The Single Greatest Choice: For Single Women Exploring Solo Motherhood by Choice (SMBC), Fertility, and Having a Baby on Their Own Through Donor Conception or Adoption

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: try 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....

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: should 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: Quiet the Clock.Beth on InstagramNYC 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,

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: 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 katie@singlegreatestchoice.com

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: 👩‍👧‍👦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 katie@singlegreatestchoice.com

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: 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 katie@singlegreatestchoice.com

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: IVF journey with fibroids 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

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: 👩‍👧‍👦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 katie@singlegreatestchoice.com

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: 👩‍👧‍👦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 katie@singlegreatestchoice.com

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: 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 katie@singlegreatestchoice.com

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: Connect with Tara: @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 katie@singlegreatestchoice.com

Julie thought she was freezing her eggs for a future partner. Instead, she ended up fertilizing all of them on her path to become a mom on her own—then finding love and partnership afterward. That’s the short version of Julie Ferguson’s story, but there’s so much more to it. Julie is a PR firm owner and solo mom by choice who’s been through more than her share of plot twists on the road to motherhood: divorce, miscarriage, five egg retrievals, two IVF cycles, and one hard-won embryo that became her son. She opens up about what it really took—emotionally, physically, and financially—to make her dream of motherhood happen. And her story doesn’t end there. Now a proud mom to a two-year-old, Julie shares what it’s been like to date as a solo mom, including an unplanned pregnancy at 45 and the evolving relationship that followed. We talk about rediscovering yourself in motherhood, building connections with other donor sibling families, and Julie’s advocacy work with the Stork Foundation, which helps families access IVF through grants. Whether you’re still navigating fertility as a single woman or already parenting solo, Julie’s mix of honesty, humor, and hope is one you don’t want to miss. In this episode, we cover: Resources mentioned: The Stork FoundationLittle Words Project - Hope BraceletSociety for Assisted Reproductive Technology (SART)It Starts With the Egg BookPulling Down the Moon Holistic Fertility Center Connect with Julie: Instagram: @chijulesJulie’s PR Firm 👩‍👧‍👦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

Life doesn’t always unfold the way you imagined. For Tara, that meant rethinking everything she thought she knew about love, family, and the “perfect” timing. After years in relationships that weren’t moving toward the future she desired, she found herself at a crossroads: stay stuck waiting for someone else to come around, or start creating the life she dreamed of on her own. In this episode, Tara opens up about the heartbreak of leaving long-term relationships, the fear and uncertainty of starting over at 38, and the courage it took to finally consider solo motherhood. She shares her experiences with fertility testing, choosing a sperm donor, a difficult miscarriage, and the incredible support she’s found in this SMBC community as she takes those first steps toward becoming a single mom by choice. Whether you’re exploring solo motherhood yourself or simply need a reminder that starting over is possible, Tara’s story is filled with courage, clarity, and deep self-trust. In this episode on pursuing solo motherhood, we discuss: Resources mentioned in this episode: 👩‍👧‍👦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. 💌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 katie@singlegreatestchoice.com

What does life look like a decade into solo motherhood? If you've ever wondered what’s on the other side of the baby and toddler years, this conversation with Beile Grünbaum will give you an exciting glimpse. Beile is a solo mom by choice of two sons, now 10 and 12, and her story is anything but ordinary. A former financial journalist in Denmark, Beile made the leap into solo motherhood in her late 30s and early 40s. But the transformation didn’t stop there. After being laid off while on maternity leave with her second child, she took her expertise in finance and turned it into a thriving financial coaching business, Money & Freedom. Today, she lives with her boys in Portugal, runs an online business, and shares her journey as a podcaster and entrepreneur. She opens up about her fertility story, life after the baby years, building community abroad, dating as a solo mom, and what it really means to design a life that fits you, and your kids. If you’ve been craving stories about solo parenting older children, or wondering what’s possible for your career and lifestyle as an SMBC, you won’t want to miss this one! In this episode on solo parenting older children, we discuss: Connect with Beile Grünbaum: Website | YouTube | Instagram | Podcast 👩‍👧‍👦The Single Greatest Choice is the single mom support group you’ve been looking for through every stage of your SMBC journey. You can find 1:1 coaching for single moms by choice, Single Motherhood & Pregnancy Community Groups, The SGC Village membership community and solo mom retreats and SMBC family trips. 🏘️Join our community, The SGC Village Reach out to Katie over at katie@singlegreatestchoice.com

