It's A Single Mom Thing - NOT The Single Thing That Stops You!

It’s a Single Mom Thing, Not the Thing That Stops Her

Have you ever had a dream so big it scared you? That’s your HBAG — your Hairy Big Audacious Goal. And mama, being a single mom isn’t the stop sign to that dream. It’s your launchpad.

In this episode of It’s a Single Mom Thing, Sherry flips the script on excuses and equips you with practical strategies and faith-filled encouragement to help you chase your God-sized goals without burning out.

You’ll discover:
 💡 Why being a single mom is not a limitation but a strength
 🔥 How to set excuses aside while keeping your dreams alive
 ❤️ Why YOU are worth the investment — and how your growth blesses your kids
 🙌 How to move from Fear Factor to the Faith Factor
✨ Simple questions to reflect on and dream again

Mama, you are capable, called, and more than enough. And those baby steps you take? They still move mountains. 🌄

🎧 Listen now and be reminded: It’s a Single Mom Thing, not the thing that stops you.

👉 shepherdsvillage.com/podcast
or your favorite podcast streaming platform.

Transcript

Welcome to It's a Single Mom Thing

Speaker 1 0:00

Welcome to it's a Single Mom Thing , the show for single moms by single moms . This is Sherri , your host , and I am happy you are here today . Remember it's a single mom thing and not the single thing that stops you .

Speaker 2 0:15

What up , ladies ? Welcome back to another episode of it's a Single Mom Thing . So today I want to talk to you about something a little hairy Not your legs , maybe about something a little hairy not your legs , maybe even something a little scary , and that's your H-bag . Yep , you heard me right . That's your hairy , big , audacious goal . You know , the one , that dream that's been sitting in the back of your mind , tugging at your heart , the one that feels a little too big , a little too bold , maybe even a little too impossible . And let's be real as single moms , we are masters at putting our own dreams on the back burner . We'll chase down everybody else's goals Our kids' , sports , their schooling , their future but when it comes to our own , we whisper not now , no , not me , not with everything I've got going on in my plate . No , no , no , now's not the time . Sister , that's a trap . You see , we start thinking I can't because I'm a single mom . But ladies , listen , hear me out and hear me loud and clear . Being a single mom is not you heard me not the thing that stops you . It's a single mom thing , and that means you've already got grit , resilience and determination baked right into you . Think about it . You've already survived things you didn't think you could . You've stretched dollars , managed schedules , carried loads bigger than you thought possible and , on top of all that , you loved your kids through the hardest of days . And guess what ? That same strength , that same courage , that same what I like to call never give up spirit . It's the very thing you need to go after , that big , hairy , audacious goal H-bag . So today I want to help you flip that script . Instead of seeing single motherhood as your limitation , oh no , we are going to make it our launching pad Because , ladies , you are worth the investment and the return isn't just success , it is blessings beyond your belief .

Speaker 2 2:26

Excuses versus dreams . Now let's talk about the tug of war we all face with excuses versus dreams . See , excuses are sneaky . They sound reasonable and even noble , sometimes , like I don't have time because my kids need me , or I don't have money because I'm putting it all into their household , or the big one , oh , I'll just wait until things calm down . Well , let me give you a holy hold up for a second , please . But let me ask you this when has life ever truly calmed down ? Exactly , if I had waited until the right time to have my son , I would have never had him , and he's one of the biggest blessings of my life .

Speaker 2 3:13

Sometimes I have found the things we think we need to wait for are the very thing God has already prepared us for and for me . Let me just tell you this way I have to keep this in forefront of my mind all the time . I may not be a single mom anymore , but I am still single and I still have dreams and goals . I could easily let the quote unquote single thing become a repeated excuse , but you know what that does ? It keeps me stuck in the mud . It keeps me from growing and maybe even from becoming the woman God is shaping me to be Curves and all I can relate to not having a spouse to push you forward , to catch you when you fall or to encourage you to just keep swimming . But here's the truth my dreams are still for me , even if I don't have a quote unquote we and the same is true for you , girl you see excuses . They keep us safe , but they also keep us stuck . They shrink our world until all that's left is survival mode . And survival mode is not where God designed you to live Now . That bears repeating . Okay , listen , survival is not where God designed you to live .

