Single Mother Survival Guide

In this solo episode, Julia shares her advice for camping as a single mum. This includes all the key takeaways that she got out of her recent camping trip with her daughter. From what to bring, to how long to go for, to where to go. She also reveals her secret hacks to make the trip far more enjoyable.  She also discusses the great, the good, and the not so great parts of single-parent camping. If you are planning a camping trip with your little one (or little ones), don't miss this episode of the Single Mother Survival Guide Podcast. Links mentioned in the episode: Read Julia's blog post on camping here. Download the camping essentials list here.  Vote for Julia in the 2018 Mum Blog Awards here.  To contact Julia, email: julia@singlemothersurvivalguide.com. For information about the single parent mentoring programs available with Julia, visit Single Mother Survival Guide Mentoring and E-Courses. Book in for your complimentary 30 minute Clarity Call with Julia here.  Visit us at Single Mother Survival Guide

In this episode, Julia talks with single mum Belinda Phillips. This is Belinda's single mum story. Thirteen years ago Belinda ended the relationship with the father of her children after an awakening that came out of a financial betrayal. She went from living in a mansion with home help and being a stay at home mum to living in a small unit and trying to make ends meet.  A year later she met the man (a subconscious rescue plan) who would become her second husband. They were together for seven years. He was a destructive and violent man who was (at that stage) undiagnosed with bipolar.  The final straw was when she discovered pornographic material of underage girls on his computer. Belinda didn't have any parental support, her first husband then sided with her second husband, she signed over all the financial assets to her ex-husband, and if it couldn't get any worse, her son chose to move back to South Africa to live with his dad. In this episode, Belinda tells how she recovered from the whole situation, what

Isiah McKimmie, one of Australia’s leading relationship and sex experts is back to chat with Julia in this week's episode of the Single Mother Survival Guide Podcast. This time, Julia and Isiah talk about all things ORGASMS. They discuss if orgasms are possible for everyone, if it is normal to struggle to reach an orgasm, what kind of factors can get in the way of reaching an orgasm, what you can do to find your orgasm, and lots more! Isiah also answers questions from listeners such as: Is it common for mothers over 40 to lose their sex drive completely?  How do you get your orgasm back after having a child?  When it comes to sex, is it a case of “use it or lose it”? Isiah is a passionate couples therapist, sex therapist, sexologist and tantra expert who has been helping women and couples discover deeper intimacy and desire for over a decade.   One of the most qualified Sex and Relationship Experts in Australia, Isiah holds a Masters degree in Relational Psychotherapy, a Master degree in Science in Medicine

In this solo episode Julia shares her advice on traveling as a single mum with children who are five and under. From what you need to do before you get to the airport, to what to bring on the plane, to researching hotels, to legals, and so much more. She also discusses the Family Law Watchlist and the Hague Convention. If you are planning a trip with your little one (or little ones), listen to this episode of the Single Mother Survival Guide Podcast. Links mentioned in the episode: For instructions on how to check if your child is on the airport watch list, go to: http://www.singlemothersurvivalguide.com/frequentlyaskedquestions/ and expand "what is the family law watchlist?". Vote for Julia in the Mummy Blog Awards 2018 HERE. To contact Julia, email: julia@singlemothersurvivalguide.com. For information about the single parent mentoring programs available with Julia, visit Single Mother Survival Guide Mentoring and E-Courses. Book in for your complimentary 30 minute Clarity Call with Julia here.  Visit us a

In this episode Julia talks with single mum, and co-founder of Wyld Tribe Tracy Mcfie.  Five years ago Tracy was happily married to her teenage love of over two decades, a fly-in-fly-out worker. Her and her two children lived in Western Australia, and her husband (who worked in the mines) was in China working 3 out of 4 weeks. Life was challenging at times but after living this lifestyle for 17 years, it was something that Tracy was used to (though slightly sick of).  Tracy's world came crashing down after she received a text message from another woman which revealed her husband's infidelity.  In this episode, Tracy tells us how she was left lying on the bathroom floor at the edge of the darkness and completely broken. She endured heartbreak, terrible betrayal, loss and grief. She also went through stages where she looked down the back of the couch for coins and worked her butt off doing anything to keep her family safe. Five years after the darkness Tracy radiates happiness. Her attitude and zest for life is

