PODCAST · kids
Instant Mom
by Elizabeth Friedland
Navigating solo adoptive and foster motherhood while attempting a go at sanity.
Episodes
-
Considering solo motherhood? How to know if it’s right for you!
If you’re considering solo motherhood (or even partnered motherhood!) you may be wondering if you can really swing it by yourself. It’s scary! There are so many things to consider before deciding to be a parent — and especially a solo parent. Tune in as I walk you through a framework to evaluate...
-
ADHD? Now what?
If you’re navigating a new or suspected ADHD diagnosis for your kiddo, let me throw you a life preserver. Navigating an ADHD diagnosis is a little like fumbling around in the dark — so consider this a tiny flashlight to help you figure out which resources and next steps you might want to…
more -
Building the Bio Parent/Foster Parent Relationship
The bio parent, and the foster parent are on the same team. Let’s talk about how you build that team to be strong and powerful!
-
The Foster Parent’s Manifesto
Foster well requires a unique selflessness and a lens of service. We are not saviors. This isn’t about us. We are not the heroes of the story — or even the main characters. Check out the list of beliefs and values every foster parent should hold true in order to foster well.
-
Foster Care Influencers: A big YIKES waiting to happen?
Let’s all take a deep breath before we dive into this potentially hot topic of foster care influencers. How do we share our foster parenting experiences without crossing the line into martyrdom, saviorism or outright exploitation? Let’s talk about it.
-
All About Open Adoption and Post-Adoption Contact
Afraid of open adoption? Confused about what it means? Check out this episode to hear all about navigating (and embracing!) an open adoption.
-
“I was asked to adopt my foster child. Now what?!”
Navigating how to answer that BIG question: “Would you adopt your foster child?” It’s a big leap — emotionally, financially, physically — from answering the call to foster to saying yes to forever. How to understand if you’re called to foster… or to adopt.
-
The Icky Power Dynamics of Mediation
Mediation happens when a case plan is changed to adoption and the prospective adoptive parent (often time the foster parent) presents a compelling offer to the bio parents in the hopes they’ll voluntarily give up their parental rights. It’s… kind of icky. And an ethical minefield. And filled with...
-
Foster Care is Not Cheap Adoption
Foster care is designed to preserve a family — not break it up. Let’s talk about why it’s not okay to wish for a case to end in adoption and how foster parents can and should support bio parents.
-
It’s been a YEAR: Let’s catch up!
Can you believe it’s almost been a year since the last episode? Find out what happened to baby Olivia, how Makel is doing in college, and what’s new with me and Jack.
-
The Story of Olivia: Part 2
Olivia‘s birth mom changed her mind and decided to parent. Hear about how we are handling that and how we’re helping to support the new family through our grief.
-
The Story of Olivia
Surprise! We adopted again! Learn more about how 3 month old Olivia came into our lives as perhaps our biggest surprise yet.
-
It’s Q&A Time!
You asked, I answered. Behavioral challenges, finances, dating, future plans, how to prepare for a placement, and more!
-
Kids in Foster Care Don’t Need Socks
It’s a grab bag today! An update on the health scare of our teen, why we won’t use an adoption agency to grow our family, and for the love of God, kids in foster care don’t need your donated socks.
-
It’s a (Teen) Girl: One Month In
So many people are afraid to foster teenagers — and until roughly 30 days ago, I was one of them. Listen to an update on what I’ve done right and wrong (so far) and how life as a mom of a 3 year old and 17 year old is going.
-
It’s a (teenage) girl!
Remember a few weeks ago when I said we were taking a break from fostering? Well, here we are, one week away from an amazing 17 year old girl joining our family. Listen to find out how in the heck that happened.
-
Life Updates: Maggie, Our Open Adoption, Safe Families, and Dating
Here’s a little mixed bag of life updates: Maggie’s status, visits with Jack’s birth parents, keep Jack’s little brother for a weekend, becoming a host family with Safe Families and... my love life.
-
Welcome, Baby Maggie!
