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:
Personally, I believe a collaborative divorce is a fantastic option if it's possible in your situation, and I hope this episode helps you learn more about what it is, and if it's a good fit for you.
Links mentioned in the episode:
Contact Kurt by emailing him at coachkurt@me.com
You can also connect with him on Facebook.
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 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 too.
Or connect with Single Mother Survival Guide on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, or Pinterest.
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:
I loved having Mary Ann on the show and sharing all she does. I hope you enjoy this and find this episode a useful resource.
Contact Mary Ann by emailing her at maryann@specialfamilytransitions.com.
Find out more about Mary Ann and what she does at https://www.specialfamilytransitions.com/.
Use the discount code JULIA to get 25% off her online course for Keys to Success in Divorce for Moms of Children with Special Needs. Sign up here.
You can also connect with her on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, and LinkedIn.
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.
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 Guide on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, or Pinterest.
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, or Pinterest.
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 Survival Guide. And join the email list there too.
Or connect with Single Mother Survival Guide on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, or Pinterest.
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.
Transitioning from wife or partner to single mother is not easy. The pain from a loss of a relationship is never an easy time. There will be days when you feel you can’t handle it alone. I want to assure you, first and foremost, that you can do this! Be proactive during this time. The beginning is always the hardest, but you can take it one step at a time, and soon you will find out what works for you and what doesn't.
In this episode, I share some tips on how you can support yourself through this process of transitioning from being in a partnership to becoming a single mum. I hope you find these tips helpful as you go through this transition.
Links mentioned in the episode:
Download the Ultimate List of Me-Time Ideas HERE.
Listen to Episode 307 - Asking for help HERE.
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 chat with you about the six mindset transition milestones of a divorce. The transition of moving from a partnership, or marriage, to being a single parent is a process, but how quickly you get through it is dependent on how willing you are to let go and engage in the process. This is important so you are not stuck in the pain forever.
The six milestones will help you become more aware of what’s coming. These milestones are from Alan Wolfelt’s book, Transcending Divorce, Ten Essential Touchstones for Finding Hope and Healing Your Heart.
There’s a whole range of stages that one might go through in order to heal. Here, I talk about the starting point of divorce, the transition steps in between, and the end (which leads to new beginnings). Each person is different, and you will progress at your own pace. Your journey is your own journey.
I hope that listening to this episode will help you become more aware of your own journey, and to ask for help if you think you need it.
Links mentioned in the episode:
Listen to my previous episode, 307 - Asking for help, HERE.
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.
Today I talk with you about the emotional journey and transition from being in a partnership or marriage to being a single parent. All divorces start with a relationship, and like any kind of loss, the end of a marriage may trigger various reactions.
In this episode, I share the phases that may help you understand where you are now and provide some advice to help you navigate this difficult time. I also talk about the 3-year stages of the transition process. Transition is hard, and sometimes we resist it out of fear, frustration, and impatience. It’s important to have that knowledge and to trust the process. Change is not instant and may take time to allow for our transitioning.
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.
No one enters into a relationship with the intention of separating from their partner someday. So it's no surprise that a separation or divorce can become a rollercoaster of emotions even for the most level-headed individuals. It's a big adjustment! Until recently you had shared hopes and dreams with your partner, and suddenly it's all gone. It's easy to feel overwhelmed and confused and as if you have completely lost who you are. But this is all normal and manageable.
Today I talk about some strategies to help you rediscover yourself. One important decision you have to make after a separation is deciding where your life goes from here.
Divorce or separation only marks the end of a chapter in your life. And it's the opportunity for a brand new one!
I hope that the things I share help you and I truly wish you the best with your journey.
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.
In this week’s episode, I talk about managing emotions. When you’re a single mum, you may encounter twice the stress, twice the frustration, and twice the burnout that traditional father and mother parenting may experience. It is important to tune in and manage your emotions well because you have a huge influence on your child’s development. Learning to manage your own reactions is one of the most important ways you can teach your child how to manage their own emotions.
In Episode 311, I discussed emotions and what they are. And today I hope to give you an understanding of how to manage them. I know it is surely easier said than done, but the payoff is huge, for you and your child. I also talk about the difference between emotions and feelings, negative self-talk, the cycle of thoughts, feelings, and behaviour, and quick tips on how to manage your emotions.
