Solo Parent

Today we will be talking about the upcoming movie release Unsung Hero with David & Helen Smallbone. “Unsung Hero” follows Helen and David Smallbone after having lost everything when David’s successful music company collapses. In 1991, with nothing more than their seven children, suitcases, and a love of music, the family left everything they knew in Australia and moved to the United States, hoping to rebuild their life into a bigger, brighter future. Based on an incredible true story, Helen’s faith inspires her husband and children to hold onto theirs as they band together as a family in a brand-new country. With their own dreams on hold, David and Helen begin to realize the musical giftedness in their children, who would become two of the most successful acts in Inspirational Music history: five-time Grammy Award-winning artists for KING + COUNTRY and Rebecca St. James. “Unsung Hero” releases in movie theaters everywhere on April 26, 2024. For all the detailed show notes, tips and links click - soloparent.org/show-notes-blog For information on Unsung Hero Click Here! —> ASK US ANYTHING! We want to answer any Solo Parent questions you may have. Go to SoloParent.org/TalkToUs and ask us anything…it can be related to a topic we cover on the podcast, something you are facing or just something you are curious about. We want you to be part of our podcast! To receive a free SPS Welcome Toolkit with links to groups, info and a free book click - soloparent.org/welcome-toolkit Join our FREE daily meditational devotional - pod.link/1517894054 Download our free app - APPLE - ANDROID

There is so much uncertainty in our world today: our nation, the presidential election, wars, the stock market and economy, our health, the well-being of our children…the list goes on. When we find ourselves standing in the face of uncertainty, how can we deal with it in a healthy and sustainable way? Today, we cover three main points: 1) The desire for certainty 2) The benefits of uncertainty 3) The antidotes to uncertainty For all the detailed show notes, tips and links click - soloparent.org/show-notes-blog —> ASK US ANYTHING! We want to answer any Solo Parent questions you may have. Go to SoloParent.org/TalkToUs and ask us anything…it can be related to a topic we cover on the podcast, something you are facing or just something you are curious about. We want you to be part of our podcast! To receive a free SPS Welcome Toolkit with links to groups, info and a free book click - soloparent.org/welcome-toolkit Join our FREE daily meditational devotional - pod.link/1517894054 Download our free app - APPLE - ANDROID Every girl deserves a faith-filled adventure click here for the NIV Kingdom Girls Bible

Our kids encounter so many cultural influences and outside voices every day. Everything and everyone is vying for their attention, and information about literally anything is at their fingertips. How can we teach our children to stay true to themselves without micromanaging or sheltering them too much? Today, we cover three main points: 1).Identifying outside sources and influences 2).Establishing a safe home base 3).Helping our kids establish their personal values/identity For all the detailed show notes, tips and links click - soloparent.org/show-notes-blog —> ASK US ANYTHING! We want to answer any Solo Parent questions you may have. Go to SoloParent.org/TalkToUs and ask us anything…it can be related to a topic we cover on the podcast, something you are facing or just something you are curious about. We want you to be part of our podcast! To receive a free SPS Welcome Toolkit with links to groups, info and a free book click - soloparent.org/welcome-toolkit Join our FREE daily meditational devotional - pod.link/1517894054 Download our free app - APPLE - ANDROID Every girl deserves a faith-filled adventure click here for the NIV Kingdom Girls Bible

We know our kids have gone through much-unwanted instability already, and we will do anything in our power to instill more stability in their lives. But sometimes, this requires us to make really hard decisions. How can we make good decisions for our family, even if it comes at a cost? Is stability even possible? Today, we cover three main points: 1) Making hard decisions. 2) The costs of stability 3) Stability hacks one bite at time. For all the detailed show notes, tips and links click - https://soloparent.org/show-notes-blog —> ASK US ANYTHING! We want to answer any Solo Parent questions you may have. Go to SoloParent.org/TalkToUs and ask us anything…it can be related to a topic we cover on the podcast, something you are facing or just something you are curious about. We want you to be part of our podcast! To receive a free SPS Welcome Toolkit with links to groups, info and a free book click - https://soloparent.org/welcome-toolkit Join our FREE daily meditational devotional - pod.link/1517894054 Download our free app - APPLE - ANDROID Every girl deserves a faith-filled adventure click here for the NIV Kingdom Girls Bible