The most gorgeous two day old baby girl joined our family over Memorial Day weekend. This multi-part episode navigates what it’s like to say yes to a placement, — from that first phone call from the caseworker to picking her up at the hospital to settling into a new routine together at home.
-
My First Placement
Today I’m talking about my very first placement, a gorgeous three month old baby girl. Hear what I did right, what I did wrong, and how being a mom for the first time changed me
-
Fostering During the Pandemic
Well here’s a situation we never thought we’d be in — solo parenting during a lockdown in a pandemic. Tune in for an update on our situation and some Q&A.
-
New year, new updates
Find out what happened with the teenage girl we were getting to know, and what’s next for us along our foster care and adoption journey.
-
11 Things I’ve Done Wrong as a Foster Parent
I’ve learned a lot in the past four years of fostering, and I cringe when I think of some of the mistakes I made earlier on in my journey. Let’s talk about what I’ve done wrong — and how you can avoid making the same mistakes.
-
Balancing Career and Solo Motherhood
From a listener submitted question: How do you balance a demanding career with being a solo mom? My answer: Carefully, and sometimes at the cost of my mental, physical, and financial health.
-
What to Expect When You’re Expecting a Teen
Curveball alert! We are in the early stages of getting to know a sweet teenage girl who might eventually join our family. Let’s talk about the harsh realities teens in foster care face when they “age out,” what getting to know a teen in care is like, and how this all might work.
-
Q&A: Part One
You’ve got questions, I’ve got answers. In this two parter, I’ll answer listener-submitted questions about foster care and adoption.
-
Didn’t expect THAT news.
We just found out Jack is going to be a big brother again... and we certainly didn’t expect this news.
-
Buying for Baby
Let me fill you in on my secret to buying everything you need for baby: what products to skip, what products you can’t miss, where to save, and where to splurge.
-
How to Help a Foster Famly
It takes a village to raise a child in foster care — and to support foster parents who are often (if not always) stressed emotionally, physically, and financially. Let’s talk about meaningful ways you can provide support to the foster family, the foster child, and the birth family.
-
Let’s Get Uncomfortable
Adoption only exists because there was significant pain, trauma, loss, and grief. Adoption is beautiful, but it’s not all puppy dogs, unicorns, and rainbows. Let’s talk about the ways that well intentioned adoptive parents can do a disservice to the adoptee and the birth mother — and how we can...
-
Adoption Through Foster Care
Is there such a thing as “foster to adopt?” How much does adoption through foster care cost and is it cheaper than private adoption — and how are they different? How does the whole process work?
-
The One Where I Date
It’s the question I get the more than almost anything else — can you, and how do you, date as a single foster and adoptive mom? Pull up a chair and let’s talk. Also, I cry a decent amount in this episode.
-
Foster Parenting &Finances
Do you want to be a foster parent but you’re not sure how you can afford it? Are you wondering why there’s a stereotype about foster parents “being in it for the money?” Are you interested in adoption, but the cost of a private adoption has totally terrified you? Today we talk everything money…
more -
Ready, set, foster!
Everything you want to know about becoming licensed, preparing for your first placement, and getting that first phone call.
-
Let’s catch up.
New to our story? Been awhile since you’ve checked in? Let’s get caught up.
-
Aaaaand we’re back!
Remember that time I started a podcast three years ago and then randomly decided to delete all the episodes? Well, I’m back. And I’m ready to talk all things foster care and adoption again. Let’s do this.
We're indexing this podcast's transcripts for the first time — this can take a minute or two. We'll show results as soon as they're ready.
No matches for "" in this podcast's transcripts.
No topics indexed yet for this podcast.
Loading reviews...
Loading similar podcasts...
Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Instant Mom have?
Instant Mom currently has 35 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Instant Mom about?
Navigating solo adoptive and foster motherhood while attempting a go at sanity.
How often does Instant Mom release new episodes?
Instant Mom has 35 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.
Where can I listen to Instant Mom?
You can listen to Instant Mom on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts Instant Mom?
Instant Mom is created and hosted by Elizabeth Friedland.
URL copied to clipboard!