Empowering Single Mothers Empowering Single Mothers

Overcommitted: to promise, undertake, or allocate more than the available resources justify: (source: collinsdictionnary.com)

Overwhelmed: completely overcome or overpowered by thought or feeling (merriam-webster.com)

Taking on the topic of overcommitting and feeling overwhelmed by it all.  As single moms, we often feel the pressure to be everything to everyone, especially our kids.  Supermoms! Liza and Wendy, both single moms talk about their own experiences trying to do everything and how it has affected them.

Doing too much for other people can prevent us from getting what we want or need. We often will put our own self-care to the bottom of the list in favour of helping others meet their needs.  Always volunteering for the school trips?  Answering work texts on your day off? Feeling like you can never get everything you want done?   This is what we are referring to.  Wendy tells how recently she made a conscientious decision to put away the phone and spend quality time with her kids.  It was difficult but in the end, worth it.

We discuss:


Setting priorities and sticking to them

Losing the feeling of “guilt”

Releasing the doubt

Learning how to add self-care to the list

Choice and compromise


Connect with Empowering Single Mothers:

Facebook: @empoweringsinglemothers2012

Instagram:@empoweringsinglemothers

Email: powerfulmomstogether@gmail.com

Let’s celebrate!

In this episode Liza and Wendy take time to acknowledge and celebrate recent wins.  Life is a journey and it is important to appreciate the successes, big and small that we experience.

We also celebrate our past guest, Carrie Arrand who has set up her own business ‘Country Cabin Yoga’.  Liza shows off some merch and it’s pretty great!

We discuss future topic possibilities such as ‘gaslighting’ and related ‘love bombing’.  We’d love to hear your thoughts, reactions and questions about these sensitive topics.

As always, we welcome you to connect with us!

Connect with Empowering Single Mothers:

Facebook: @empoweringsinglemothers2012

Instagram:@empoweringsinglemothers

Email: powerfulmomstogether@gmail.com

“Sisterhood”: an association, society, or community of women linked by a common interest, religion, or trade.

Our special guest, Shireen Fakira, is a single mother to two beautiful girls.  For the past 15 years, she has been navigating the world of single-parenthood, learning about her own strengths and becoming empowered to make life choices to benefit her and her daughters.

When Shireen became a single mother she felt alone.  Having married earlier than her friends, she found herself in a different stage of life than her friends..  No one in her circle could share in the experience of divorce and raising a child alone.  As an esthetician, Shireen was privileged to work with women from all walks of life.  She learned that for every woman who “has it together” there is an incredible story of resilience and strength.  In these women, Shireen found her “Sisterhood”.

Recently Shireen has another significant decision to become a mortgage specialist.  This change has allowed her to work from home and be more present for her daughters.  She is currently working on balancing the needs of her family, her work and her own needs.

In this episode we discuss the idea of ‘Sisterhood”.

Connect with Shireen:

Instagram: @mortgagesbyshireen

Connect with Empowering Single Mothers:

Facebook: @empoweringsinglemothers2012

Instagram:@empoweringsinglemothers

Email: powerfulmomstogether@gmail.com

In this episode we talk about the great balancing act that is Motherhood.  As moms, we try to always present our strong side, the resiliency, but there are times when it’s okay to show our vulnerable side.  It is particularly important to balance during times of transition, such as when going through a separation or divorce.

We are joined by special guest Tara Mandarano, a Best of the Net–nominated writer and editor, and an advocate for patients in the mental health and chronic illness communities. She is also a newly single mother with a seven-year-old daughter. Her work is featured in the anthology BIG: Stories About Life in Plus-Sized Bodies, and she has also been published in The Washington Post, The Huffington Post, The Week, Reader's Digest, Motherwell, and Today's Parent.

Connect with Tara:

Instagram and Twitter @taramandarano.

Website: https://www.taramandarano.com/

If you are interested in reading The Spoon Theory:

https://butyoudontlooksick.com/articles/written-by-christine/the-spoon-theory/

For more information about the Families in Transition services, please check out:

https://familyservicetoronto.org/our-services/programs-and-services/families-in-transition/

According to healthline.com, chronic pain is defined as “pain that lasts at least 12 weeks. The pain may feel sharp or dull, causing a burning or aching sensation in the affected areas. It may be steady or intermittent, coming and going without any apparent reason. Chronic pain can occur in nearly any part of your body. The pain can feel different in the various affected areas.”

For more information about Fybromyalgia, please visit:

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/fibromyalgia/symptoms-causes/syc-20354780

So much of life is spent reacting to the situations that arise, dealing with issues in the moment.

In this chat, Wendy Bluhm and Liza Magcale tackle the idea that in order to “become unstuck” one has to:


Recognizing the situation is temporary.

Acknowledging that it is not how you want it to be.

Figuring out where you want to go.


Liza talks about how she manages conflict with her daughter that has changed the dynamics in their relationship.

Wendy discusses how making choices to feel better about herself has made her much better able to deal with an uncomfortable situation with a male coworker.

As a bonus, they divulge their personal experiences with recent cleanses, the Cambiati Cleanse and the Tony Robbins’ Cleanse.  We advise speaking with your healthcare practitioner prior to embarking on a cleanse.

Wendy and Liza explore these topics by way of their own life experiences.  They encourage each other in their personal journeys and hope that the listener will benefit from their discussion.

Please follow Empowering Single Mothers on:

Facebook: @empoweringsinglemothers2012

Instagram: @empoweringsinglemothers

Email: powerfulmomstogether@gmail.com

“Be intentional with your time”

It can be difficult to stick to a plan or schedule as a mom. Often we are reacting to things that come up instead of thinking about what that action is taking away from.

In this chat, Wendy Bluhm and Liza Magcale, both single mothers, discuss the importance of being intentional with time.  By making small adjustments, one can continue to work towards bigger long term goals, while still dealing with the daily stressors in life.

Some of the topics covered:


The importance of establishing healthy routines for both parents and kids

Dealing with the changes this pandemic life has thrown at us.

Setting goals and sticking to them


Wendy and Liza explore these topics by way of their own life experiences.  They encourage each other in their personal journeys and hope that the listener will benefit from their discussion.

You can find Empowering Single Mothers on:

Facebook: empoweringsinglemothers2012

Instagram: empoweringsinglemothers

Email: powerfulmomstogether@gmail.com