If you are a divorced mom, about to be a divorced mom, or think you are on your way to being a divorced mom, listen up: I have a huge dose of empowerment for you and it comes in the form of this week's Splitting Upward podcast.
In this week's episode, co-hosts Julie and Jesenia have the honor of talking with Jasmine Risso, the woman behind Simply Real Moms.
Not only should you stop what you are doing this instant and check out Simply Real Moms (warning, you'll be there for a while), the story about how she got to where she is and why her website is so successful is so inspiring.
An inspiration for single moms everywhere
During the podcast, Risso, a single mom, admits to staying in her marriage longer than she should have because she wasn't working. It was a mutual decision between she and her ex-husband that she would stay home with their two children —— which meant she earned no money of her own.
Long story short (you should listen to the whole thing yourself), when it came time for her marriage to end, Rizzo did what she needed to do and created a new path for herself. She is living proof of how a tough situation can make you rise up to be your best self.
I was also financially dependent on my ex-husband
I didn't work for 13 years, so the thought of trying to support myself and my three children left me feeling insecure, scared, and hopeless.
I only realized when my marriage was ending how much not working had diminished my self-esteem. And, to top it off, I still wanted to be able to be home with my kids. It was the life we all knew, and with all the changes being thrown at us, I wanted this to stay the same.
Risso had all the same fears, and was faced with moving out, having to pay rent, and get her business up and running so she could support herself and her two kids. She also wasn't getting any child support. Talk about scary.
Yet, she worked her butt off to make her website what it is today and says the key to doing that is to find your passion — and make money from it.
That passion shows in her beautiful website
I literally just spent an hour in the recipe section of the site. My evening plans now include carving out a nice chunk of time to comb over the sex and DIY sections of the website.
Not only has she build a successful career, Risso talks about dating as a single mother. I'm proud to tell you (SPOILER ALERT!) she now has a new child with an amazing man she met online.
She discussed some tips on how they blended their families and talks about how she and her ex-husband are great co-parents.
If this isn't a happy ending to a hard situation, I don't know what is.
While going through a divorce we may retreat and go throw a long mourning period, and lord knows there are lots of tears, worry, and struggles. Through this dark time, we don't hear stories like this enough — stories where women work their butts off and make their dreams come true by taking charge of their life.
Don't let the money thing stop you from being happy
So, if you want to leave your partner but don't think you'll be able to handle the financial piece because you're dependent on them, think again.
You are capable of doing anything you need to do in order to survive independently.
Take it from me, a woman who didn't work for over a decade and stayed home with her kids then was faced with divorce: There is so much more freedom in making a life change that will help you live your best life than there is in depending on someone else for money.
Yes, being on your own financially after divorce is hard. And yes, dating after divorce is hard — but it doesn't need to be crippling. Don't let the fact that your life didn't turn out the way your thought it would stop you from doing things you want and creating happiness.
If you start to go down a rabbit hole, just listen to this weeks's podcast again. I guarantee it will help.
Listen to Episode 7 of Splitting Upward:
