Advertise on podcast: The Single Greatest Choice: For Single Women Exploring Solo Motherhood by Choice (SMBC), Fertility, and Having a Baby on Thei

Becoming a single mother by choice is complicated enough, but when you add layers of cultural expectations, family pressure, and the uncertainty of fertility, it can feel like there’s just no roadmap and no one who gets it. In today’s episode, I’m joined by Reema Kiran, executive coach, founder of Choice Mom Coach, and now published author of the book, Choice Mom. We go deep into her process of navigating unexplained infertility, cultural traditions, and making the call to prioritize motherhood on her own terms. Together, we share the real, lived experience of choosing this path despite fears and grief over what “should have been". Reema opens up about childhood dreams clashing with grown-up realities, the importance of mindset, and what it meant to face questions from family and her Indian community. We talk about what’s helped us both, and what it has looked like for our families (and ourselves) to come around to single motherhood by choice. Whether you’re in the thinking stage, facing fertility challenges, or wrestling with letting go of the life you imagined, this is a truly supportive, honest conversation. In this episode, we talk about: Navigating cultural expectations and family reactions as a single mother by choiceThe emotional side of infertility, failed fertility treatments, and shifting your mindsetReema's experience with egg freezing and entering the world of IVF on her ownGrieving the loss of the partner and child vision, and finding your own way forwardDay-to-day realities and surprises of solo motherhood (from mental load to mom guilt)How to speak with confidence to loved ones who might not understand your choicesThe power of self-compassion, community, and taking just one next step Connect with Reema: WebsiteInstagram: @choicemomcoachChoice Mom: An Empowering Guide to Becoming a Single Mother by Choice 👩‍👧‍👦The Single Greatest Choice is the single mother by choice support you’ve been craving for every stage of your journey. You can find 1:1 Coaching for every stage of solo motherhood by choice, Community Groups for thinkers, triers, and pregnant SMBCs, The SGC Village Membership Community, Retreats for early stage SMBCs and Family Trips for moms & kids. 💌Become part of the SGC community and stay up to date by joining our newsletter. You can sign up >>here at the bottom of the page. Reach out to Katie over at [email protected].

There is so much noise out there about fertility, timelines, and the “right” way and time to become a mother. I know firsthand how overwhelming it can feel to navigate these decisions, especially as a single woman wondering what’s possible, what’s realistic, and what you really want. That’s why I was so excited to welcome back Dr. Natalie Crawford for this episode. Not only is she a leader in the fertility space and the co-founder of Fora Fertility here in Austin, but she’s also my own fertility doctor. In this conversation, Dr. Crawford shares about her new book, The Fertility Formula. She dives into what to know about the fertility process, what questions to ask, and how to make empowered decisions at every stage. Whether you’re just starting to think about your options, actively trying to conceive, or navigating the early years of solo motherhood, you’ll find so much useful information here. We touch on the emotional layers of solo motherhood by choice, challenge the “rush” narrative, and unpack how knowledge (not urgency!) creates real freedom and confidence. I left this conversation feeling more grounded and reminded that there is no “right” path - only the choice that’s right for you. I hope you walk away with a stronger sense of what’s within your control, how to advocate for your own well-being, and ways to gently hold space for the dreams you’re building, even if they look different than you once imagined. In this episode, we talk about: Why foundational fertility knowledge matters, and what Dr. Crawford wishes every woman knew soonerThe importance of advocating for yourself and naming your real goals in the fertility journeyHow inflammation, lifestyle choices, and environment actually impact your fertility and hormone healthThe pressures single women face around making the right choiceHow to navigate uncertainty, conflicting emotions, and evolving dreams, whether or not motherhood is your current goalWhat to do if you feel unsupported or uncertain in your clinic/doctor relationshipThe value of taking the next informed step, not letting anxiety or urgency take the lead Connect with Dr. Natalie Crawford: WebsiteInstagram: @nataliecrawfordmdTikTok: @nataliecrawfordmdLinkedIn: Natalie Crawford, MDYouTube: Natalie Crawford, MDPodcast: As a Woman 👩‍👧‍👦The Single Greatest Choice is the single mother by choice support you’ve been craving for every stage of your journey. You can find 1:1 Coaching for every stage of solo motherhood by choice, Community Groups for thinkers, triers, and pregnant SMBCs, The SGC Village Membership Community, Retreats for early stage SMBCs and Family Trips for moms & kids. 💌Become part of the SGC community and stay up to date by joining our newsletter. You can sign up >>here at the bottom of the page. Reach out to Katie over at [email protected].

