In 2015, at 36 years old, Anna von Frances packed up her house, sold all her things and left Canada. With a 40 L backpack and her Chihuahua x Jack Russel, Anna moved to Guatemala.

Six months later, she fell pregnant to a local tattoo artist after a one night stand. Despite pretty much everyone she spoke to about it advising her against having the baby, the father of the unborn child swept in and offered her a family and support. He encouraged her to have the baby. Anna didn't know it at the time, but he would become emotionally abusive.

As her pregnancy progressed, she found herself becoming increasingly reliant on this abusive man and more aware that she was gradually losing her identity and her own circle of friends through the tactics he used to isolate her. She had become a shell of the woman she used to be and was depressed and suicidal.

At 7 months pregnant, Anna packed up her things and escaped Guatemala in the middle of the night, driving over the mountain range into South Mexico.

After she had her daughter, she went back to Guatemala to get back to work and to be around people she knew.

A year later, Anna and her daughter Luna travelled for a year - through Asia and other parts of the world - and then they moved back to Mexico. By the time Luna was 2, they had travelled through 9 countries together.

This year she embarked on her next chapter – becoming a single mum by choice.

In this episode Anna shares:

• Why she left Canada in the first place.
• The shock of the pregnancy (as she had left the idea of having a child behind).
• Being raised by a single mum and how that affected her.
• Why travelling with kids as a single mum is easy.
• Why she loves her single mum life.
• How hard it is to celebrate the milestones on her own.
• Why she refers to her ex as the biological donor, and not her daughter's dad.
• Why she has decided to have another child by choice and choosing the right donor.
• Experiencing COVID-19 in Mexico.
• Her dating experiences as a single mum.
• The freedom that women have in being able to have children solo.
• Her advice to anyone thinking about becoming a single mum by choice.
• And so much more.

Anna has such a great vibe and is a true example of an empowered woman.

Links mentioned in the episode:

Join Thrive Tribe HERE. 

Connect with Anna on Instagram here. 

To contact Julia, email: julia@singlemothersurvivalguide.com.

Visit us at Single Mother Survival Guide. 

Or connect with Single Mother Survival Guide on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, or Pinterest

In this episode, I share two pieces of BIG news...

1. Thrive Tribe - the global membership experience for single mothers - will be open for enrollment from 8:00 am 1st July - 8:00 am 6th July (AEST). This is a membership that I am just SO excited to open up to you. I have been working with 34 founding members to bring you the best membership experience possible. This membership will show you where you are on the single mother journey and provide you with a clear strategy and action items to progress you along the path to get you THRIVING and living your best life. In addition, we have monthly zoom sessions (think of this as like the BEST kind of mothers group ever), Facebook lives where your questions are answered, masterclasses, workshops, the most AMAZING guest speakers, and surprises all along the way. Did I mention we also have the most beautiful community filled with so much love and support? This is not just a Facebook group, it's a family. It doesn't matter how old you are, what country you live in, or at what stage of your own personal journey you are on... if you are ready to be part of this incredible community, ready to give and receive support, and ready to take action to thrive, Thrive Tribe is for you!  Want to know more about Thrive Tribe? Take a listen! In this episode, I tell you ALL about it. Jump on the waitlist here. 
2. It's been over a year since I closed the doors to my mentoring programs, but from 1st July I am opening up a  very limited number of spots to my Single Mother Survival Guide community. To find out more, take a listen. 

Links mentioned in the episode:

Join the Thrive Tribe waitlist HERE. 

To contact Julia, email: julia@singlemothersurvivalguide.com.

Visit us at Single Mother Survival Guide. 

Or connect with Single Mother Survival Guide on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, or Pinterest

In this super length episode, we celebrate 200 episodes of the Single Mother Survival Guide podcast and the amazing community that this has become.

I have invited several past guests on the show to answer three questions:

1. What has been your lowest moment (or most challenging experience) as a single mum?
2. What is your favourite thing about being a single mum and why?
3. What is your top tip for single mums?

Thank you to my guests: Krystal, Lisa Kennedy, Evie Farrell, Dapnee, Ashlene Marshall, Isabelle Silbery, Hayley, Melissa Wilson, Nadia Mori, Zoe Hendrix, Amy, Farrah Greville (Miller), and my anonymous guest.

The details for each individual episodes with each guest are listed below. 

Thank you also to my listeners from 147 countries of the world. This community wouldn't be what it is without you. Forever grateful.

This is for you xx 

Links mentioned in the episode:

Listen to Episodes 174 and 175 with Krystal.

Listen to Episodes 127 and 128 with Lisa Kennedy.

Listen to Episode 172 with Evie Farrell.

Listen to Episodes 184, 185, and 186 with Dapnee.

Listen to Episode 115 with Ashlene Marshall.

Listen to Episodes 136 and 137 with Isabelle Silbery.

Listen to Episodes 131, 132, 133, and 188 with Hayley.

Listen to Episodes 94 and 95 with my anonymous guest.

Listen to Episode 82 with Melissa Wilson.

Listen to Episodes 21, 55, 71, 83, and 111 with Nadia Mori.

Listen to Episode 112 with Zoe Hendrix.

Listen to Episodes 152 and 153 with Amy.

Listen to Episodes 34, 35, and 87 with Farrah Greville (Miller).

To contact Julia, email: julia@singlemothersurvivalguide.com.

Visit us at Single Mother Survival Guide. 

Or connect with Single Mother Survival Guide on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, or Pinterest

In this episode, I chat about the Black Lives Matter movement and what I'm personally doing - listening and educating both myself and my daughter.

Links mentioned in the episode:

To contact Julia, email: julia@singlemothersurvivalguide.com.

Visit us at Single Mother Survival Guide. 

Or connect with Single Mother Survival Guide on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, or Pinterest

Lisa was 31 when she went to see an IVF specialist to enquire about becoming a single mum by choice. She soon discovered that being a single mother by choice was the path she wanted to embark on. 

At 33 she had her son, Teddy, by using donor sperm.

Lisa is now 35, and in this episode she shares:

• her experience of undertaking two IUIs,
• the process of undertaking IVF (in April 2018, and getting 5 embryos by the end of it),
• her experience of miscarriage,
• the process of picking a donor, and
• what it was like telling people that she was pregnant (and single) and how they reacted.

Lisa also openly shares the struggle she had when the baby arrived and how hard it was doing everything solo, especially during the first four months. She talks about how she underestimated how hard it would be to do everything on her own, and especially how hard it was not having the mental and emotional support, despite having a wonderful support network. 

This is an open and honest account of what it's like to be a single mum with a new baby, by choice, or otherwise.

Links mentioned in the episode:

Listen to my journey of becoming a single mother by choice in Episodes 158, 182, and 197.

Listen to other podcast episodes with single mothers by choice - Episodes 76, 59, 14, and 195.

Connect with Lisa on Instagram here.  

To contact Julia, email: julia@singlemothersurvivalguide.com.

Visit us at Single Mother Survival Guide. 

Or connect with Single Mother Survival Guide on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, or Pinterest