Parenting is probably the biggest responsibility we’ll ever have, and solo parenting may be one of the biggest challenges we’ll ever face. Having a village of people supporting us on our best days and loving us on our worst days is paramount and the concept sounds great, but how do we go about building a village? Today, we cover three main points: 1) The meaning and purpose of a village 2) How to build a village 3) Roadblocks to villages For all the detailed show notes, tips and links visit soloparent.org/show-notes-blog —> ASK US ANYTHING! We want to answer any Solo Parent questions you may have. Go to SoloParent.org/TalkToUs and ask us anything…it can be related to a topic we cover on the podcast, something you are facing or just something you are curious about. We want you to be part of our podcast! Receive a free SPS Welcome Toolkit with links to groups, info, and a free book. Join our FREE daily meditational devotional - pod.link/1517894054 Download our free app - APPLE | ANDROID Every girl deserves a faith-filled adventure click here for the NIV Kingdom Girls Bible

Every girl deserves a faith-filled adventure click here for the NIV Kingdom Girls Bible Single Parent Day is in just a few days, on March 21st. For this episode, we wanted to do something special for our solos—and it just so happens that a lot of listeners have been asking us to tell the origin story of Solo Parent. This week we talked to Robert, Amber, and Elizabeth about how Solo Parent came into being. For this conversation, we also welcome back Kimberly Mitchell. Kim is a familiar voice from our podcast and played an instrumental part in the Solo Parent Story. For all the detailed show notes, tips and links visit soloparent.org/show-notes-blog —> ASK US ANYTHING! We want to answer any Solo Parent questions you may have. Go to SoloParent.org/TalkToUs and ask us anything…it can be related to a topic we cover on the podcast, something you are facing, or just something you are curious about. We want you to be part of our podcast! Receive a free SPS Welcome Toolkit with links to groups, info, and a free book. Join our FREE daily meditational devotional - pod.link/1517894054 Download our free app - APPLE | ANDROID

Every morning, we wake up and we have to decide: Are we going to get out of bed…or not? There are days when it all feels like too much; the trials and tribulations of this world seem insurmountable and the lure of staying in bed and hiding from everything and everyone looks like the only solution. Every solo parent has experienced this feeling of overwhelm and knows… we still have to do it. Our kids are depending on us. Their world can’t run without us. So, how do we get out of bed when we feel like we don’t have what it takes? Our guest today is Dr. Alan Noble, an associate professor at Oklahoma Baptist University, and co-founder and editor-in-chief at Christ and Pop Culture. He has written for the Atlantic, Vox, The Gospel Coalition, Christianity Today, and First Things. He is the author of multiple books including the one we’re discussing today—” On Getting Out of Bed: The Burden and Gift of Living.” For all the detailed show notes, tips and links visit soloparent.org/show-notes-blog —> ASK US ANYTHING! We want to answer any Solo Parent questions you may have. Go to SoloParent.org/TalkToUs and ask us anything…it can be related to a topic we cover on the podcast, something you are facing, or just something you are curious about. We want you to be part of our podcast! Receive a free SPS Welcome Toolkit with links to groups, info, and a free book. Join our FREE daily meditational devotional - pod.link/1517894054 Download our free app - APPLE | ANDROID Every girl deserves a faith-filled adventure click here for the NIV Kingdom Girls Bible

