Would you like to learn to deal with stress on demand, in the moment? Or to be an example to your kids of how they can cope with challenging times? Then listen in to today's guest, Dr. Melanie Greenberg and learn about how you can transform life's stresses to positive motivation.

Melanie is a psychologist, coach, speaker, and author, who helps people to manage the stress in their lives. She has recently written a book called The Stress Proof Brain, due to be released at the end of January. Join her and Robbin today, as they discuss ways that you can get back to the present and connect with your kids, when feeling stressed, overwhelmed and flooded with negative feelings.

Today, Melanie talks to Robbin about:

•The effects of stress on the brain.

•The value of mindfulness.

•How you can raise resilient kids.

•Techniques for you to move out of stress and into observation.

•Using your breath as an anchor for mindfulness.

•The value in having a daily mindfulness practice.

•Deep breathing to ground you quickly.

•Building your mindfulness muscle.

•Changing your relationship with negative thoughts.

•Breaking the cycle of ruminant thoughts.

•Dancing with your kids and coloring yourself calm.

•The ripple effect of practicing mindfulness.

Links:

Melanie's website: www.drmelaniegreenberg.net

Nick Bender, the guest on today's show, is the twenty-seven-year-old single dad of a gorgeous five and a half-year-old son. He also has a podcast, called Single Parent Podcast, a nitty gritty bare bones kind of show, offering great suggestions to single parents about all aspects of single parenting.

Today, Nick talks to Robbin about how much he loves living the life of a single parent. He also talks about his podcast, how it came about, his motivation in doing it and how it has helped him to grow into becoming a better co-parent. Listen in and find out how you too, can create a better life for yourself and your child, going solo.

Listen to this episode as Nick and Robbin talk about:

• What Nick has learned about the court system and how it can help you.
• How his podcast has helped him to better articulate his thoughts and feelings around being a parent.
• Nicks “recording studio” in his car.
• The amount of energy it takes to be a single or a co-parent.
• How he came to love his single parent life by embracing it.
• Why Nick thinks it's easier to be a co- parent than to be married with kids.
• Why it's really important to spend time alone.
• The 3 things Nick recommends to make co-parenting so much easier:
• 1) Develop trust
• 2) Be flexible
• 3) Don't sweat the small stuff
• Being flexible, yet maintaining firm boundaries.
• How in the past, Nick's need to avoid conflict outweighed his need to be honest.
• How much easier life can become when you learn to brush (the small) things off.
• How children feel the weight of unspoken resentment between parents.
• How changing your attitude for the better will feed through to the other co-parent and that they are likely to start doing the same.
• You cannot control other people.

Links:

Find Single Parent Podcast is on iTunes and on Facebook.

Nick on Facebook: Nick Bender

Robbin's website: soloparentlife.com

To ask questions or leave feedback, go to: www.bit.ly\soloparentlife17

Welcome to January and our theme of dealing with stress and anxiety! My guest today is Elizabeth Bonet, who hosts the podcast Hypnotize Me. She’s fast becoming a friend, sounding board, and supporter. She is a single mom, a psychotherapist, and hypnotist in private practice in south Florida---and she’s a former teacher of prenatal yoga. From her wide range of experiences, Elizabeth is here to share advice about being mindful and productive as an entrepreneur. Join us!

What you’ll hear in this episode:

• How entrepreneurship gives freedom and flexibility to single moms
• Elizabeth’s tips for managing stress:
• • Recognize it
  • Regroup
  • Check in with others
  • Set limits around work
• How meditation can help manage stress—even just five minutes!
• Elizabeth’s “car meditation” breathing exercises
• Why the podcast, Hypnotize Me? To learn more and help educate others
• Benefits of hypnotherapy, including help with trauma, anxiety, depression, and smoking cessation
• “Inner child” work, through hypnotherapy
• Stress management from the inside out
• Finding support in online groups and forums
• Elizabeth’s tips for time management:
• • Schedule your day for self-care
  • Know your own energy and patterns

Resources:

Insight Timer Meditation App

www.drlizhypnosis.com

My guest today is Heather Sontag, who created the company called Serene Space. She goes into people’s homes to help them organize spaces, de-clutter, and manage their time. Her work goes beyond the simple organizing of STUFF, though, because she helps people from the inside out as they find their life’s purpose and organize their LIVES. Great tips are oozing from this conversation, so join us!

What you’ll hear in this episode:

• As a mom of two and a business owner, Heather works hard to help other busy moms
• How to de-clutter and improve your time management
• Getting your kids involved
• Tips for organizing kids’ chores to foster independence
• Connecting with your own inner guidance
• Exercises to connect with positive body emotions
• “Better it, bag it, or barter it”---advice from Martha Beck
• Common struggles for women that they don’t even realize!
• How to care and nurture yourself in little ways
• Daily, weekly, and monthly mindfulness
• How being grounded leads to better decisions
• Why we all need “re-do’s”
• Clear boundaries and priorities
• Learn when to say YES and NO
• Empowerment from being selective about saying YES
• Letting things go

Resources:

www.ssorganize.com (Find Heather’s blog, newsletter, and information about classes!)

Upcoming Events:

Envision and Empower Your Ideal Life- January 18th

Beyond Motherhood, quarterly call- February 2nd