Co-Parenting, Dating With Kids, and Breaking Toxic Cycles

Life Goes On opens with Carissa and Nicci welcoming guests and quickly moving into a real, unfiltered conversation about co-parenting, dating with children, step-parent dynamics, emotional regulation, therapy, and the pressure to break generational cycles for the sake of their kids. The episode blends humor, honesty, and hard-earned experience as the hosts and guests compare single parenting, toxic co-parenting, child support, blended families, and the challenge of protecting children while still trying to heal as adults. Keywords from the conversation include co parenting, dating with kids, single mom, child support, therapy, emotional control, stepdad, blended family, trauma, accountability, and breaking cycles. The discussion keeps returning to one central idea: even when romantic relationships fail, parents still have a responsibility to show up, protect their children from conflict, and model healthier behavior for the next generation. By the end, the group lands on a message of growth, honesty, boundaries, and choosing peace over chaos while still giving "good men" their flowers for being present fathers and providers.   Topic Segments 00:00-06:30: Introductions, guest roll call, and light opening banter.   06:30-18:30: Can someone be a good parent and a bad co-parent?   18:30-35:30: Toxic co-parenting, using children as leverage, and speaking negatively about the other parent.   35:30-52:30: Single parenting experiences, child support, and showing up even when finances are limited.   52:30-01:08:30: Dating with children, dealing with baby mama/baby daddy drama, and setting boundaries.   01:08:30-01:21:30: Blended families, step-parent roles, and how children respond to household dynamics.   01:21:30-01:36:30: Therapy, emotional regulation, and learning to control anger and reactions.   01:36:30-End: Marriage talk, personal growth, and closing appreciation for present fathers. /// Life Goes On is a raw, real, and deeply relatable conversation between Carissa and Nicci, two women who have lived through enough to know that survival is not the same as healing, and healing is not the same as having it all figured out. At its core, the podcast is about resilience, faith, accountability, and the messy but powerful process of breaking cycles for the next generation.   Carissa and Nicci bring lived experience to every episode. They speak honestly about being single mothers, felons, and women who have had to rebuild themselves while raising children, navigating relationships, and learning how to choose better for their families. Their stories are not polished or sugarcoated; they are grounded in truth, growth, hard lessons, and the kind of tenacity that keeps you moving even when life keeps throwing hits.   What makes Life Goes On stand out is the way it blends vulnerability with strength. The hosts talk about motherhood, generational patterns, education, career setbacks, spirituality, and the pressure of trying to become who you were always meant to be. They create space for people who feel overlooked, judged, or stuck, reminding listeners that a setback does not define the rest of your story.   This is the podcast for anyone who has had to bounce back, start over, and keep going anyway. With honesty, humor, faith, and no fear of telling the truth, Carissa and Nicci invite listeners into conversations that feel like late-night talks with women who have been through it and made it out stronger.