Family isn’t always the people who share your last name. Sometimes the deepest healing comes from the “others” who choose you, love you, and hold space for the life you actually have, not the one you imagined. In this tender, heart-forward episode, I share the concept of “the others," the unexpected parents, children, mentors, neighbors, and friends who become our chosen family. I open up about my own story of longing for a big family, navigating divorce, solo parenting my son, and grieving the life I thought I’d have, while finding profound love in the people who stepped in along the way. You’ll also hear from my dear friend, entrepreneur and author Anjilee Ferguson, as she walks through her journey with divorce, remarriage, step-parenting, and childlessness. This conversation is for any woman who thought her life, marriage, or motherhood would look different, who’s learning to receive support from unlikely places, and who’s ready to see her “others” as oxygen for her soul. We also talk about practical tools like journaling through grief, letting safe people hold space without fixing, and the quiet power of simple rituals like a weekly “I love you” call. Takeaways: The “others” in your life can offer real, sustaining love that is just as valid as first-family or biological bondsGrief for the life you imagined can coexist with deep gratitude for the life you actually haveMothering can look like step-parenting, auntie-ing, mentoring, neighboring, and being a safe harbor for other people’s childrenMindset work, journaling, and letting yourself fully feel your emotions are essential parts of healingYou are not “less than” because your path to family, love, or motherhood looks different than you expectedAnjilee Ferguson, is an entrepreneur, peer mentor supervisor, and author. Six years ago, she co-founded an online school for students in grades 6-12, helping thousands of students with their education. She has also supported college students as a peer mentor supervisor and enrollment counselor. Her first book was all about the ups and downs of single life and divorce. She’s currently working on another book about childlessness. She is also the author of: Yes, No, Maybe So: A Comedy of Dating, Divorce, and Devotion which talks about finding your place in a world that revolves around family and keeping faith through a journey that looks different than those around you. Connect with Anjilee: https://www.instagram.com/anjilee.ferguson Download my free Support + Breathe Calculator here: https://dotrockconsulting.myflodesk.com/hiring-calculator It’ll show you how much time and energy you can reclaim by letting go of what’s not yours to hold. Remember: your energy is your greatest asset. Protect it, invest in it, and always put your oxygen mask on first. Subscribe to the Power of Oxygen First podcast on your favorite podcast platform and never miss an episode! Book a Coffee & Connection Call Free Gift: Learn How to Hire a VA Connecting the Dots - 1 Hour Strategy Session with Dot Rock Connect with Dot Instagram - www.instagram.com/dot_rock_ Remember: your energy is your greatest asset. Protect it, invest in it, and always put your oxygen mask on first.