Speaker 2 4:35

Now let's flip this . Okay , dreams what do they do ? They expand your world . Dreams make room for growth , for possibility , for joy . Dreams , girls , listen . Shows your kids what faith and action looks like when they see you daring to go after something bigger than yourself . You're not just teaching them to dream , you are teaching them to believe , to believe something bigger beyond themselves .

Speaker 2 5:04

And here's some more truth . You're not disqualified because you're a single mom . You're not behind , you're not too late . You , my sister , are right on time and your dream is still alive . So today , I want you to make a decision to set aside the excuses , but listen , not your dreams . Okay , put the I can't because I'm a single mom . Lie in the trash where it belongs and pick up the truth . And that is because I am a single mom . I already know how to fight , how to persevere and how to rise . Oh , that gets two snaps and a circle . Yes , girl , yes , you see , excuses shrink you , but dreams , they expand you . So which one are you going to let win ? Worth the investment ? All right , now , now that we have talked about setting excuses aside , let's talk about why you're worth the investment . Here's the thing We'll spend money and energy on our kids without even thinking twice . Am I right ? Sports gear , you'll figure it out . Birthday parties , field trips , braces , you'll move heaven and earth to make it happen , because you believe your kids are worth it . And , girl , they are .

Speaker 2 6:25

But somewhere along the way we stop believing that we are worth it too . And not only do we stop believing it , we stop investing in ourselves . We convince ourselves with things like it's selfish to spend money on me . It is just so irresponsible to take time for me . My job is just to pour into them . It's not my time , but , ladies , listen , hear me out . When you invest in yourself , you're not taken away from your kids . Now let me say that again . When you invest in yourself , you're not taken away from your kids . You're multiplying what they receive . You are their foundation . And if the foundation crumbles , what happens to the house ? But listen , when you take a class , pursue that degree , build that business or even take a day for rest , girl , you are showing your kids that mama doesn't just survive , no , she grows . And your growth gives them permission to grow too , even in the hard and the hurried of single mom life .

Speaker 2 7:33

And let me bring this home okay , I know this one personally because , listen , there were many , I repeat many of times that I convinced myself I couldn't go after certain dreams because of the cost . Not just the money cost , but the time , the risk , the energy . But you know what ? Then I realized , when I hold back from becoming all God created me to be , I'm not just shortchanging myself , I am shortchanging my family too . Listen , that's not what I wanted for my son . I didn't want to shortchange him , I wanted to make deposit into his future . The truth , ladies you are worth the time , you are worth the energy , you are worth the investment and the return . It's blessings beyond your belief , not just for you , but for your children and even their children . So the next time that little voice whispers you don't have the resources for this , I want you to say back oh no , I am the resource , I am the example and I am worth the investment . Be gone .

Speaker 2 8:43

Thought Strategies for your HBag . So let's get a little practical . Okay , you've got this dream , this big , hairy , audacious goal , but how do you actually go after it without burning out or giving up ? So let's break it down into some steps that you can start tracking on today . Step one dream big without an apology . Write your dream down , put it on paper , say it out loud , pray it out to God . Don't shrink your dream to fit your circumstances , okay , no , don't do that . Let your faith instead , expand your circumstances to fit your dream . Big dreams , honor a big God . And don't just tuck that dream away into a journal where no one else sees it . Write it I triple dog , dare you in hot pink lipstick on your mirror so it stares you down every morning . Stick it on your steering wheel so it drives you forward every time you get into the car . Let that dream become so visible you can't ignore it , and neither can your excuses .