Sometimes the path to motherhood asks us to step into the unknown with courage, intention, and trust, especially when the journey doesn’t look anything like we first imagined. In this episode, I’m joined by Regine Smith, solo mom by adoption, and founder of SMBC Resources. Regine shares her powerful story of building her family through adoption as a single woman, navigating years of research and uncertainty, and ultimately embracing a version of motherhood that feels deeply right for her. We talk honestly about fear, doubt, and the pressure to “get it right” when becoming a solo parent, and how those feelings can nearly eclipse the beauty and healing that motherhood brings. Regine opens up about the realities of the adoption process, the challenges and joys of parenting a young child, and her commitment to making it easier for other women to find trustworthy support on their own journeys. Whether you’re considering adoption, donor conception, or simply exploring your options, I hope this conversation leaves you feeling seen, informed, and a little more at ease about what’s possible. In this episode, we talk about: Regine’s journey to solo motherhood and building her family through toddler adoptionWhat it’s really like to navigate years of decisions, research, and uncertainty before becoming a momThe emotional impact of fear and doubt, and why holding space for your child’s feelings is so essentialHow adoption actually works for single women (versus the stories we tell ourselves about what’s impossible)Finding community and autonomy as a solo mom, plus the realities of parenting through anxiety, growth, and changeThe story behind SMBC Resources, and how Regine is helping other single moms access vetted, supportive professionalsWhy the privilege of creating a safe, loving home can sometimes matter more than any plan we once had Connect with Regine: SMBC Resources website: smbcresources.comEmail: [email protected]: @smbcresources 👩‍👧‍👦The Single Greatest Choice is the single mother by choice support you’ve been craving for every stage of your journey. You can find 1:1 Coaching for every stage of solo motherhood by choice, Community Groups for thinkers, triers, and pregnant SMBCs, The SGC Village Membership Community, Retreats for early stage SMBCs and Family Trips for moms & kids. 💌Become part of the SGC community and stay up to date by joining our newsletter. You can sign up >>here at the bottom of the page. Reach out to Katie over at [email protected].

There’s a unique kind of bravery in deciding to build your own family, especially when the path looks nothing like what you once imagined. In this season 9 opener, I’m joined by Lisa Proeber, fellow solo mom by choice, serial entrepreneur, and children’s book author. Lisa and I started this episode as strangers but quickly found ourselves deep in conversation about everything from demotions to starting businesses, surrogacy, solo travel, and the honest realities of single motherhood. Lisa shares her winding journey: early marriage in a conservative family, divorce, years of dating with the singular goal of becoming a mom, and ultimately making the leap into solo motherhood...during a global pandemic. We discuss the heartbreaks, the unexpected joy, and how the challenges of COVID, job loss, advocating for her son’s health, and taking big risks in business all wove together. Lisa opens up about what it’s really like to juggle it all as a single mom, why she loves the flexibility of entrepreneurship, and how she’s helping to tell new stories for families like ours through her board book, Mama Cow. In this episode, we talk about: The courage and chaos of picking a sperm donor (and throwing a hilarious sperm party!)Navigating solo motherhood through the shock of a pandemicWhat it looks like to get fired for being pregnant - and fight backHow Lisa leveraged adversity to launch multiple businesses, and the freedom she’s found in working for herselfThe gap in children’s books about nontraditional families, and why telling our stories mattersHelpful tips for finding support, outsourcing, and building a thriving solo mom lifeDating, surrogacy, and talking to kids about different families This is a warm, funny, and deeply honest conversation for anyone thinking about single motherhood by choice, or just looking for ways to write their own story! Connect with Lisa: Mama Cow board book + swagInstagram: @mamacowbooks 👩‍👧‍👦The Single Greatest Choice is the single mother by choice support you’ve been craving for every stage of your journey. You can find 1:1 Coaching for every stage of solo motherhood by choice, Community Groups for thinkers, triers, and pregnant SMBCs, The SGC Village Membership Community, Retreats for early stage SMBCs and Family Trips for moms & kids. 💌Become part of the SGC community and stay up to date by joining our newsletter. You can sign up >>here at the bottom of the page. Reach out to Katie over at [email protected].