In this solo episode Julia talks about goal setting for single mums. She tells you why setting goals will change your life, and how to set them so that you achieve them. This is a continuation of Episode 86 - finding your identity as a single mum. Some questions to ask yourself to get started: What do you want to achieve? Why do you want to achieve it? What is your plan? Links mentioned in the episode: You can listen to Episode 86 HERE. Blog Post - 6 THINGS FOR A SINGLE MUM TO DO AFTER A REDUNDANCY Don’t forget! Sign up to the Don’t Just Survive, THRIVE online program for single mums by Friday April 20, 2018 (sign up here). To contact Julia, email: julia@singlemothersurvivalguide.com. For information about the single parent mentoring programs available with Julia, visit Single Mother Survival Guide Mentoring and E-Courses. Book in for your complimentary 30 minute Clarity Call with Julia here.  Visit us at Single Mother Survival Guide.  Or connect with Single Mother Survival Guide on Facebook, Instagram, Twi

In this episode Julia talks with breast cancer warrior, 2016 Mother of the Year, and single mum Farrah Millar. Farrah was on the show a year ago (episodes 34 and 35) and in this episode we get an update from Farrah on the last 12 months since she was on the show. Farrah was diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer when her daughter was just 14 months old and her son was less than 24 hours old. Recovering from a caesarean section, Farrah began 4 months of intense chemotherapy, and then further treatment (including a double mastectomy), all whilst parenting two babies and dealing with the breakdown of her relationship. With her daughter now three and her son two, Farrah updates us on what's happened in the last 12 months - 15 admissions to hospital (including 6 operations), her phenomenal efforts at raising money for breast cancer and spreading breast cancer prevention awareness, the overhanging fear of cancer returning, trekking the Great Wall of China, a new love, and so much more.  If you haven't already, listen

In this solo episode Julia talks about finding your identity as a single mum. Sometimes when we come out of our relationships we have lost who we are, and in this episode Julia shares her tips on how you can start to rediscover yourself again and get back to being YOU. Links mentioned in the episode: Download the finding yourself exercise here.  Sign up to the Don’t Just Survive, THRIVE online program for single mums by Sunday April 15, 2018 (sign up here). To contact Julia, email: julia@singlemothersurvivalguide.com. For information about the single parent mentoring programs available with Julia, visit Single Mother Survival Guide Services. Book in for your complimentary 30 minute Clarity Call with Julia here.  Visit us at Single Mother Survival Guide.  Or connect with Single Mother Survival Guide on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, or Pinterest.

In this episode of the Single Mother Survival Guide Podcast Julia chats with one of Australia’s leading Relationship and Sex Experts, Isiah McKimmie. Julia and Isiah talk about all things SEX AND BODY IMAGE. They discuss the perception that mums can’t be sexual, why mothers are struggling to find their sense of sensuality and desire again, the male perception of a mother's sexuality, and what celebrity mothers are doing for the perception of sexuality in society.  Isiah also shares her advice: for any mother getting herself out there and feeling confident sexually if it's been a while, and having sex with a new partner; getting emotionally ready, and the potential of carrying forward old issues from the past; getting past the body image insecurities which can lead to feeling extremely self-conscious when it comes to getting naked and having sex;  shutting the inner critic down during sex; and LOTS MORE! Isiah also shares her tips for any women whose bodies may have taken a toll due to illnesses such as canc

In this episode of the Single Mother Survival Guide Podcast, Julia talks with Marcia Watts. This is Marcia's second time on the show. Marcia is a counsellor in the private practice Transform to Lead based in Brisbane, Australia. She offers clients a compassionate, solution-oriented counselling service, enabling them to overcome obstacles and achieve their full potential. She is passionate about helping adults and couples improve their personal lives, marriages, and family relationships and she has a special interest in re-partnering and step families, as well as her own personal experience of marriage breakdown and five years as a single parent of 3 boys, before marrying her now husband, Ian, and creating a blended family. In this episode Marcia and Julia discuss: the different terms for step families and blended families, the concept of loving step children as your own, and if that is even possible, the idea of the “intentional family”,  how children may feel when one of their parents remarries, avoiding di

