April 7, 2025 • 13 mins
Feeling like mom guilt has the mic again? Not today, Mama! In this week’s Power-Up Pep Talk, we're throwing grace at guilt and reclaiming our confidence—one truth at a time. Whether you're folding laundry or hiding in the bathroom for five minutes of peace (we see you), this episode delivers a quick dose of encouragement for single moms who feel like they're falling short.
💬 We’re talking real-life guilt trips, grace-based resets, and tiny confidence boosters that pack a punch. You'll walk away with powerful phrases to shut down shame, practical ideas to boost your mom mojo, and a reminder that God didn't ask you to be perfect—just present.
✨ Hot Topics Include:
- The truth about mom guilt vs. grace
- Faith-based confidence hacks you can use today
- A guilt check-in you didn’t know you needed
- The #PowerUpPepTalk mindset to carry all week long
🎧 Tap play and power up, Mama—you’ve got this, and God’s got you.
It's a Single Mom Thing, Not the Single Thing That Stops You!
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Welcome to it's a Single Mom Thing, the show for
single moms by single moms.
This is Sherri, your host, andI am happy you are here today.
Remember it's a single momthing and not the single thing
that stops you.
Speaker 2 (00:15):
Adios, arrivederci.
So long, good friend, bye-bye,mom guilt.
Today we are opening up ourtime together with a little
power-up pep talk, which isgoing to be your quick hit of
encouragement when the guiltgets loud and the confidence
feels low.
Today we're taking a littletwist on our time together.
(00:36):
It may go quick, but Iguarantee you it is going to be
the pick-me-up that you need.
So we've now entered the secondquarter of the year, that shiny
New Year's resolution.
It might already feel like athing of the past.
And let's be real, if you'relistening, on Monday, april 7th,
(00:56):
today is the 97th day of theyear and your life might not be
where you thought it would be bynow.
But don't worry, listen.
This episode is here to helpyou shake the shame, punch the
guilt in the face with some loveand power up your purpose again
.
Today we're kicking single momguilt to the curb.
(01:17):
Why?
Because guilt may be loud, butGod's truth is louder, so those
lies can just park it.
This is your moment to pause,reset and walk away ready to own
your role without shame.
So, whether you're listening onyour commute, folding laundry
or hiding in the bathroom forfive minutes of peace, this
(01:40):
episode is for you.
Welcome back to another episodeof it's a Single Mom Thing.
So pep talk.
Pointer number one the resetbutton.
When I became a mom, somestrange phenomenon happened that
took over my mind and then myemotions with it.
On day one Maybe this hashappened to you too.
(02:04):
It's called the guilt trip, amI right?
Like for no good reason, all ofa sudden you start to feel
guilty about everything.
For me it was.
He's not my child, meaning thebaby in the 90th percentile for
his weight.
I should nurse him more or wait?
Should I bottle feed him thegas bubble in his belly?
(02:25):
It's my fault, I just know it.
I shouldn't have enjoyed thatfajita last night.
I didn't change his diaper fastenough.
That rash, yep, it's totally mydoing.
And I could go on and on.
And I'm sure you too have takena few guilt trips of your own
that led to emotional dead ends.
Guilt trips of your own that ledto emotional dead ends.
(02:46):
I always said and likened it tothe thought of that someone I
don't know.
They flipped a guilt tripswitch that I have been trying
to shut off for the last 22years of motherhood and I'm
still looking for it.
And if mom guilt wasn't enough.
Single mom guilt is like thesupersized combo meal with extra
sauce.
Single mom guilt is like thesupersized combo meal with extra
sauce.
You see, we carry guilt forthings we did and didn't do or
(03:09):
had no control over, especiallywhen it comes to how we think
we've ruined our kids.
But, girl, let me tell you, godis still writing their story
and yours, which leads me to peptalk.
(03:29):
Pointer number two guiltcheck-in.
So we all have one or two liesthat we always tell ourselves.
