Ep 111: Single Mothers By Choice with Jane Mattes

These days it’s easy to take for granted our ability to communicate instantly, often across vast distances, with people we’ve never met before. But back in 1981, without the internet or email to rely on, finding a like-minded community was far more challenging. And yet today’s guest, Jane Mattes, was able to do just that when navigating the intimidating territory of single parenthood at the start of the 1980s, a time when being a single parent was far more taboo than it is today. The small community of women that Jane became a part of went on to become the non-profit Single Mothers By Choice (SMC), an organization which has since provided thousands of women with an invaluable support system. In our conversation, Jane talks about her journey as a single mother, why she is so proud of the SMC community, and how her work as a psychotherapist has overlapped with her work at SMC. We discuss the three categories of women who seek the support of SMC while also unpacking some of the key questions that single mothers grapple with, like telling children about their origin story and how to approach dating as a single parent. Jane has been a key player in an extraordinary movement that has impacted thousands of lives. To learn all about her incredible journey and the inspiring work over at SMC, be sure to tune in today!