being role models to our children. Let’s teach them these mindset skills to give them a great foundation for life. Links mentioned in the episode:  Join the Thrive Tribe waitlist HERE.  Download the E-book – Thirteen single mothers share their struggles, top tips, and their favourite things about being a single mother – HERE. To contact Julia, email: julia@singlemothersurvivalguide.com. Visit us at Single Mother Survival Guide. And join the email list there to

This week on the show, I have Mary Ann Hughes joining me. Mary Ann Hughes is the proud mom of two boys on the autism spectrum who successfully advocated for her sons' needs during her complex divorce, and then became a Special Needs Divorce Coach founding Special Family Transitions to help families navigate the overwhelm and complexities of special needs divorce. Combining her experience and certifications as a Certified Divorce Coach, Certified Divorce Transition and Recovery Coach, Certified Divorce Specialist, Certified Life Coach, member of The National Association of Divorce Professionals, MBA, and years of special needs training and advocacy, Mary Ann is committed to helping guide families with loved ones with disabilities through divorce challenges and transitions. In this episode we talked about:  Mary Ann’s divorce story and how it led her to become a divorce coach for mums with special needs kids. How she started her company Special Family Transitions. Life before her divorce and her first concerns

Today I chat about getting rid of your stuff before, during, and after divorce. Divorce is expensive, and when you sell old stuff it can help alleviate some of the financial burdens, plus it helps you to declutter and it can also be a therapeutic and helpful way to help you move on with your new life. Getting rid of all the “stuff” that you and your partner have accumulated throughout your relationship is one of those little things that often gets overshadowed, but it is an important way to help you let go of your past – out with the old, in with the new! Here I talk about what to sell, how to do it and all the benefits! Links mentioned in the episode:  Join the Thrive Tribe waitlist HERE.  Download the E-book – Thirteen single mothers share their struggles, top tips, and their favourite things about being a single mother – HERE. To contact Julia, email: julia@singlemothersurvivalguide.com. Visit us at Single Mother Survival Guide. And join the email list there too. Or connect with Single Mother Survival Guid

Today I talk about different support options people wish I had known before they decide to get a divorce. Divorce settlements aren't fun for anyone; sometimes they can take months or even years. This is a life-altering decision about your future. So really considering what is best, especially if you have children, and considering various support options to ensure the best possible outcome for you and your family is super important. In this episode, I talk about the top three things that keep coming up in terms of what people wish they knew about support options before getting divorced. Links mentioned in the episode:  Join the Thrive Tribe waitlist HERE.  Download the E-book – Thirteen single mothers share their struggles, top tips, and their favourite things about being a single mother – HERE. To contact Julia, email: julia@singlemothersurvivalguide.com. Visit us at Single Mother Survival Guide. And join the email list there too. Or connect with Single Mother Survival Guide on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, o

Are you considering a separation or divorce? In this episode, I share six things people wish they had known before getting a divorce in relation to communication and relationships. Good communication is a vital ingredient of a strong marriage. The problem is that some people aren't good at it. If there's a breakdown in communication, it's much harder to build and maintain a happy relationship. Getting a divorce is not something that is usually decided on overnight. It is something that really needs to be thought through. It helps to be aware of some of the many things that can be considered before making this life-changing decision. Links mentioned in the episode:  Listen to Episode 286 - Four Biggest Predictors of Divorce by John Gottman Join the Thrive Tribe waitlist HERE.  Download the E-book – Thirteen single mothers share their struggles, top tips, and their favourite things about being a single mother – HERE. To contact Julia, email: julia@singlemothersurvivalguide.com. Visit us at Single Mother Surviv

Are you considering a separation or divorce? In this episode, I share some of the things people have mentioned as what they wished they knew about the more significant impact of divorce before actually getting a divorce. Here, I share five different viewpoints to give you a different perspective on things and to give you some things to consider. Getting a divorce is not something that is usually decided on overnight. It is something that really needs to be thought through. It helps to be aware of some of the many things that can be considered before making this life-changing decision. Links mentioned in the episode:  Join Thrive Tribe HERE.  Download the E-book – Thirteen single mothers share their struggles, top tips, and their favourite things about being a single mother – HERE. To contact Julia, email: julia@singlemothersurvivalguide.com. Visit us at Single Mother Survival Guide. And join the email list there too. Or connect with Single Mother Survival Guide on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, or Pinterest.