This episode is a little different than usual. In this Season 8 finale of The Single Greatest Choice Podcast, I’m stepping out of my usual interview role to share a personal reflection on the question I’m asked more than any other: Will I have a second child as a single mother by choice? Rather than offering a clear answer, this episode is about the process of living inside that question — the clarity that came and went, the tension between who I’ve been and who I’m becoming, and what it looks like to honor uncertainty without rushing toward resolution. In this episode, I share: Why deciding about a second child isn’t the same as deciding to tryWhat it means to choose “not deciding” as a valid place to standHow finances, age, capacity, identity, and work all factor into this questionThe joy and freedom of life with an older child — and what’s at stake in starting overOne of my core coaching frameworks for navigating high-stakes decisions with no clear right answerThe grief of imagined futures and the “ghost ships that didn’t carry us”Why sometimes holding on is part of integration, not avoidanceWhat I’m learning about letting go, identity, and trust as this year comes to a close This episode isn’t about arriving at certainty. It’s about honoring the space before clarity. Mentioned in this episode: Cheryl Strayed, Dear Sugar: “The Ghost Ships That Didn’t Carry Us” Looking for other single mothers by choice who share your city, career, identity, or stage of motherhood? Join the SGC Directory 👩‍👧‍👦The Single Greatest Choice is the single mother by choice support you’ve been craving for every stage of your journey. You can find 1:1 Coaching for every stage of solo motherhood by choice, Community Groups for thinkers, triers, and pregnant SMBCs, The SGC Village Membership Community, Retreats for early stage SMBCs and Family Trips for moms & kids. 💌Become part of the SGC community and stay up to date by joining our newsletter. You can sign up >>here at the bottom of the page. Reach out to Katie over at [email protected]

It’s easy to feel “behind” when it seems like everyone around you is moving forward with partnerships, pregnancies, and families — and meanwhile you’re fielding questions from parents, watching friends’ announcements roll in, and quietly feeling the pressure of time. The biological clock conversation can feel loud, heavy, and incredibly anxiety-provoking, especially in your late 30s and 40s. In today’s episode, I’m joined by Beth Gulotta — licensed therapist, founder of NYC Therapeutic Wellness, and host of the podcast Quiet the Clock. Beth has spent years supporting women who feel out of sync with cultural timelines, while also navigating her own very real and layered journey with partnership, egg freezing, infertility, pregnancy loss, and becoming a mother at 40. Together, we talk honestly about what it’s like to want a child while living inside uncertainty. We explore the emotional and practical tension between taking action — getting information, exploring options, making decisions — and learning how to loosen your grip on the parts you simply can’t control. We also name the grief, comparison, and complicated feelings that can surface when life doesn’t unfold the way you once imagined it would. In this episode, we talk about: The emotional impact of feeling “behind” in your 30s or 40sNavigating misaligned timelines within a partnershipBeth’s experience with egg freezing, natural conception at 39, and secondary infertilityHow to take proactive steps without letting anxiety run the showWhy we so often put our lives on hold while we’re “waiting,” and how to stop missing the life you’re actually livingMaking decisions based on how you want to feel, not what you think you should wantSupporting yourself during the holidays, when longing and triggers can feel amplified This is a thoughtful, compassionate conversation for anyone who is carrying questions about fertility, timing, and what it means to trust yourself when the path forward isn’t clear. Connect with Beth: Have a listen to Beth’s podcast Quiet the Clock.Follow Beth on Instagram.Learn more about NYC Therapeutic Wellness on their website. 👩‍👧‍👦The Single Greatest Choice is the single mother by choice support you’ve been craving for every stage of your journey. You can find 1:1 Coaching for every stage of solo motherhood by choice, Community Groups for thinkers, triers, and pregnant SMBCs, The SGC Village Membership Community, Retreats for early stage SMBCs and Family Trips for moms & kids. 💌Become part of the SGC community and stay up to date by joining our newsletter. You can sign up >>here at the bottom of the page. Reach out to Katie over at [email protected]