What if the desire to become a parent is strong, but the partner hasn't shown up? In this episode, I’m talking with Viveka, a school psychologist who has spent her career supporting kids and families—and who’s now navigating her own path to solo motherhood. Viveka started out as a preschool special education teacher, is certified as a yoga instructor and nature therapy guide, and brings a deeply grounded, global perspective to everything she does. She’s biracial, trilingual, a former Indian classical dancer, and one of those people who’s just naturally good with children. When Viveka found herself single in her late thirties and experiencing dating burnout, she decided it was time to freeze her eggs. But once she took a step into this world, she realized that she could be that woman who decides to pursue solo motherhood. Now over a year into her process of becoming a single mother by choice, Viveka shares what it’s looked like to shift her priorities, explore known donor conception through Seed Scout, and start the process of trying to conceive—without waiting for a partner. This conversation is about so much more than logistics. It’s about identity, intuition, culture, and what happens when you finally give yourself permission to want what you want. In this episode about choosing solo parenthood, we talk about: Connect with Viveka on instagram: Solo Mama To Be (@soloparentonpurpose) 👩‍👧‍👦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. 💌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 katie@singlegreatestchoice.com

You’ve probably heard the phrase, “It takes a village”, but what does that actually look like when you’re choosing to become a mom on your own? Today’s guest is the perfect example of why becoming a single mother by choice doesn’t mean you have to raise your child alone. You’ll hear exactly what it can look like to build a deeply supportive village, both before and after becoming a solo mom. In this episode, I’m joined by Sige, a psychotherapist and solo mother by choice who brings a wealth of wisdom from both her personal and professional life. Sige shares how a low AMH diagnosis and a breakup led her to pursue solo motherhood through IUI, and how she beat the odds by conceiving on her first try. But it’s her unique approach to communal living and her commitment to building intentional support systems that truly make her story stand out. Together, we talk about what it takes to raise a child without a partner, not by doing it all alone, but by choosing interdependence, community, and creativity. In this episode on building a strong support system before and during solo motherhood, we discuss: Connect with Sige Weismantherapy work on her websiteInstagram, @sigeweisman.art www.sigeweisman.com Resources mentioned in this episode:How to Conceive Naturally: And Have a Healthy Pregnancy after 30👩‍👧‍👦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 katie@singlegreatestchoice.com

What happens when you only get one viable embryo and it’s your only shot at becoming a mom? For Kellyn, her single embryo became the greatest gift of her life. Today’s guest is Kellyn Nagel, a fellow single mother by choice and dedicated attorney who represents children in foster care. Kellyn shares her emotional and financial journey through fertility as a single woman: from egg freezing after a low AMH diagnosis to IVF with frozen eggs, and ultimately to the birth of her daughter, Kellyn’s story is one of trust, resilience, and quiet courage. We talk about the heartbreak and hope of navigating IVF as a single woman, how Kellyn leaned into her gut instincts at every step, and the profound ways motherhood has shifted both her career and her understanding of the family court system. We also touch on the power of donor sibling connections, postpartum realities, and what it means to keep the door open for a second child as a single mom by choice, even when the path is anything but straightforward. In this episode on IVF as a single woman, we discuss: Resources mentioned in this episode: This Might Be Too Personal: And Other Intimate Stories - Alyssa Shelasky“Accidental” SMBC Through Foster to Open Adoption With Elizabeth Friedland 👩‍👧‍👦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. Reach out to Katie over at katie@singlegreatestchoice.com