Some may be new as a single mom, or some may have been with you
since you were a kid.
Think about that thought andlet's point it out.
Now ask yourself what lie hasguilt been feeding you this week
, this month or even in this newyear?
Maybe it's I'm not doing enough, I messed up again, I'm not
(03:55):
like other moms, or I'm nevergoing to get ahead.
I will tell you mine, I neverhave enough.
I will tell you mine, I neverhave enough.
My baby bird well, he may beout of the nest, but I still
have that same lie that comes up, even when he lived with me.
(04:15):
So let's get something straight.
Guilt is not our GPS.
Grace is, and it should be.
But as women, single moms even.
I don't think that we are verygood at extending that to
include ourselves.
Maybe everybody else, butcertainly not us.
Romans 8 says there is now nocondemnation for those who are
(04:36):
in Christ Jesus.
So if God's not condemning you,ladies, why are you condemning
yourself?
And I'm throwing myself in thatmix, okay, so you're not alone.
So let's sit with that thoughtfor a minute.
Why, as women, or even singlemoms, do we condemn ourselves?
It's like we hold thisimaginary bar above our heads
(04:58):
that we think we'll nevermeasure up to, and we are the
only ones holding that stick.
What if, instead ofcondemnation, we had competence?
Now, I'm talking competence,not pride or conceit.
Okay, I think sometimes, asChristian women, we confuse
confidence with arrogance,instead of alignment with who
(05:23):
God says you are.
Ladies, you're not justsurviving and you need to stop
marginalizing yourself with thatlow thought, taking you on a
guilt trip.
You, my dear, you are raisinghumans, running a home, making
hard decisions and still showingup.
That is some mad skills andsome superhero status.
(05:47):
Now, let me tell you, when Iwas in it, I never saw it that
way, but now that I'm a fewyears removed from the everyday
hustle of single momhood, I cansay with confidence you are
sheroes, so we're going to moveon then to pep talk.
Pointer number three powerphrases for confidence.
(06:08):
So something as a single mom anda single lady, that I do often
is talk out loud to myself.
My boss, well, she can attestto this, as her desk is behind
mine and she listens to a wholeconversation I have with myself.
Quite frequently while creatingsocial media posts.
I mean, I don't know, as a solo, there is no one at home to
(06:30):
bounce ideas off of or toencourage me in my meltdowns
behind closed doors, so I kindof got used to talking to myself
.
I know there's someonelistening who gets this.
So let's just go with this orfollow me on this little tangent
for a second, would you OK?
So if it's just you and you, myguess is that you are either
(06:51):
talking yourself up or you aretalking yourself down.
Now, in my side hustle, I callthese upwards.
As a solo, what I am trainingmy brain to do and it's a daily
process and habit is to replacemy downwards w-o-r-d-s that lead
me into into a downward spiral,into upwards which move me in
(07:12):
the direction I was created for.
You see, I have these things onmy phone, on post-it notes,
like everywhere's in my journal.
On my computer I even post themand share them with others on
the gram and on my Facebook pageand you can hit me up at at
Upwards with Sherry, I made apersonal commitment to myself
(07:33):
and others that I was going tohave one upward thought to share
for 365 days.
I am on day 97.
So look forward to seeing youthere, see.
But here's what I've discovered,and that has come about because
of the many guilt trip voyagesI have taken, and that is the
thought that there are lies thathave come to us in the many
guilt trip voyages I have taken,and that is the thought that
there are lies that have come tous in the form of cliches or
(07:54):
colloquial sayings that we grewup with.
Something like children are tobe seen, not heard, whether it
came from a teacher or a coachthat talked it over you, a
parent or a partner or anex-spouse that told you who they
thought you were, but reallythat was just their pain or
their past speaking.
It really wasn't all about you.
But here is the good news Ifthere are lies, there is also
(08:18):
truth.
So here are a few little upwords that I can share and shout
out with you that I would likefor you to start speaking over
your own life.