One of the most heart-wrenching parts of parenting is seeing our kids struggle. When our child is dealing with physical pain, we rush to their aid and see what we can do to help. Even if they insist they’re fine, you know a broken bone when you see it. But, mental health is altogether different. While mental illness can and does present itself physically, so much anxiety and depression happens inside the mind. Mental health is a serious topic, that thankfully has become more widely talked about and acknowledged in recent years. We often feel helpless or unsure of what to do when our child is mentally struggling—especially as solo parents. How do we effectively help our kids deal with anxiety or depression in a healthy way? How can we tell if our kids are okay? Our guest today is Kyle Cruze. Kyle is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in the state of Tennessee. His passion and expertise are with adolescent/teenage boys and their families who are struggling to navigate through the difficult and confusing aspects of this culture and life. Additionally, Kyle works closely with those recovering from alcohol/drug addiction. Kyle practices out of The Counseling Center at Christ Community Church in Franklin, TN. For all the detailed show notes, tips and links visit soloparent.org/show-notes-blog —> ASK US ANYTHING! We want to answer any Solo Parent questions you may have. Go to SoloParent.org/TalkToUs and ask us anything…it can be related to a topic we cover on the podcast, something you are facing, or just something you are curious about. We want you to be part of our podcast! Receive a free SPS Welcome Toolkit with links to groups, info, and a free book. Join our FREE daily meditational devotional - pod.link/1517894054 Download our free app - APPLE | ANDROID

Falling in love after loss or a failed relationship is not for the faint of heart. Any solo parent knows life is already overwhelming—and to add a romantic element into the mix can feel risky. Love the first time around is often when you’re young, inexperienced with the world, and marked with abandon, and recklessness. Does love feel the same the second time around? Today, we cover three main points: 1. The experience: How love feels and is experienced post-loss or post-growth. 2. The person: You’re in a relationship with a completely different person, and you’ve also changed as a person. 3. Your former spouse: The coexistence of your love for your former spouse and your love for the next person. For all the detailed show notes, tips and links visit soloparent.org/show-notes-blog —> ASK US ANYTHING! We want to answer any Solo Parent questions you may have. Go to SoloParent.org/TalkToUs and ask us anything…it can be related to a topic we cover on the podcast, something you are facing, or just something you are curious about. We want you to be part of our podcast! Receive a free SPS Welcome Toolkit with links to groups, info, and a free book. Join our FREE daily meditational devotional - pod.link/1517894054 Download our free app - APPLE | ANDROID

If we’re honest, we need to admit we often don’t know what healthy love looks like. Codependency can often feel like love. So, how can we tell the difference between love and codependency? Today, we cover three main points: 1) What is codependency? 2) What is a healthy connection? 3) How to set healthy limits For all the detailed show notes, tips and links visit soloparent.org/show-notes-blog —> ASK US ANYTHING! We want to answer any Solo Parent questions you may have. Go to SoloParent.org/TalkToUs and ask us anything…it can be related to a topic we cover on the podcast, something you are facing, or just something you are curious about. We want you to be part of our podcast! Receive a free SPS Welcome Toolkit with links to groups, info, and a free book. Join our FREE daily meditational devotional - pod.link/1517894054 Download our free app - APPLE | ANDROID

Loving as a single parent requires us to sacrifice in ways we didn’t expect. But sometimes, we get caught up in the pain and it becomes tit for tat—it turns into a burdensome type of love. We know we have to step outside of ourselves and elevate what is best for our kids but how do we sacrificially love in a healthy way? Today, we cover three main points: 1) The meaning of sacrificial love 2) What sacrificial love is NOT 3) When you feel like you’ve given all you have For all the detailed show notes, tips and links visit soloparent.org/show-notes-blog —> ASK US ANYTHING! We want to answer any Solo Parent questions you may have. Go to SoloParent.org/TalkToUs and ask us anything…it can be related to a topic we cover on the podcast, something you are facing, or just something you are curious about. We want you to be part of our podcast! Receive a free SPS Welcome Toolkit with links to groups, info, and a free book. Join our FREE daily meditational devotional - pod.link/1517894054 Download our free app - APPLE | ANDROID

Solo parents have experienced an enormous amount of hurt and loss. Some of it is extremely painful—and understandably so. But in order to love our children well, we need to love our story and all the parts of ourselves that participated in it. How can we love ourselves and embrace our inherent value after so much pain? Today, we cover three main points: 1) Losing our value and why it’s so important to have 2) Loving your whole story and letting it all be true 3) Steps to loving yourself For all the detailed show notes, tips and links visit soloparent.org/show-notes-blog —> ASK US ANYTHING! We want to answer any Solo Parent questions you may have. Go to SoloParent.org/TalkToUs and ask us anything…it can be related to a topic we cover on the podcast, something you are facing, or just something you are curious about. We want you to be part of our podcast! Receive a free SPS Welcome Toolkit with links to groups, info, and a free book. Join our FREE daily meditational devotional - pod.link/1517894054 Download our free app - APPLE | ANDROID