Solo parenting one child is a big job. Add a second baby to the mix, and do it all without a co-parent, and everything shifts. In this episode, I’m joined by Randi Maves, a solo mom by choice to two boys, four years apart. Randi wouldn’t trade this life for anything, but she’s honest about how intense it can be juggling two different stages of parenting on her own. From navigating daycare drop-offs and picky eaters to handling preschooler meltdowns while sleep-training a newborn, Randi gets honest about what the daily juggle really looks like. She talks about the tools and support systems that are saving her sanity right now, including her decision to hire an au pair, and the emotional process of adjusting to life as a solo mom of two. We’re also diving into Randi’s fertility journey with IVF at 40+, including the heartbreak of getting no viable embryos, the decision to transfer her one mosaic embryo, and the deep trust it took to move forward. If you’re thinking about having a second child as an SMBC, already in the thick of solo motherhood, or just wondering what this path can look like, Randi’s story is a beautiful mix of honesty, resilience, and real-life logistics. In this episode on solo parenting two kids after 40, we talk about: Resources mentioned in this episode: HBO Documentary First Comes Love (2013)Facebook group ‘My Perfect Mosaic Embryo’ 🏝️ Interested in the Aug 27-31 Family Trip to Riviera Maya, Mexico? Join one of these info sessions to get all the details! 👩‍👧‍👦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. Reach out to Katie over at katie@singlegreatestchoice.com

The desire to share life with a partner doesn’t just disappear when we choose to start our families on our own. And it doesn’t have to. Today’s new episode is a beautiful reminder that both things can be true: you can want motherhood and partnership, and you don’t have to give up one to have the other. At 35, Erin Russell was faced with the hard realization that her family line would end with her if she didn’t pursue parenthood soon, so she started seriously considering solo motherhood. But right as she was preparing to begin fertility treatments, life threw her a curveball — she met someone. Erin was clear about what she wanted and gave the relationship space to grow. But when it became obvious they weren’t aligned on having kids, she made the powerful decision to walk away. She ordered donor sperm the very next day. Becoming a mom didn’t erase Erin's hope of sharing life with a partner. Just two months after her son was born, she started dating again — not out of pressure or urgency, but as a way to reconnect with herself, enjoy adult time, and stay open to love. Now that her son is two and she’s happily in a relationship that feels like the right fit, Erin reflects on what it’s been like to still want partnership as a solo mom by choice, and how she's navigating love, parenting, and a changing sense of identity all at once. In this episode, we talk about: Whether you're considering solo motherhood, already parenting, or wondering if dating might fit into your life someday, Erin’s story is full of honesty, hope, and real-world encouragement for wherever you are on the path. Want to connect with Erin Russell? Follow Erin on InstagramCheck out Erin's writingRead Erin's article on SMBCs (featuring me as an interviewee!) 🏝️ Interested in the Aug 27-31 Family Trip to Riviera Maya, Mexico? Join one of these info sessions to get all the details! 👩‍👧‍👦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. Reach out to Katie...

Expanding your family as a single mother by choice isn’t always easy — but many solo moms desire more than one child, and today’s conversation is a beautiful example of how it can unfold. Lauren — a returning guest and seasoned SMBC — shares her journey from welcoming her first daughter to expanding her family with twins, all in just a few years. Along the way, she navigated fertility treatments, postpartum health challenges, and the daily demands of solo parenting... while never losing sight of her dream to grow her family despite her fertility challenges. As you might know, I’ve been thinking a lot lately about whether to have a second child as a solo mom — so it was such a gift to sit down with Lauren and talk through all the emotional, logistical, and real-life factors that come into play when making a decision like this. Whether you're actively considering another child or just curious about what life looks like with multiple little ones as a solo mom, Lauren’s story is a powerful reminder that you can create the family you dream of. Inside the episode, we talk about: Listen to Lauren & Jess on Season 1, Episode 16 of The SGC Podcast Connect with Lauren on Instagram 👩‍👧‍👦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. Reach out to Katie over at katie@singlegreatestchoice.com