If you're going to be talking toyourself.
Then girls say some of thesethings Like God picked me for
this family on purpose.
How about this one?
Even when I fall short, hisgrace fills the gap.
(08:40):
Or single mom, guilt doesn'tget the mic today.
No, in fact, we are going todrop that mic altogether.
So today let's celebrate thewins, even the weird ones, like
okay, here's one, you managed todrop off your kids to school
without yelling Check, that's awin.
(09:01):
How about let's see you servecereal for dinner?
Well, that's called delegation,or even a delicacy in my house
sometimes.
Or you folded one basket oflaundry and left five.
Well, that's progress, baby.
You see, confidence is built inthe tiny wins, not the perfect
(09:22):
days.
Pep talk pointer number fourpractical confidence boosters
here are three girl boss movesfor a powerful day today.
One write a truth over a guiltlie.
Now I triple dog.
Dare you to pick one that youhave been telling yourself for a
long time, for example, guiltor a lie?
(09:44):
In this case also, I'm notenough.
Truth.
God equips me for what I'vebeen called to do.
Now, if you really listen tothis truth drop and what you
just said out loud, it's whatyou've been called to do.
Maybe it was you who decided toend a marriage and you are
thinking to yourself.
God calls people to get married, not divorce, sherry Not sure
(10:07):
how that's my calling, butlisten.
He has called you to be theparent who your kids need
Deuteronomy 6, 6 through 7.
These commandments that I giveyou today are to be on your
hearts and press them on yourchildren.
Talk about them when you sit athome and when you walk along
(10:27):
the road, when you lie down andwhen you get up Proverbs 22.6,.
Start children off on the waythey should go, and even when
they are old, they will not turnfrom it.
So, for today, put the guiltdown and pick up the phone Text,
or even go all old school andcall a mom friend and share with
(10:50):
her something that you admireabout her and watch how it lifts
her and you up as well.
Or even snap a real life moment, a mess and all of it, and
remind yourself this is love.
This is a picture of what loveis.
You see, motherhood is messy.
Who else would clean up all themesses?
You see, motherhood is messy.
(11:10):
Who else would clean up all themesses?
Pep, talk pointer number fiveyour faith fix Now, as I've
mentioned in several podcasts.
God isn't asking for perfection.
He's asking for your presence.
Your kids don't need a perfect,single mom.
They need a present one andyour presence covered in grace.
(11:32):
Well, that's just enough To thepoint where you can help them
with the little recorded lies.
They are starting to developjust like you did when you were
their age.
In fact, you can go as far asensuring that what they hear is
nothing but the truth.
Proverbs 31 25 reminds us she isclothed with strength and
(11:53):
dignity and she laughs withoutfear of the future.
So the next time, mom, guiltwhispers, you're not doing
enough.
You remind that guilt.
I'm doing what I can with whatI've got and, by God's grace, I
am rocking it.
Bye, bye, guilt.
I came with what I've got and,by God's grace, I am rocking it.
Bye-bye, guilt.
So as I close, I want you toshare your power phrase in our
(12:15):
Facebook group with the hashtagpower up, pep talk.
Ooh, say that a couple timesfast.
That was a hard one to come out.
Subscribe on Apple Podcasts,spotify or iHeart Radio so you
never miss your weeklyconfidence boost and then leave
a review.
If this pep talk gave you lifetoday, then you need to send it
(12:36):
to another mom who needs it andmaybe, just maybe, you can even
get that Thriving 25 journal outthat we didn't use today and
start to use it to have your ownpep talk with yourself, while
tapping those lies over to Godto handle for you.
So before I go, here's a littlepep talk for you from one of our
(12:57):
friends from Indian RocksChristian School.
My name is Adeline and I choseJohn 3.16 for God so loved the
world that he gave His only Son,for whoever believes in Him
shall not perish but haveeternal life.
Now, ladies, you may not feellike you got this, but I want
you to know God certainly does.