Speaker 2 9:55

Step two fail proof . And this is what I like to call . You heard me say it earlier the never give up . So here's the truth . Failure , girls , it isn't final , it's feedback . I love that one . Okay , now listen , when you hit a wall , don't just stop , just pivot . Ask what can I learn ? How can I adjust Pivot ? How can I learn ? How can I adjust Pivot , pivot , pivot . Every setback , girls , is a set up for your comeback . Keep a little notebook or even a note in your phone called quote unquote lessons from the fall , every time something doesn't go as planned , and it will jot it down . That way , your failures actually become your fuel . Step three pace yourself . Now listen , this is a marathon , not a sprint . The fastest way , girls listen to kill a dream is burnout . Break your goal into smaller pieces . What I'm going to recommend Think about 90-day chunks , or even one baby step a day , because you remember , you've heard me say this in other podcasts baby steps make big dreams , and so I'm going to keep it real with you .

Speaker 2 11:11

I had to live this one out recently . I am studying for my 63 hour pre-licensed course for real estate and I got listen over 385 note cards full of terms I have to learn . If I tried to tackle them all at once , I would drown . So here's what I did I divided those note cards and put each in a pile in its own . And then listen , I put it in its own color coded Ziploc bag , one color for each day of the week . Then each day , I would only listen , only review the stack in that bag , just that day's color , just that pile . Now , by the end of the week , I had worked through all of them without burning out . That's what pacing yourself looks like Breaking the overwhelming into doable . You don't climb a mountain in one leap . You know that you do it step by step . It step by step , color by color , card by card .

Speaker 2 12:14

Step four build your dream team . Okay , listen , don't do it alone . You need , ladies , at least one person who will hold you accountable , cheer you on and remind you why you started . That could be a friend , a mentor , a coach or even a prayer partner . What I have found is that accountability is the oxygen that keeps your dream alive . I've seen this again in my own life . When I started down that real estate path I'm going to go there again I had a friend who came alongside me and said I'll mentor you , I'll keep you through this . And honestly , I don't know what I would have done if I hadn't had them to give me the courage to keep going without that accountability . Sometimes , just knowing someone's watching , encouraging and reminding you of your why is the difference between quitting and pressing on ? So try this Send a weekly dream check . That's what I call it . It's a dream check text . Let's say , every Friday , message your person with one thing you did that week to move toward your goal and one thing you plan to do next week . Ladies , you will be amazed how much momentum comes from simply knowing someone is rooting for you .

Speaker 2 13:32

Step five encouragement on the repeat Speak life over your dream . Every day Post-it notes , wear and post them everywhere you will see them your mirror , your fridge , your car . Write things like I am capable , I am consistent and I am called . And here's what I've learned . Sometimes I need to hear my own voice and remind me of the truth . So I'll even record myself on those little voice apps on your phone and saying something like an affirmation or a scripture and play it back when I'm driving or getting ready in the morning . Because , listen , if I don't fill my mind with encouragement , it is way too easy for discouragement to take over and sink a sister . So , listen , if the lies get loud and they will you've got to get louder with the truth , god's truth and your own voice , speaking life over your future . And can I just say this None of these steps require perfection . All they require is just a little persistence . The point isn't to get it all right and I have to remember that too it's to keep moving , one step at a time , with God leading the way .

Speaker 2 14:51

The faith factor . Now , ladies , I can give you all the strategies in the world , but without faith you'll still run out of steam . Because here's the truth Going after a hairy , big , audacious goal isn't just about willpower , listen , it is about God power . Do you remember that old show , fear Factor , Some of you ? Well , you might be a little too young , but it was all about facing these wild , crazy and over-the-top challenges to see who could overcome their fears . And let's be honest , we've all got our own fear factor going on , don't we ? The doubts , the what-ifs , the voice that says we can't . But here's the difference Very few people tap into the faith factor , and that's the factor that changes everything In Galatians 6 , 9 , it says this Let us not grow weary in doing good , for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up .

Speaker 2 15:51

That means your H-bag isn't just about hustle , it is about a harvest . That means your H bag isn't just about hustle , it is about a harvest . Your consistency , your faith , your willingness to keep showing up , that's what positions you for God's blessings . And here's what I love Faith doesn't erase the hard stuff . Faith empowers you through it . Prayer isn't just a lifeline you grab when you're sinking .

