She Had Almost Nothing—But Somehow Gave Us Everything Britney & Her Mom

This week, Britney sits down with the woman who shaped her life—her mom, Maryann.

In one of the most personal episodes of What She's Having, they discuss growing up in a close-knit Italian family, navigating divorce, raising children as a single mother, blending families, forgiveness, and what it truly means to create a home filled with love.

Maryann shares how she raised two children on her own after Britney's father left, the sacrifices she made to keep her family together, and why kindness, resilience, and family have always been her guiding principles.

Together, they reflect on childhood memories, teenage rebellion, motherhood, grandparenthood, and the lessons that continue to shape generations. This conversation is a love letter to mothers everywhere—and a reminder that some of life's greatest gifts are the people who show up for us every single day.

In This Episode:

• Growing up in a large Italian family rooted in tradition

• The lessons learned from an Air Force childhood

• Becoming a single mom and starting over after divorce

• Why family dinners mattered so much

• Raising children with kindness, respect, and strong values

• Blending two families into one loving household

• Forgiveness, co-parenting, and finding peace after heartbreak

• Britney's teenage years and family growing pains • Becoming a grandmother and watching the next generation grow

• The most important lesson every parent should teach their children

Timestamps

00:00 Introduction to Britney's mom, Maryann

01:04 A tribute to the woman who shaped Britney's life

06:14 Growing up in an Air Force family

09:14 Italian family traditions and Sunday dinners

11:10 Why food became her love language

13:12 The importance of family meals

17:03 Starting a catering truck before food trucks were trendy

18:31 Meeting Britney's father and building a family

20:22 Divorce, heartbreak, and becoming a single mom

22:28 Losing the house and starting over

23:50 Finding a village to help raise children

24:52 Refusing to become a victim

28:35 Why she never spoke badly about Britney's father

30:10 Advice for anyone navigating divorce

33:25 Forgiveness and finding peace before death

37:23 Britney's teenage years and family struggles

43:20 Parenting teenagers and setting boundaries

47:29 How Britney was as a teenager

50:54 Waiting for grandchildren

54:40 The story behind Maverick, Hero and Bullet's names

58:07 Watching Britney become a mother

01:01:26 Advice for mothers today

01:03:11 Why kindness matters most

01:05:29 Lessons on forgiveness and family

01:06:14 Final reflections and gratitude

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Credits: Hosts: Jennifer Cataldo & Britney Semler New episodes weekly of What She's Having 🎙️

🎙️ New episode drops Wednesday.