All single parents are grieving at some level. We know we need to step into the grief and not bypass it, but we aren’t always equipped for the process, and we end up coping with grief in an unhelpful manner. How do we practice grief healthily and intentionally? Today, we cover three main points: 1) Defining grief and our understanding of it 2) Personal stories of grief 3) Four tasks of mourning For all the detailed show notes, tips and links visit soloparent.org/show-notes-blog —> ASK US ANYTHING! We want to answer any Solo Parent questions you may have. Go to SoloParent.org/TalkToUs and ask us anything…it can be related to a topic we cover on the podcast, something you are facing, or just something you are curious about. We want you to be part of our podcast! Receive a free SPS Welcome Toolkit with links to groups, info, and a free book. Join our FREE daily meditational devotional - pod.link/1517894054 Download our free app - APPLE | ANDROID

We’re in a brand new year, but for single parents, it might feel like Groundhog Day, where daily life continually feels crazy and out of control. Are there daily intentions we can implement so that we—along with our kids—find a new and better daily rhythm? Today, we cover three main points: 1) When you’re a busy single parent, daily life can feel like Groundhog Day—with no end in sight. 2) A daily schedule/routine, structure, and order can provide a place for your values and intentions to be fully realized. 3) There are practical steps to bring daily intention into your life. For all the detailed show notes, tips and links visit soloparent.org/show-notes-blog —> ASK US ANYTHING! We want to answer any Solo Parent questions you may have. Go to SoloParent.org/TalkToUs and ask us anything…it can be related to a topic we cover on the podcast, something you are facing, or just something you are curious about. We want you to be part of our podcast! Receive a free SPS Welcome Toolkit with links to groups, info, and a free book. Join our FREE daily meditational devotional - pod.link/1517894054 Download our free app - APPLE | ANDROID

We get so caught up in the everyday tasks of day-to-day living that we don’t feel like we have the bandwidth to live intentionally into a future we want. Today, we cover three main points: 1) Starting with the end in mind—what to begin, what to end 2) The importance of making mistakes in front of our children 3) Keeping our eyes on the end goal For all the detailed show notes, tips and links visit soloparent.org/show-notes-blog —> ASK US ANYTHING! We want to answer any Solo Parent questions you may have. Go to SoloParent.org/TalkToUs and ask us anything…it can be related to a topic we cover on the podcast, something you are facing, or just something you are curious about. We want you to be part of our podcast! Receive a free SPS Welcome Toolkit with links to groups, info, and a free book. Join our FREE daily meditational devotional - pod.link/1517894054 Download our free app - APPLE | ANDROID

Every January, we make resolutions that we’ll break. We resolve to exercise more, eat better, lose weight, and save money. However, researchers suggest that only nine percent of Americans complete their resolutions. So often, our goals or resolutions are surface-oriented and do not get at the root of the issue. We need focus and direction—we need intention. Instead of setting New Year’s resolutions, what are ways we can set intentions? Today, we cover three main points: 1) Focus on the heart, not the behavior. 2) Change how you measure outcomes. 3) One word to focus on for the year. For all the detailed show notes, tips and links visit soloparent.org/show-notes-blog —> ASK US ANYTHING! We want to answer any Solo Parent questions you may have. Go to SoloParent.org/TalkToUs and ask us anything…it can be related to a topic we cover on the podcast, something you are facing, or just something you are curious about. We want you to be part of our podcast! Receive a free SPS Welcome Toolkit with links to groups, info, and a free book. Join our FREE daily meditational devotional - pod.link/1517894054 Download our free app - APPLE | ANDROID

To grow in life, we need to let go of toxic people, situations, patterns, and habits. But it’s challenging to let go of the old so the new can be ushered in. How can we welcome necessary endings into our lives? Today, we cover three main points: 1) Defining, naming, and normalizing necessary endings 2) Why it’s so hard to let go, why endings can feel uncomfortable 3) The upside of failing: what happens when we let go and move forward For all the detailed show notes, tips and links visit soloparent.org/show-notes-blog —> ASK US ANYTHING! We want to answer any Solo Parent questions you may have. Go to SoloParent.org/TalkToUs and ask us anything…it can be related to a topic we cover on the podcast, something you are facing, or just something you are curious about. We want you to be part of our podcast! Receive a free SPS Welcome Toolkit with links to groups, info, and a free book. Join our FREE daily meditational devotional - pod.link/1517894054 Download our free app - APPLE | ANDROID

As we prepare to celebrate Christmas, many Christians around the world join in the celebration of Advent. Advent is the anticipation of the arrival of Christ and a time of preparation to celebrate His birth. Today, our focus will be on the joy we find in Advent and the hope we find in Jesus. A couple of years ago, just before Christmas, we had a beautiful conversation with Pastor Curtis Zackery and the origin of the classic Christmas song “O Holy Night.” You will never look at it the same way again. Today we cover why Robert chose this episode as his favorite and discuss the reasons why it was meaningful to him. For all the detailed show notes, tips and links visit soloparent.org/show-notes-blog —> ASK US ANYTHING! We want to answer any Solo Parent questions you may have. Go to SoloParent.org/TalkToUs and ask us anything…it can be related to a topic we cover on the podcast, something you are facing or just something you are curious about. We want you to be part of our podcast! Receive a free SPS Welcome Toolkit with links to groups, info, and a free book. Join our FREE daily meditational devotional - pod.link/1517894054 Download our free app - APPLE | ANDROID

Most solo parents worry about how they are going to make ends meet during the challenges of living as a one-income family. Any kind of significant life transition or crisis can lead to unsettling circumstances, especially financially. Because single parents often find themselves dealing with unexpected financial changes related to budget and practical needs, we wanted to reintroduce this conversation we had with Ron Rauch on steps to financial stability. It can also provide motivation for a financial reset as we come out of the holiday spending frenzy and approach 2024. Today we discuss why Marissa chose this episode as her favorite: 1)This episode gives some tremendous practical tips on how to even baseline a budget / “spending plan” 2)how to think in terms of now and later for finances, and 3)how to deal with debt and potentially get some of it reduced. For all the detailed show notes, tips and links visit soloparent.org/show-notes-blog —> ASK US ANYTHING! We want to answer any Solo Parent questions you may have. Go to SoloParent.org/TalkToUs and ask us anything…it can be related to a topic we cover on the podcast, something you are facing, or just something you are curious about. We want you to be part of our podcast! Receive a free SPS Welcome Toolkit with links to groups, info, and a free book. Join our FREE daily meditational devotional - pod.link/1517894054 Download our free app - APPLE | ANDROID

Trying to navigate the exhausting demands of raising our kids as solo parents can leave us at a loss of who we are, completely depleted of our identity. Maybe we don’t recognize who we were—or who we’re supposed to become. Even that concept can seem elusive and out of reach—we’re so often just struggling to get by. We wanted to reintroduce our conversation with Dr. Dan Allender on how to reclaim our identity and discover confidence in who we are and how we fit into our new reality. Dan is the founder and lead instructor at the Allender Center. For over thirty years, Dan’s theory, The Allender Theory, has brought healing and transformation to hundreds of thousands of lives by bringing the story of the Gospel and the story of trauma and abuse that mark so many. He founded The Allender Center which is the Seattle School of Theology and Psychology, and is the best-selling author of nine books. Today we discuss why Elizabeth chose this episode as her favorite. For all the detailed show notes, tips and links visit soloparent.org/show-notes-blog —> ASK US ANYTHING! We want to answer any Solo Parent questions you may have. Go to SoloParent.org/TalkToUs and ask us anything…it can be related to a topic we cover on the podcast, something you are facing, or just something you are curious about. We want you to be part of our podcast! Receive a free SPS Welcome Toolkit with links to groups, info, and a free book. Join our FREE daily meditational devotional - pod.link/1517894054 Download our free app - APPLE | ANDROID