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 we are celebrating our 6th podcast anniversary!
Greg joins me on the show this week. It’s just us having a chat on how the show has evolved over the years. We reminisce about our memorable travel moments, past guests and learnings, planning for our wedding, life in Goondiwindi, and Greg’s top relationship tips. Even my daughter pops in to say hello!
This show started as a small passion project and it just grew over time, talking to so many incredible guests, and reaching thousands of listeners.
I will never get tired of saying THANK YOU for making this show a part of your single mum journey. I am truly grateful!
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.
Today I talk with you about emotions. How we live and interact with others is influenced by our emotions. It could even be said that we are ruled by our emotions. We make decisions based on whether we are happy, angry, or sad. It’s important to understand how your emotions are expressed and the impact they have on your actions because they can help us navigate life with ease.
In this episode, I talk about the eight basic emotions that we are born with, and how they can stimulate a response in our body that influence our actions, behaviour, and decision-making. I also talk about blending emotions to produce a new emotion.
I want you to know that it’s okay to experience any type of emotion, even those that can be difficult to cope with like anger or fear. Understanding your emotions helps us learn how to manage them, and it helps build healthy, satisfying relationships.
Listen to the episode to know more!
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.
You can probably recall situations in your life that have made you uncomfortable. Right now, you may already be trapped in a cycle of avoidance without even knowing it. Avoidance in general are actions a person takes to escape from difficult thoughts and feelings. It may cause panic and anxiety when not managed properly. And you may find yourself restricting your life as you avoid people, events, and opportunities in an attempt to keep anxiety at bay. This can create an unhealthy and vicious cycle which intensifies over time.
In this episode I will discuss what exactly avoidance is. In order to change anything, you must first start becoming aware of when it’s occurring, so I will also share different types of avoidance coping, graded exposure therapy and other strategies for healthy emotional coping techniques plus breaking the cycle of avoidance.
I hope it helps you!
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.
In this week’s episode, I talk about emotions, managing emotions, and how they can affect our body if we avoid dealing with them.
When emotional trauma occurs, there is the choice to either deal with the emotions effectively or avoid them. For many people, avoidance becomes their primary coping mechanism, because the trauma is too painful to deal with at the time. Or it may be because there isn't the capacity to deal with it at that time.
Instinctively we want to avoid pain and discomfort and would very much rather avoid facing these emotions head-on. But emotional avoidance, if left unchecked over time, can extend suffering and, in the long run, may do more harm than good. What you resist, persists.
In this episode, I talk about what suppressed emotions can do to our body and mind when we don't release them. Listen as I share some tips on how to identify your avoidance coping mechanisms and take steps toward making changes to help you heal.
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.
Moving forward after a crisis can be really tough. And becoming a single mum can definitely be a crisis. A crisis can also be something such as struggling with anger, loneliness, fatigue, financial worries, and a whole array of emotions that you might be going through. And when we’re dealing with a crisis, we might be carrying all the stress ourselves, carrying it on our shoulders, as we embark on this new chapter of our life.
In this episode, I share a few tips that can help you move forward when crisis hits. I hope that what I discuss will help you move forward with a plan and with confidence.
Know that there are many other single mums grappling with exactly the same issues, and many have come up with creative solutions and are now thriving in life. Build a support system of family and friends that you can turn to for encouragement and support. You've got 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 Pinterest.
In this week’s episode, I talk about asking for help. As single mums, we often struggle to ask for help. You might feel you want to do it all, but it can be very exhausting. Others may not have trouble asking for help. But for those of us who do, I share my thoughts on why many of us are reluctant to ask for help. I also talk about practicing discernment on who to ask and when the appropriate time to ask for help is, plus some obstacles that stand in our way when asking for help.
I hope that what I shared today helps you. If you truly are struggling, please ask for help. A lot of people love helping others, be grateful to accept the help you need and pass it forward someday.
Links mentioned in the episode:
To listen to my podcast episode on boundaries, click HERE.
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 Isabelle Silbery joining me.
Isabelle is a reality TV star who shined into the limelight as one of the members of ‘The Silberys’ in Gogglebox Australia. She is the youngest member of ‘The Silberys’ alongside her mother (Kerry) and grandmother (Emmie), bringing multi-generational women’s relationships and voices to TV screens every week.