Speaker 2 16:17

Oh no , it's a launchpad . It's where you and God strategize together . It's where he reminds you daughter , I put that dream in your heart and I'm not done with it . And don't miss this . You don't have to pray alone . Enlist people who can pray for you . Listen , I got me a friend group chat where we don't just laugh together , we live it together . We pray each other through the hard times , especially when we share the specific details to lift up to our Father . And let me tell you this there is power in knowing someone else is storming heaven's gates on your behalf . And in fact , I could pray for you . Just use the Send Sheria text feature in the podcast description and then let her rip . It comes right to my inbox . And don't forget , we also have you know this girl a 24-7 prayer line at 855-822-PRAY .

Speaker 2 17:13

I said that wrong , 855-822-pray . You're not walking this journey alone . Listen , I've had to lean into this myself . There were nights I felt drained , unsure if I could keep pressing forward , and in those moments it wasn't my grit that carried me . On the contrary , it was God's grace . Sometimes my prayer was nothing more than Lord , give me just enough strength for today . And he always did so .

Speaker 2 17:41

Don't think you have to do this all on your own . You may not have a spouse to push you forward , but you have a Savior who walks beside you , and he's more than enough . Ladies , that dream in your heart , it's not random , it's not an accident , and it's definitely not too big for God . If he planted it , he will provide for it . Your job , though , is to take the next step . His job is to turn those steps into a story that blesses you beyond your belief .

] Questions to Spark Your Journey

Speaker 2 18:14

So I've got some questions for you to ponder before we wrap this up . Okay , I don't want to just give you strategies and stories . I want to give you space to think , to breathe , maybe even to dream again , so let me leave you with a few simple questions . Not a long list , okay . Not homework , just a gentle prompt that you can carry in your heart today . Not homework , just a gentle prompt that you can carry in your heart today . So , number one what dream and I want you to say this to yourself what dream have I set aside that God may be asking me to pick up ? Two , what small step could I take this week towards that dream ? And then three , who could I invite to pray with me , encourage me or hold me accountable . That's it Three questions , nothing more . But if you'll let them sit with you while folding laundry , driving to work or tucking your kids into bed , they just might spark the courage to take your next step .

Speaker 2 19:13

Because sometimes I have found the road to your hairy , big , audacious goal doesn't start with doing . It starts with daring Daring to ask , daring to believe and daring to dream again . So as I close , ladies , here's the truth I want you to carry with you today . Being a single mom is not the thing that stops you . We have discussed that . It is the thing

Introducing the H-Bag Concept

Speaker 2 19:39

that proves you can . Your H-bag , your hairy , big , audacious goal , is not too big , not too bold and not too impossible when you put your faith into action . We all live with fear . That's our fear factor , but not everyone lives with faith . And it's the faith factor that makes the difference . It's what turns survival into success , setbacks into comebacks and dreams into a harvest .

Speaker 2 20:06

So let me ask you one last time what's the next baby step you're willing to take towards that big , god-sized dream ? Don't wait for the perfect moment and certainly don't let excuses keep you stuck . Take your step , ladies , because baby steps still move mountains . And remember it's a single mom thing and not the single thing that stops you . So , before I sign off , I also want to give a special shout out to our Gala Platinum sponsor . It is that time of year , that is how we fundraise and raise the money to do things like this . Talk with you , and I want to thank Crown Automotive Charities and the Hawkins Family Foundation . Thank you so much for helping us to continue to support single moms and their kids as they face their future with confidence

] Closing Thoughts and Sponsor Thanks

Speaker 2 20:54

. We couldn't do this without you . So , ladies , until next time , keep dreaming , keep stepping and keep believing . Your H-Bag is waiting . Have a wonderful week and remember it's a single mom thing , not the single thing that stops you .

Speaker 1 21:11

Thanks for listening to it's a Single Mom Thing . I hope you enjoyed our time together . If you have more questions on how to have a relationship with Jesus or need prayer , visit us at wwwshepherdsvillagecom . Backslash prayer . For more information and resources , check out our show notes .