Today’s episode is something a little different. I’m sharing a bonus conversation that was recorded for another podcast, Quiet the Clock, created by psychotherapist Beth Gulotta. Because Beth’s work and mine overlap in such meaningful ways, we decided to release this interview on both of our feeds today. If you’re new to Quiet the Clock, it’s a deeply thoughtful space for women who are feeling the pressure of fertility timelines, missed milestones, and the quiet (or not-so-quiet) grief that can come with life unfolding differently than expected. In other words, it’s a space that will likely feel very familiar if you’re listening to this show. Beth helps women question and rewrite the stories that no longer serve them, creating room for a life that actually fits — one grounded in self-trust, empowerment, and choosing your own timing. Her personal journey, combined with her clinical background, makes her a steady and compassionate voice in a space that truly needs more of both. You’ll also be hearing from Beth again next week when she joins me as a guest on The Single Greatest Choice, so this is a beautiful introduction to her work and perspective. After you listen, be sure to follow Quiet the Clock wherever you get your podcasts and explore more of Beth’s episodes. If you’re here, I have a feeling her work will resonate deeply. Podcast - Quiet The Clock Podcast

The search for a sperm donor can be overwhelming for anyone, but for Black women, the lack of available Black donors adds a whole new layer of complexity. When Lakia Holmes—senior producer of Bleacher Report’s branded sports content, award-winning journalist, and now a single mom by choice—began exploring her fertility options at 37, she had no idea just how winding the path would be. What started as an egg-freezing consultation quickly revealed blocked fallopian tubes and a 2% chance of conceiving naturally. Suddenly, the dream she’d been putting off to grow her career became something she could no longer wait on. Choosing IVF meant choosing herself—and stepping into the unknown as a solo Black woman navigating infertility, donor scarcity, and the fear of how this choice might impact her career. In our conversation, Lakia shares the emotional and logistical realities of that season: long donor waitlists, genetic mismatches, profiles with only a name or two left… and then the moment a miracle phone call changed everything. “It wasn’t my plan A, but my plan B worked out pretty damn well.” — Lakia Lakia opens up about the fast-moving year that followed—egg retrievals, her very first embryo transfer, and the shock and gratitude of being pregnant with her daughter, Isla, who arrived in May 2024. She also speaks honestly about postpartum depression, rebuilding her support system, heading back to work in the sports media world, and dipping her toe back into dating as an SMBC. Most recently featured in Forbes, Lakia is now using her platform to bring fertility awareness to the Black community and to tell the story she once needed to hear. Her honesty, humor, and courage offer such a powerful reminder: when you decide your dream of becoming a mother can’t wait any longer, so much becomes possible. In this episode, we explore: How an egg-freezing consult revealed blocked fallopian tubesRecognizing that waiting for the “right time” or the “right partner” might mean waiting foreverWhy Black sperm donors are so scarce—and how that impacts Black women pursuing donor conceptionFinding a donor when the options feel impossibly limitedGetting pregnant on her very first embryo transferLakia’s experiences during pregnancy and birthPostpartum depression and learning to ask for helpReturning to work, navigating childcare, and preparing to travel againReentering the dating world as a solo mom by choice Find out more about Lakia’s coaching at Lakia Holmes | Fertility Coach, Speaker & Advocate 👩‍👧‍👦The Single Greatest Choice is the single mother by choice support you’ve been craving for every stage of your journey. You can find 1:1 Coaching for every stage of solo motherhood by choice, Community Groups for thinkers, triers, and pregnant SMBCs, The SGC Village Membership Community, Retreats for early stage SMBCs and Family Trips for moms & kids. 💌Become part of the SGC community and stay up to date by joining our newsletter. You can sign up >>here at the bottom of the page. Reach out to Katie over at [email protected]