I'll be off next Monday,returning on April 21st.
(13:20):
Have a wonderful week and ahappy Easter.
Remember it's a single momthing and not the single thing
that stops you.
Speaker 1 (13:28):
Thanks for listening to.
It's a Single Mom Thing.
I hope you enjoyed our timetogether.
If you have more questions onhow to have a relationship with
Jesus or need prayer, visit usat wwwshepherdsvillagecom.
Backslash prayer.
For more information andresources, check out our show
notes.
Welcome to it's a Single Mom Thing, the show for
single moms by single moms.
This is Sherri, your host, andI am happy you are here today.
Remember it's a single momthing and not the single thing
that stops you.
Speaker 2 (00:15):
Adios, arrivederci.
So long, good friend, bye-bye,mom guilt.
Today we are opening up ourtime together with a little
power-up pep talk, which isgoing to be your quick hit of
encouragement when the guiltgets loud and the confidence
feels low.
Today we're taking a littletwist on our time together.
(00:36):
It may go quick, but Iguarantee you it is going to be
the pick-me-up that you need.
So we've now entered the secondquarter of the year, that shiny
New Year's resolution.
It might already feel like athing of the past.
And let's be real, if you'relistening, on Monday, april 7th,
(00:56):
today is the 97th day of theyear and your life might not be
where you thought it would be bynow.
But don't worry, listen.
This episode is here to helpyou shake the shame, punch the
guilt in the face with some loveand power up your purpose again
.
Today we're kicking single momguilt to the curb.
(01:17):
Why?
Because guilt may be loud, butGod's truth is louder, so those
lies can just park it.
This is your moment to pause,reset and walk away ready to own
your role without shame.
So, whether you're listening onyour commute, folding laundry
or hiding in the bathroom forfive minutes of peace, this
(01:40):
episode is for you.
Welcome back to another episodeof it's a Single Mom Thing.
So pep talk.
Pointer number one the resetbutton.
When I became a mom, somestrange phenomenon happened that
took over my mind and then myemotions with it.
On day one Maybe this hashappened to you too.
(02:04):
It's called the guilt trip, amI right?
Like for no good reason, all ofa sudden you start to feel
guilty about everything.
For me it was.
He's not my child, meaning thebaby in the 90th percentile for
his weight.
I should nurse him more or wait?
Should I bottle feed him thegas bubble in his belly?
(02:25):
It's my fault, I just know it.
I shouldn't have enjoyed thatfajita last night.
I didn't change his diaper fastenough.
That rash, yep, it's totally mydoing.
And I could go on and on.
And I'm sure you too have takena few guilt trips of your own
that led to emotional dead ends.
Guilt trips of your own that ledto emotional dead ends.
(02:46):
I always said and likened it tothe thought of that someone I
don't know.
They flipped a guilt tripswitch that I have been trying
to shut off for the last 22years of motherhood and I'm
still looking for it.
And if mom guilt wasn't enough.
Single mom guilt is like thesupersized combo meal with extra
sauce.
Single mom guilt is like thesupersized combo meal with extra
sauce.
You see, we carry guilt forthings we did and didn't do or
(03:09):
had no control over, especiallywhen it comes to how we think
we've ruined our kids.
But, girl, let me tell you, godis still writing their story
and yours, which leads me to peptalk.
(03:29):
Pointer number two guiltcheck-in.
So we all have one or two liesthat we always tell ourselves.
Some may be new as a single mom, or some may have been with you
since you were a kid.
Think about that thought andlet's point it out.
Now ask yourself what lie hasguilt been feeding you this week
, this month or even in this newyear?
Maybe it's I'm not doing enough, I messed up again, I'm not
(03:55):
like other moms, or I'm nevergoing to get ahead.
I will tell you mine, I neverhave enough.
I will tell you mine, I neverhave enough.
My baby bird well, he may beout of the nest, but I still
have that same lie that comes up, even when he lived with me.