In this episode of the Single Mother Survival Guide Podcast, Julia chats with single mums Nadia Mori and Lyndsey Bramble about secret single mums business for the third time. We chat about kids starting school, single mum guilt, dating, and so much more. Listen to our first Secret Single Mums Business Episode here.  Listen to the second Secret Single Mums Business Episode here. Sign up to the Don't Just Survive, THRIVE online program for single mums here. Book: Modern Romance by Aziz Ansari.  To contact Julia, email: julia@singlemothersurvivalguide.com. For information about the single parent mentoring programs available with Julia, visit Single Mother Survival Guide Services. Book in for your complimentary 30 minute Clarity Call with Julia here.  Visit us at Single Mother Survival Guide.  Or connect with Single Mother Survival Guide on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, or Pinterest.  

In this episode of the Single Mother Survival Guide Podcast Julia chats with single mum, and editor of Australia’s number one parenting website Kidspot, the gorgeous Melissa Wilson. Mel shares how she manages to juggle being a single mum to two kids and the editor of Kidspot, a typical day in her life, the relationship with her ex ending and how she coped in the early days and weeks of being a single mum, how she felt about becoming a single mum and how it's changed over time, and co-parenting with her ex.  She also shares her advice for other mums who are struggling with the decision of leaving a relationship or staying in it, benefits she's encountered and advice for new single mums. Links mentioned in the episode: Kidspot.com.au The Juggling Act Podcast Connect with Mel on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram (here and here).  Sign up to the Don't Just Survive, THRIVE online program for single mums here. To contact Julia, email: julia@singlemothersurvivalguide.com. or information about the single parent mentorin

In this solo episode of the Single Mother Survival Guide Podcast, Julia chats about what's been going on for the last couple of months. She talks about her last trip to Perth, her recent holiday to Fiji, her daughter starting school, and more. Links mentioned in the episode: Blog post: Top Tips for Single Mum Travel.  Blog post: Why a child’s first day at school is so hard on single mums. Braving the Wilderness: The quest for true belonging and the courage to stand alone by Brené Brown To contact Julia, email: julia@singlemothersurvivalguide.com. For information about the single parent mentoring programs available with Julia, visit Single Mother Survival Guide Services. Book in for your complimentary 30 minute Clarity Call with Julia here.  Visit us at Single Mother Survival Guide.  Or connect with Single Mother Survival Guide on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, or Pinterest.

In this episode of the Single Mother Survival Guide Podcast, Julia chats to holistic health practitioner Robin LaCross.  Robin and Julia discuss how to talk to kids about sex, the right terminology to use with children, how to answer the where did I come from? question and any other sex related questions, talking to our kids about menstruation, what HPV is, the cervical cancer vaccine, how to protect yourself from HPV, having safe sex with HPV, natural birth control methods and much more.  Robin specializes in women's reproductive health. She is on a mission to reduce unintended pregnancies and the spread of STDs in the world by changing the way mothers talk to their children about growing up, sex and staying safe. She is also the founder of The HPV Education Project to raise awareness about the virus, new advances in HPV testing and holistic methods of promoting cervical health. Links mentioned in the episode: The HPV Education Project www.cervixhealth.com www.raisingempowereddaughters.com  Email Robin at ho

In this solo episode of the Single Mother Survival Guide Podcast, Julia chats about Valentine's Day for the new single mum and how to get through it. But it is suitable for ALL single mums to listen to, no matter how long you've been a single mum.   Links mentioned in the episode: To contact Julia, email: julia@singlemothersurvivalguide.com. For information about the single parent mentoring programs available with Julia, visit Single Mother Survival Guide Services. Book in for your complimentary 30 minute Clarity Call with Julia here.  Visit us at Single Mother Survival Guide.  Or connect with Single Mother Survival Guide on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, or Pinterest.