Do you ever wonder what solo motherhood by choice looks like further down the line? I certainly do, and today's episode with a SMBC of a teen was a fascinating window into that world. Today’s guest, Elle, became a single mother by choice at 36, using a known sperm donor: someone she briefly dated years before. Today, her son is 13, and her story gives us a rare, honest look at what life can look like after the decision is made and we leave the diaper years behind us.  I love how open Elle is in sharing the beautiful, the complicated, the surprising, and everything in between. From managing pregnancy and postpartum alone and watching her son’s relationship with his donor evolve, to navigating school choices, identity questions, and early teenage years. If you’ve ever wondered whether a known sperm donor could work for you, or you’re simply craving a long-term perspective from someone further down the solo motherhood path, Elle’s story offers us a peek into what it can look like. In this episode on solo parenting a teenager and choosing a known sperm donor, we discuss: How Elle decided to pursue solo motherhood at 36;Why she chose a known donor over a sperm bank and how she went about it;What the donor relationship looked like during pregnancy and postpartum;Her son’s evolving understanding of who his “donor” or “dad” is;Legal considerations (and misconceptions) around known sperm donors;Navigating boundaries, expectations, and emotional complexity over 13 years;Identity, gender expression, and raising a compassionate son;The challenges and rewards of solo parenting an older child;Trusting yourself through big parenting and school decisions;And much more. 👩‍👧‍👦The Single Greatest Choice is the single mother by choice support you’ve been craving for every stage of your journey. You can find 1:1 Coaching for every stage of solo motherhood by choice, Community Groups for thinkers, triers, and pregnant SMBCs, The SGC Village Membership Community, Retreats for early stage SMBCs and Family Trips for moms & kids. 💌Become part of the SGC community and stay up to date by joining our newsletter. You can sign up >>here at the bottom of the page. Reach out to Katie over at [email protected]

What would you have to change to make solo motherhood possible? For novelist Tory Henwood Hoen, the answer meant reimagining the structure of her life. She left New York City for Vermont, moved in with her mom during pregnancy, and built a rhythm that allowed her to pursue both her dream of motherhood and her passion for writing. Through it all, she discovered that becoming a single mother by choice isn’t just about making one big decision, but rather about creating space for what truly matters. In today’s conversation, Tory shares how she built a life that supports solo motherhood: from freezing her eggs at 36, doing IVF at 39, and getting pregnant with her first transfer, to writing her second novel while parenting. Her story is a beautiful reminder that sometimes the path that looks like starting over is actually the one that leads you home to yourself. In this episode on building a life that supports solo motherhood, we discuss: The emotional and practical steps that led Tory to pursue motherhood on her own;Moving from New York City to Vermont to prioritize family, finances, and creative space;Writing her second novel while parenting a newborn, and how motherhood sharpened her creative focus;The importance of community and connection in the SMBC journey;Redefining success and identity in midlife;Creating space for what matters most;And more. More about Tory Tory Henwood Hoen is a novelist based in Vermont, where she is a solo mother by choice to her toddler daughter. Her debut novel, THE ARC, was published in 2022, and her second novel, BEFORE I FORGET, comes out December 2, 2025. Before pursuing her dream of writing books, Tory worked as a magazine editor, a brand director, a copywriter, and a content consultant in New York City and Paris. You can learn more about Tory and her work on her website or connect with her on Instagram (@toryhenwoodhoen). 👩‍👧‍👦The Single Greatest Choice is the single mother by choice support you’ve been craving for every stage of your journey. You can find 1:1 Coaching for every stage of solo motherhood by choice, Community Groups for thinkers, triers, and pregnant SMBCs, The SGC Village Membership Community, Retreats for early stage SMBCs and Family Trips for moms & kids. 💌Become part of the SGC community and stay up to date by joining our newsletter. You can sign up >>here at the bottom of the page. Reach out to Katie over at [email protected]

While some motherhood paths unfold easily, others bring unexpected twists and turns. Dr. Shanelle Bolton’s path to solo motherhood included multiple surgeries to remove fibroids, a chemical pregnancy, and even a near-fatal postpartum hemorrhage. But all of this was part of her journey, and today she’s a proud solo mom by choice to two thriving children. In the midst of it all, she also founded POSH Parenthood, where she helps families move from chaos to calm through purposeful rhythms and executive functioning support for kids. Shanelle shares how she turned her challenges into a mission: empowering parents to create calmer, more connected homes without chasing perfection. Her story is a reminder that the path isn’t always smooth and straightforward, but that doesn’t mean it won’t get us to where we want to go. In this episode on Shanelle’s journey to becoming a solo mom of two, you’ll hear: Deciding to become a solo mom by choice and building a support system to make it happen;Navigating an IVF journey with fibroids and multiple surgeries;Coping with a chemical pregnancy and postpartum hemorrhage;How Shanelle re-imagined her career after losing her job and founded POSH Parenthood;Why flexible parenting rhythms work better than rigid routines;Understanding executive functioning for kids and how it helps parents, too;The importance of Black maternal health and self-advocacy in motherhood;And more! More about Dr. Shanelle Bolton Dr. Shanelle Bolton, EdD, MST, MLS is the founder and CEO of POSH Parenthood Coaching & Consulting, where she helps parents and educators move from chaos to calm by building purposeful family rhythms and strengthening children’s executive functioning skills. With over two decades of experience in education and early childhood leadership, she blends professional expertise with personal resilience as a single mother by choice who navigated IVF, pregnancy loss, and a near-fatal postpartum complication. Through high-touch coaching, courses, and her signature Raising in Rhythm program, Dr. Bolton empowers families to find flow, connection, and confidence in parenting. Ways to connect with Shanelle: 🌐 Website: poshparenthood.com 📸 Instagram: @poshparenthood 🎥 TikTok: @poshparenthood 📘 Featured Resource: Raising Brighter Minds eBook ✨ Signature Program: Raising in Rhythm  👩‍👧‍👦The Single Greatest Choice is the single mother by choice support you’ve been craving for every stage of your journey. You can find 1:1 Coaching for every stage of solo motherhood by choice, Community Groups for thinkers, triers, and pregnant SMBCs, The SGC Village Membership Community, Retreats for early stage SMBCs and Family Trips for moms & kids. 🏘️Join our community, The SGC Village Reach out to Katie over at [email protected]