(04:15):
So let's get something straight.
Guilt is not our GPS.
Grace is, and it should be.
But as women, single moms even.
I don't think that we are verygood at extending that to
include ourselves.
Maybe everybody else, butcertainly not us.
Romans 8 says there is now nocondemnation for those who are
(04:36):
in Christ Jesus.
So if God's not condemning you,ladies, why are you condemning
yourself?
And I'm throwing myself in thatmix, okay, so you're not alone.
So let's sit with that thoughtfor a minute.
Why, as women, or even singlemoms, do we condemn ourselves?
It's like we hold thisimaginary bar above our heads
(04:58):
that we think we'll nevermeasure up to, and we are the
only ones holding that stick.
What if, instead ofcondemnation, we had competence?
Now, I'm talking competence,not pride or conceit.
Okay, I think sometimes, asChristian women, we confuse
confidence with arrogance,instead of alignment with who
(05:23):
God says you are.
Ladies, you're not justsurviving and you need to stop
marginalizing yourself with thatlow thought, taking you on a
guilt trip.
You, my dear, you are raisinghumans, running a home, making
hard decisions and still showingup.
That is some mad skills andsome superhero status.
(05:47):
Now, let me tell you, when Iwas in it, I never saw it that
way, but now that I'm a fewyears removed from the everyday
hustle of single momhood, I cansay with confidence you are
sheroes, so we're going to moveon then to pep talk.
Pointer number three powerphrases for confidence.
(06:08):
So something as a single mom anda single lady, that I do often
is talk out loud to myself.
My boss, well, she can attestto this, as her desk is behind
mine and she listens to a wholeconversation I have with myself.
Quite frequently while creatingsocial media posts.
I mean, I don't know, as a solo, there is no one at home to
(06:30):
bounce ideas off of or toencourage me in my meltdowns
behind closed doors, so I kindof got used to talking to myself
.
I know there's someonelistening who gets this.
So let's just go with this orfollow me on this little tangent
for a second, would you OK?
So if it's just you and you, myguess is that you are either
(06:51):
talking yourself up or you aretalking yourself down.
Now, in my side hustle, I callthese upwards.
As a solo, what I am trainingmy brain to do and it's a daily
process and habit is to replacemy downwards w-o-r-d-s that lead
me into into a downward spiral,into upwards which move me in
(07:12):
the direction I was created for.
You see, I have these things onmy phone, on post-it notes,
like everywhere's in my journal.
On my computer I even post themand share them with others on
the gram and on my Facebook pageand you can hit me up at at
Upwards with Sherry, I made apersonal commitment to myself
(07:33):
and others that I was going tohave one upward thought to share
for 365 days.
I am on day 97.
So look forward to seeing youthere, see.
But here's what I've discovered,and that has come about because
of the many guilt trip voyagesI have taken, and that is the
thought that there are lies thathave come to us in the many
guilt trip voyages I have taken,and that is the thought that
there are lies that have come tous in the form of cliches or
(07:54):
colloquial sayings that we grewup with.
Something like children are tobe seen, not heard, whether it
came from a teacher or a coachthat talked it over you, a
parent or a partner or anex-spouse that told you who they
thought you were, but reallythat was just their pain or
their past speaking.
It really wasn't all about you.
But here is the good news Ifthere are lies, there is also
(08:18):
truth.
So here are a few little upwords that I can share and shout
out with you that I would likefor you to start speaking over
your own life.
If you're going to be talking toyourself.
Then girls say some of thesethings Like God picked me for
this family on purpose.
How about this one?
Even when I fall short, hisgrace fills the gap.
(08:40):
Or single mom, guilt doesn'tget the mic today.
No, in fact, we are going todrop that mic altogether.
So today let's celebrate thewins, even the weird ones, like
okay, here's one, you managed todrop off your kids to school
without yelling Check, that's awin.
(09:01):
How about let's see you servecereal for dinner?
