007: Learning From Her Mom with Cathy McKinnon
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On today’s episode of Single Mom Stories, we welcome Cathy McKinnon, a transformation coach, author, and mother who became single when her son was just barely out of diapers. She and I open up the conversation by detailing the initial shock that one experiences after filing for divorce, and Cathy says she and her son found solace in a schedule. Setting weekly and daily expectations for them both, she finds that she’s less stressed than she would be otherwise. Being a child of divorce herself, she was angry that she couldn’t learn from her parents’ mistakes, although it has given her a single mother role model.
While Cathy struggles to ask for help, her mother’s continuous help and support has lightened her load immensely. She goes on to talk about how her mother’s example inspired her to be the best she could be for her son. Cathy draws this episode to a heartwarming close by reminiscing on all of the vacations she and her son go on together. After all, it’s this quality time she gets to share with her child that she values above all else.
The Finer Details of This Episode:
- The initial shock of divorce
- 50/50 custody
- The importance of a schedule
- Growing up as a child of divorce
- Learning from her mother’s mistakes
- Dating as a single mother
- Cathy on spending quality time with her son
Quotes:
“Yeah, there's dishes in the sink, there might be laundry to be folded, but I don't get this time back with him. And so it's all about the experiences and having fun together.”
“I didn't want to be like my parents. I swore to myself that I would be different than my parents. Then here, I was almost in the same exact spot. So I put a lot of judgment on myself in the beginning–why couldn't I have figured it out?
“I'm back to the dating world, but my son to this point has not met any person that I've gone on a date with. I'm under the premise that until there is something that is permanent, he doesn't.”
“We have this close relationship where he talks to me about anything and everything; I love that he feels that I'm a safe space.”
“We're all humans. This is an imperfect journey. There is no guidebook. There is no instruction book. So give yourself grace and remember to just have some time to sit and laugh with your kids.”
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