After a pregnancy marked by hyperemesis and countless challenges, Mel Anderson returns to share the next chapter of her story. This time, it’s a much brighter one. The birth of Mel’s daughter didn’t go exactly as planned, but from the very first moment she heard her daughter’s cry, everything shifted. Instead of bracing herself for postpartum depression, Mel was surprised to feel a rush of love and relief. The weeks that followed became a season of healing and sweetness, allowing herself to recover slowly. She discovered how much she loves the simple rhythms of newborn life, and how motherhood has brought her more presence and joy than she ever imagined. Now, eight months in, Mel is not only thriving as a mom, but she’s reconnecting with her passion for yoga: dreaming of ways to guide other single mothers by choice through movement, breath, and grounding practices designed especially for this community. In this episode on Mel’s postpartum experience as a single mother by choice, you’ll hear about: Recovering physically and emotionally after a difficult pregnancy and birthThe unexpected sweetness of newborn life and early motherhoodDaily rituals of connection and presence with her daughterHow Mel is dreaming of a platform to support SMBCs through yoga and meditationAnd much more! 👩‍👧‍👦The Single Greatest Choice is the single mother by choice resource you’ve been craving for every stage of your SMBC journey. You can find 1:1 Coaching for every stage of solo motherhood by choice, Community Groups for thinkers, triers, and pregnant SMBCs, The SGC The SGC Village Membership Community, Retreats for early stage SMBCs and Family Trips for moms & kids. 🏘️Join our community, The SGC Village Reach out to Katie over at [email protected]

Pregnancy doesn’t always go the way you imagined it would. For my dear friend and fellow SMBC, Mel Anderson, what began with excitement quickly turned into one of the hardest seasons of her life. Instead of hiking and practicing yoga through her pregnancy as she had envisioned, Mel faced hyperemesis: severe nausea and vomiting that left her unable to care for herself, barely able to eat or drink, and often confined to the bathroom floor. ⚠️Before we dive in, a gentle heads up: this episode includes a detailed discussion of hyperemesis and the mental health struggles that can come with a difficult pregnancy. If you’re feeling particularly anxious about pregnancy, this might not be the right episode for you. And if you’re currently in the middle of a hard pregnancy yourself, please know there is relief and joy on the other side (which you’ll hear about in the next episode, in which we’ll continue with Mel’s story). In this deeply vulnerable conversation, Mel shares what it was really like to go through pregnancy without a partner while navigating a condition that tested her body, her mental health, and her spirit. From the heartbreak of canceled embryo transfers to the unexpected challenges of her pregnancy, her story is raw, honest, and important. If you’re considering solo motherhood, pregnant yourself, or simply want to know you’re not alone in facing a difficult path, this conversation will remind you that strength can grow even in the hardest places. In this episode on Mel’s story about her pregnancy without a partner, we discuss: Mel’s path to becoming a single mother by choice after ambivalence about having children in her younger years;How Mel’s relationship history played into the decision;Being diagnosed with hyperemesis and how it shaped her pregnancy;Mental health struggles and learning to advocate for herself in the medical system;The critical role of support during a high-risk pregnancy as a solo mom;Why sharing the hard stories matters just as much as sharing the joyful ones;And more. 👩‍👧‍👦The Single Greatest Choice is the single mother by choice resource you’ve been craving for every stage of your SMBC journey. You can find 1:1 Coaching for every stage of solo motherhood by choice, Community Groups for thinkers, triers, and pregnant SMBCs, The SGC The SGC Village Membership Community, Retreats for early stage SMBCs and Family Trips for moms & kids. 🏘️Join our community, The SGC Village Reach out to Katie over at [email protected]

