Right There With You

Single mama, if this is not how you imagined your mothering journey would look, I'm right there with you. Sometimes life sucker-punches us and we have to roll with the changes and figure out a way to make it work. Today's episode is specifically for the mom that didn't plan to be single and is facing the varying stages that come with her new reality.

Moms are naturally fixers. We find a way to make it work, make do, and make the world keep going for our kids. But when you encounter something you can't fix, the feeling of helplessness is terrible, awful, and no-good. Today let's talk about how to handle it when fixing it for your child is outside your ability.

Life is busy and as single moms, we can sometimes be just done by the time dinner rolls around. But did you know there are benefits beyond good nutrition that come from making family dinner a priority? Join me as we dive into what those are and some ways to make the dinner table a place for family connection.

Back to school everything is in the air. As we dive into a new school year, maybe it's time to tweak the morning and evening routines we have to make our worlds run more smoothly. Today I give some ways to include the kids and have more peace before sending them and us off to take on the day.

Whether it's your first year sending a kid off to college or second like me or further along, there can be all kinds of bittersweet emotions involved in this new stage of motherhood. They aren't little anymore but they do still need you. Today let's talk about that and some ways to stay connected with your no-so-little-one.

The new year is here for many of us or about to arrive. No, not the January one but the new school year. As a single mom, you need your child's teacher on your team and starting off on the right food can set the tone for an entire year. Today let's talk about some ways to show your support for teachers while still being an advocate for your child.

There are so many conflicting ideas circulating on the internet about what IS a good idea to eat. When you struggle with your weight, walking into the kitchen can become a fight. Today let's talk about making peace and some small choices while choosing where to set our focus.

Juggling kids and work, household responsibilities and school, a limited budget and so much more can make self care feel at best, elusive, and at worst, selfish, to any mama. But the guilt is amplified for single moms when time is one of your most valuable commodities. Today we talk about why self care is vital do succeeding as a single mom.

We all have our little escape tricks--those things we waste time doing when we really should be tackling something else. There's a difference between down time that's healthy and unhealthy avoidance tactics. Today let's talk about the healthier ways to face overwhelming tasks than hiding from them. 

Summer can be a fantastic time for fun and relaxation. But for the single mom it can also be a time of guilt when all the Pinterest-worthy things you imagine you'll do slam up against the reality of what you can do. Today's podcast is about finding grace in that reality and finishing the summer with your kiddos strong.

Sometimes the picture-perfect way you envisioned life and motherhood can pop up unexpectedly like the Ghost of Christmas Past. The struggle to create and enjoy the new normal in your life as a single mom can be challenging. Today we talk about that and some strategies for saying goodbye to the white picket fence.

As single moms there can be challenges, frustrations, and bizarre problems our married friends don't struggle with. When we can share what we are experiencing with another single mom and hear the powerful assurance that it's not just us, we find strength and connection. Today let's talk about connecting with other single moms.

We are never meant to do life alone. We are designed for community. But in this every isolating, overly-busy world we can begin to feel like making time for more than just our family and job is a luxury we don't have time for. Join today's podcast to hear the essential reasons you need to make time for a mom tribe, the kinds of moms that are vital, and how to nurture those relationships.

We are not designed to live life in isolation. We are created as communal beings who function best living life in community. But what happens when you find yourself a single mom and church feels hard? When it feels like it would just be simpler to go it alone? This episode talks about why we need the church and the church, single moms, needs us. We are so much better together.

The kids, the house, the budget, the job, the meal planning, the future planning--ACK! Do you ever feel like you just cannot decide one more thing? When you are a single mom, all the decisions fall to you. And because of that, quitting or not deciding is not an option. Join me for some "me too" moments of the struggle to decide and some tips and tricks to help you keep on top of all the important stuff.

If re-entering the dating world was not something that you ever thought would happen, I'm right there with you. It's awkward and sometimes scary. In this episode, I've got some things to keep in mind to stay smart and safe as a Christian single mom. And you I've got a freebie to help you stay focused.

One of the weirdest things about being single in my 40s is the idea of dating. In this episode I share some of the awkward and hilarious things I've encountered that maybe you can relate to. And we'll talk about why I'm optimistic about trying to find love when it's not as easy as when I was young. 

Summer is coming! Anyone else have mixed feelings about that? Yay that we can have a more relaxed routine but now we have to plan stuff to do. In today's podcast, I give some simple ideas of fun family activities to do with your kids this summer. And you can download a free page to brainstorm with your kiddos. Seize the summer, single mom!

Welcome to Right There With You, a podcast of encouragement, hope, and connection for the Christian single mom. I'm Jenn Buell, a widowed mama to four amazing kids. In this podcast you'll find real life, real faith, and real stories from another Christian single mama.