The Family of One Child
Where faith, family, and fun come together! I'm a wife, part-time working mum, and full-time believer in making the most of every joyful (and sometimes busy) moment. Join me as I share the highs, lows, and laugh-out-loud moments of raising an only child. Together, I'll explore relatable stories, heartwarming lessons, and real-life parenting humor—all while celebrating the beauty of small families. If you're looking for love, laughter, and faith-filled parenting tips, you're in the right place! Tune in and let’s enjoy this adventure together! Subscribe today!
Episodes
Your calendar looks busy on paper, but somehow you still have to get everyone fed, connected, and okay. I'm recording from my car at the barn and sharing some of my parenting experiences about what a part-time working parent schedule can look like: a 30-hour work week, school pickup, a long drive for equestrian lessons, then hours of waiting while our child learns, bonds, and grows. The surprise is that those in-bet...
Parenting an only child can look calm from the outside, you carry a lot, and you’re often the default playmate, teacher, and emotional safe place all at once. We’re talking about building a real village not a perfect one so your child gets more support and you get more room to breathe.
We share a simple moment that changed everything: letting a kind teenager babysitter teach shoelaces. It&rs...
A hot car, a long wait at the barn, and a simple question: how do you actually build community when you are raising one child and your schedule is already full? I’m sharing what has worked for me as a “friend mama” who keeps it practical and honest, including the imperfect moments, the funny lessons, and the small wins that add up to real connection.
We talk about planning local field trips ...
Sirens hit different when your kid is watching and asking a thousand questions. One minute you’re doing a calm fire station tour, and the next you’re seeing firefighters and paramedics move with total focus as they roll out on a real call. That moment is powerful for kids and honestly for us as parents, because it turns “helpers” from a cartoon idea into real people your child can trust. ...
That moment when you meet another mom of an only child and instantly click is hard to describe, but you know it when it happens. I call it the “long lost buddy” feeling, If you’ve been craving mom friends who truly get your season, your schedule, and the unique pressure of being the main playmate, this conversation is for you.
I share the questions that helped me most when my daughter ...
Making mom friends can be all sorts of emotions. You want connection for yourself and your child, but you also don’t want to come off awkward, intense, or out of place. I’m talking honestly about both sides because I’ve lived them, from boldly approaching strangers to quietly staying back with my phone while my daughter plays. If you’re in a new season of parenting an only child and you&rsquo...
That question people toss out so casually, “Are you having another?”, can land like a weight on your chest.
We go on what it’s like to build a village when you don’t have a built-in one. I share some of my experiences when I have walked into rooms where other moms already had their people, their history, and their easy conversations, while I stood there trying to find a way in. We ta...
The fastest way to ruin a great field trip is to leave the “small stuff” to chance. Bathrooms, parking, payment rules, group size, refunds, and timing sound boring until you are standing at the door with kids who suddenly need to pee and a host who was not ready for your crew. I want you to walk into your next outing calm, prepared, and ready to have fun.
We dig into Phase 2 of my Jump Start...
Loneliness can sneak up on you as a stay-at-home mom, especially when your friends’ kids are older and your whole day still revolves around naps, snacks, and toddler moods. I share what helped me move out of that in-between space: building a small, positive community by starting with simple activities I already enjoy with my only child, then inviting one or two moms to join us. No big events, no complicated pl...
We share how we built a simple field trip group that helped our only child make friends while we found our own sense of community. We walk through the mindset, practical steps, and gentle routines that turn small outings into meaningful connection.
• starting with the heart behind gathering people and building belonging
• creating Little Local Adventures from stay-at-home life
• asking two...
Homework can show up at the worst possible time, right when everyone is tired and you can finally see bedtime. I’m Ruth, and I’m letting you into what homework really looks like in our only-child home: the after-school car check-in, the moments I’m trying not to yell, and the way one worksheet can flip the mood of an entire evening.
Our schedule has a wildcard, the barn. We drive 40 minutes ...
We face the honest sting of “You’re always tired” and unpack what it means to parent an only child while entering midlife. We trade guilt for grace and share how play can shift without losing love or connection.
• turning 50 as a lens on small moments
• the exhausting Saturday routine and the ask to play
• the heart-hit of “you don’t play like you used to”
• only c...
Ever sit in a room where everyone’s milestones feel a mile ahead of yours? That’s where our story opens: friends swapping grandbaby cuddles and wedding plans while we’re checking a third-grade backpack and learning the newest dance challenge with sore shoulders and a full heart. It’s a moment that could spiral into comparison, or bloom into clarity about what really matters.
We talk ca...
This is Episode 3 of Season 4, and it begins with a moment I didn’t expect. A single comment from my husband at a celebrity meet-and-greet lit a fuse in my heart: Who gets to inspire our kids first? What started as a simple family outing opened into a deeper reflection on my identity as a newly minted mom to a three‑and‑a‑half‑year‑old, the power of language, and the fierce love that sits inside a parent. I sh...
In this episode of The Family of One, we’re talking about something every “one and done” parent eventually bumps into: how do you build a community for your only child when some people assume siblings automatically fill that role?
We get into the honest stuff, the awkward park moments, the “mommy‑friend trap,” the pressure to have another baby, and the big myth that siblings guarante...
I talk about the moment I realized my daughter was growing up and how her curiosity about feminine products nudged me toward preparing for the period conversation. I share stories from my own childhood, the experience of raising an only child, and why I wanted my daughter to feel prepared instead of confused. You’ll also hear real comments from other moms and the heart behind The Period Book Ice-Breaker Mom an...
In this episode of The Family of One Child, I take a real look at a question some parents of only children hear: “Are only children spoiled?” I break down the myth using comments from moms raising an only child, along with my own experiences raising my 8‑year‑old daughter.
I talk about how my husband and I are learning to set healthy boundaries and how we’re teaching our daughter responsibility ...
Welcome back to The Family of One Child. In this episode, I dive into the reality of some midlife moms may face: the overlap of perimenopause and parenting exhaustion.
If you’ve ever asked yourself, “Why am I so tired all the time? Is it just me, or do other moms feel this too?” you’re not alone. I share funny, real-life triathlon stories (yes, I did three in my late 30s before becoming a ...
Welcome back to The Family of One Child. Today I’m talking about the heart of parenting one, with love, with strength, and with honesty about the worries that come with it.
If you’ve ever wondered whether your child will feel alone later in life, or felt guilty about them missing out on sibling bonds, you’re not alone. These are real, common fears many moms share.
But this episode isn’t...
In this episode of The Family of One Child, I share our personal journey of choosing to be “one and done.”
I also read comments from other moms, some that resonate with me, and others that offer a different lens. Together, I explore the joys, the worries, and the cultural pressure that often surrounds this choice.
This episode is about honoring your own path, tuning out judgment, and celebrat...
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