Motherhood—especially solo motherhood—rarely unfolds exactly the way we imagined. Fertility treatments don’t always go as planned, babies don’t follow sleep schedules, and even our best-laid visions of how life “should” look often get disrupted. In this episode, I’m sharing one of our private Village Podcast episodes on the theme of Managing Expectations and Embracing Flexibility. Inside The Village, each month we take on a broad coaching topic that applies across every stage of the solo motherhood journey, from considering this path to parenting young children. Along with a monthly coaching episode like this one, members also receive a companion workbook and access to an entire library of past themes. In today’s conversation, you’ll hear about: Releasing unrealistic expectations of perfection, both in parenting and in lifeBuilding resilience when things don’t go according to plan (another failed transfer, a toddler meltdown, or changes in your own path to motherhood)Practical ways to adjust plans with more ease and less pressureLearning to “ride the wave” of unpredictability, even when it feels uncomfortable Whether you’re just beginning to imagine solo motherhood or you’re deep in the day-to-day of raising your child, this episode will help you soften rigid expectations, prioritize what matters most, and find more peace in the process. And if you love this episode and want more like it, I’d love to welcome you inside The Village—a community designed to support women at every stage of the journey with resources, coaching, and connection. 👩‍👧‍👦The Single Greatest Choice is the single mother by choice resource you’ve been craving for every stage of your SMBC journey. You can find 1:1 Coaching for every stage of solo motherhood by choice, Community Groups for thinkers, triers, and pregnant SMBCs, The SGC The SGC Village Membership Community, Retreats for early stage SMBCs and Family Trips for moms & kids. 🏘️Join our community, The SGC Village Reach out to Katie over at [email protected]

Even with careful planning, none of us can predict how our path to motherhood will unfold. When we last spoke with Tara Resnick, she was preparing for another egg retrieval and left us with quite the cliffhanger. Today, she’s back to share the next chapter of her journey toward solo motherhood. In this conversation, Tara speaks with honesty and vulnerability about the setbacks she’s faced—multiple egg retrievals, the financial strain of treatment, and the deep emotional toll of pursuing IVF as a single woman at 42. She also opens up about the regrets she carries: wishing she had pursued IVF or at least frozen eggs earlier, and staying in relationships longer than she now wishes she had. What makes Tara’s story so powerful is not a picture-perfect narrative, but her willingness to share the messy middle—the heartbreak, the resilience it takes to keep going, and the importance of self-compassion when the outcome is still unknown. Tara’s reminder for all of us: resilience isn’t about toxic positivity. It’s about choosing yourself, holding onto hope, and finding peace even in the hardest seasons. “Choose yourself, always.” – Tara Resnick If you’ve ever wondered what it’s really like to walk through IVF on your own—the ups, the setbacks, the financial and emotional weight—I hope this conversation will make you feel less alone. In this episode, we discuss: Tara’s second and third egg retrievals, including the unexpected decision to pursue a Duo Stim cycleThe financial and emotional impact of IVF as a single womanThe vulnerability of navigating fertility treatments without a partnerReceiving difficult PGT results and the decision to transfer an untested embryoHow to balance hope and grief without falling into toxic positivityWhy Tara believes trying was still the right choice for her, no matter the outcomeAnd more Connect with Tara: Instagram | @TaraLaurennnSimple Coaching for Health & Weight LossEvolve with Tara: Solution Focused Coaching 👩‍👧‍👦The Single Greatest Choice is the single mother by choice resource you’ve been craving for every stage of your SMBC journey. You can find 1:1 Coaching for every stage of solo motherhood by choice, Community Groups for thinkers, triers, and pregnant SMBCs, The SGC The SGC Village Membership Community, Retreats for early stage SMBCs and Family Trips for moms & kids. 🏘️Join our community, The SGC Village Reach out to Katie over at [email protected]