Well, that's called delegation,or even a delicacy in my house
sometimes.
Or you folded one basket oflaundry and left five.
Well, that's progress, baby.
You see, confidence is built inthe tiny wins, not the perfect
(09:22):
days.
Pep talk pointer number fourpractical confidence boosters
here are three girl boss movesfor a powerful day today.
One write a truth over a guiltlie.
Now I triple dog.
Dare you to pick one that youhave been telling yourself for a
long time, for example, guiltor a lie?
(09:44):
In this case also, I'm notenough.
Truth.
God equips me for what I'vebeen called to do.
Now, if you really listen tothis truth drop and what you
just said out loud, it's whatyou've been called to do.
Maybe it was you who decided toend a marriage and you are
thinking to yourself.
God calls people to get married, not divorce, sherry Not sure
(10:07):
how that's my calling, butlisten.
He has called you to be theparent who your kids need
Deuteronomy 6, 6 through 7.
These commandments that I giveyou today are to be on your
hearts and press them on yourchildren.
Talk about them when you sit athome and when you walk along
(10:27):
the road, when you lie down andwhen you get up Proverbs 22.6,.
Start children off on the waythey should go, and even when
they are old, they will not turnfrom it.
So, for today, put the guiltdown and pick up the phone Text,
or even go all old school andcall a mom friend and share with
(10:50):
her something that you admireabout her and watch how it lifts
her and you up as well.
Or even snap a real life moment, a mess and all of it, and
remind yourself this is love.
This is a picture of what loveis.
You see, motherhood is messy.
Who else would clean up all themesses?
You see, motherhood is messy.
(11:10):
Who else would clean up all themesses?
Pep, talk pointer number fiveyour faith fix Now, as I've
mentioned in several podcasts.
God isn't asking for perfection.
He's asking for your presence.
Your kids don't need a perfect,single mom.
They need a present one andyour presence covered in grace.
(11:32):
Well, that's just enough To thepoint where you can help them
with the little recorded lies.
They are starting to developjust like you did when you were
their age.
In fact, you can go as far asensuring that what they hear is
nothing but the truth.
Proverbs 31 25 reminds us she isclothed with strength and
(11:53):
dignity and she laughs withoutfear of the future.
So the next time, mom, guiltwhispers, you're not doing
enough.
You remind that guilt.
I'm doing what I can with whatI've got and, by God's grace, I
am rocking it.
Bye, bye, guilt.
I came with what I've got and,by God's grace, I am rocking it.
Bye-bye, guilt.
So as I close, I want you toshare your power phrase in our
(12:15):
Facebook group with the hashtagpower up, pep talk.
Ooh, say that a couple timesfast.
That was a hard one to come out.
Subscribe on Apple Podcasts,spotify or iHeart Radio so you
never miss your weeklyconfidence boost and then leave
a review.
If this pep talk gave you lifetoday, then you need to send it
(12:36):
to another mom who needs it andmaybe, just maybe, you can even
get that Thriving 25 journal outthat we didn't use today and
start to use it to have your ownpep talk with yourself, while
tapping those lies over to Godto handle for you.
So before I go, here's a littlepep talk for you from one of our
(12:57):
friends from Indian RocksChristian School.
My name is Adeline and I choseJohn 3.16 for God so loved the
world that he gave His only Son,for whoever believes in Him
shall not perish but haveeternal life.
Now, ladies, you may not feellike you got this, but I want
you to know God certainly does.
I'll be off next Monday,returning on April 21st.
(13:20):
Have a wonderful week and ahappy Easter.
Remember it's a single momthing and not the single thing
that stops you.
Speaker 1 (13:28):
Thanks for listening to.
It's a Single Mom Thing.
I hope you enjoyed our timetogether.
If you have more questions onhow to have a relationship with
Jesus or need prayer, visit usat wwwshepherdsvillagecom.
Backslash prayer.
For more information andresources, check out our show
notes.
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