They have recently written a book called Out of the Box, a memoir where they share their most personal memories and lessons learned. She also writes for Body+Soul, Mamamia and Kidspot about all the things people are thinking, but not saying. Sex, motherhood, love, divorce, and relationships – nothing is off-limits.
Isabelle is a social commentator, writer, and philanthropist. She is an investor in social impact projects, driven by collaborative, purpose-driven thinking that leads to connection and social change. Day to day, she is a domestic goddess and mumma to her seven-year-old son – her most important job of all.
In this episode, Isabelle talks about:
Links mentioned in the episode:
You can check out Isabell’s book, Out of the Box HERE. The book is also available as an audiobook.
You can also connect with Izzy on Instagram.
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@
Visit us at Single Mother Survival Guide. And join the email list there too.
Or connect with Single Mother Survival Guide on Facebook, Instagram, Twitte
In this week’s episode, I talk about boundaries from a single mum's perspective. This is a very difficult time for many single mums as they transition to single or co-parenting after separation. Having healthy boundaries enables you to learn to say no to situations that do not align with your values.
Today I discuss some traits of someone with rigid boundaries and someone with healthy boundaries and I talk about the types of boundaries.
I know it can be tough at first to put boundaries in place, especially if it is new to you, but if you do it right, boundaries will allow you to set your priorities and it will give you time to do the things that are more important, resulting in a more manageable life PLUS help your self-esteem.
I hope this episode encourages you to set your boundaries and helps you gravitate toward people who respect your boundaries.
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@
Visit us at Single Mother Survival Guide. And join the email list there too.
Or connect with Single Mother Survival Guide on Facebook, Instagram, Twitte
In this week’s episode, I talk about worry and how to manage it. As mums, we can all relate to feeling worried at one time or another. We tend to have a lot of things on our plate as we juggle issues that come with separation, home, and work-life.
In this episode, I talk about the different things we often worry about and I share tips on what we can do to deal with worry, and specifically five ways we can manage our worries. I also talk about the difference between rumination, anxiety, and worry.
I hope that this episode helps you turn your worries into more productive thoughts and helps you realise that you have the power over how you handle the stress that comes with being a mum.
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@
Visit us at Single Mother Survival Guide. And join the email list there too.
Or connect with Single Mother Survival Guide on Facebook, Instagram, Twitte
In this week’s episode, I talk about habits and how they can be used as part of your goal-setting process. I believe that setting goals can help create the life that you want. These habits that I talk about have helped me achieve many of the goals I have set for myself, and because of that, I am able to live life more purposefully toward the life I want to live.
Today I introduce ten habits that will help you align your intentions with your future vision, so you become the person you want to become. May you put all these habits into action and keep yourself on track with your eyes on the prize – becoming the best version of yourself.
Links mentioned in the episode:
Listen to Episode 88 – Goal setting for single mums – HERE.
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.
In this week’s episode, I talk about decision-making and the questions you can ask yourself to help you reflect when you are making your decisions.
Getting into the habit of asking yourself these reflection questions can help you gain clarity and creates that inner dialogue to help you examine your own thoughts and feelings before making the tough and big decisions that will need to be made when you are going through divorce or separation.
Along with sharing these questions for you to ask yourself and reflect upon, in this episode I also share what to be mindful of so you can avoid self-sabotage, along with some actions that support decision-making.
It is my hope that this episode helps you become more intentional about setting aside time for reflection in order to help be aware and build confidence when making big decisions.
Links mentioned in the episode:
Listen to Ep 301 – Four biggest mindset mistakes that can affect your decision-making - HERE.
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 week’s episode, I talk about the four biggest mindset mistakes single mums can make when making decisions and some tips on how to avoid them. Do you recognise one or more in yourself right now?
It's something I’ve identified in many of my single mum coaching clients.
It is my hope that this episode helps you overcome these mindset mistakes, helps you explore all your options, and ultimately directs you to the best possible outcome for your situation.
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’s episode is very special for two reasons –
In this episode, Greg and I chat about dating, new relationships, and the blending of families.
We cover:
In this raw and natural episode, you’ll hear unfiltered parts of me and Greg just having fun talking and sharing stories and experiences with one another.
I hope you can relate to the things we discuss and that it helps you gain new perspectives when it comes to dating and relationships.
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.