In this episode of the Single Mother Survival Guide Podcast, Julia continues her chat from last week with family lawyer Todd Street.  This is the second part of Todd's second time on the show and again, Todd answers questions which were sent in by the Single Mother Survival Guide Community. The questions relate to getting an ex drug tested, when your ex wants to change the current 60/40 care arrangement to a 50/50 arrangement and you are not keen, continuity when changing lawyers, how good legal aid is and if you can still get a good outcome using legal aid, what qualifies someone for legal aid, how to get a court to recognise domestic violence and ongoing emotional abuse with young children and reducing access with an unstable parent, what to do when children are traumatised and really not wanting to go with the other parent when it is court ordered, and lots more!  Links mentioned in the episode: Visit Todd's website, Todd Street Lawyer here. Connect with Todd on Facebook, or email him at todd@streetlawyer.

In this episode of the Single Mother Survival Guide Podcast, Julia chats with family lawyer Todd Street.  This is Todd's second time on the show and again, Julia asks Todd questions which were sent in by the Single Mother Survival Guide Community. The questions relate to changing a child's surname to the mother's surname, self representing in court, how to find a good lawyer, adding travelling overseas with kids to consent orders, the Hague Convention, what to do to try to ensure that in case of the death of the primary parent (if the other parent is not involved at all) the child goes to a close family member, what do do if there are multiple IVO interpretations, using audio recordings in court, and more! Links mentioned in the episode: Visit Todd's website, Todd Street Lawyer here. Connect with Todd on Facebook, or email him at todd@streetlawyer.com.au. To contact Julia, email: julia@singlemothersurvivalguide.com. For information about the single parent mentoring programs available with Julia, visit Single

In this episode of the Single Mother Survival Guide Podcast, Julia chats with single mother by choice Emma Fraser. Like many women, Emma spent her twenties and thirties carving out a career she was very proud of, and having turned 40 and single felt that something was missing: a child. So Emma embarked on an IUI journey through IVF Australia, and ended up with a beautiful baby. We discuss why she chose to be a single mother by choice, the process of choosing a suitable donor, the reaction of her friends and family, challenges she's encountered, and advantages discovered. We also discuss how the IVF industry label women who, like Emma, are in their 30s or 40s and are taking the steps to be single parents as ‘socially infertile', and what she thinks of that. She also offers her advice for anyone thinking of traveling down this path.  We also discuss how becoming a single mother by choice inspired Emma to start her blog Mum is the Boss.  Links mentioned in the episode: www.mumistheboss.com Connect with Emma on F

In this episode of the Single Mother Survival Guide Podcast, Julia chats with lawyer and mediator, Anne-Marie Cade. Julia and Anne-Marie talk all things mediation - the mediation process, the benefits of mediation, some things that people should think about prior to attending mediation, what topics are discussed at mediation, what to do if one party wants to “fight it out” but the other doesn't, and so much more... Anne-Marie also discusses why she is such a firm believer in the non- adversarial approach to divorce and separation. Anne-Marie is a lawyer and family dispute resolution practitioner with many years of experience. She has also been trained as a collaborative law professional. The approach Anne-Marie has adopted to make the divorce process more amicable, smoother and kinder saw her win Australia’s top legal innovation award in 2016 and she also won the Thought Leader of the year award at the recently held Women in Law awards. Links mentioned in the episode: www.divorceright.com.au Connect with Anne

In this episode of the Single Mother Survival Guide Podcast, Julia chats with gentle parenting expert Pinky McKay. On the show we discuss toddler tactics, gentle parenting, how to handle children's separation anxiety from the primary carer, when one parent is a smacker and the other is not, self care as a mum and the importance of not putting so much pressure on ourselves, trusting your gut, plus so much more... Pinky is a lactation Consultant and best-selling author of four titles including Sleeping Like a Baby, Parenting By Heart and Toddler Tactics. She is also a gentle parenting expert that guides parents to use styles that honour mothers’ natural instincts to respond to their babies. She’s also a sought after guest and keynote speaker at seminars for Health Professionals and parents, and she has spoken across Australia, New Zealand and the United states. She is also a regular on national publications and television programs. Links mentioned in the episode: www.pinkymckay.com www.boobiebikkies.com.au Con