The Bat Mitzvah Breakthrough: Leslie Stone on Becoming a Single Mother by Choice

This Mother’s Day, we celebrate a form of motherhood grounded in boldness, agency, and unwavering love, the path of the single mother by choice. In this powerful episode of This is My Silver Lining, Leslie Stone shares how one emotional moment at her niece’s Bat Mitzvah triggered a life-changing decision: to stop waiting for the traditional path and choose motherhood on her own terms.

Leslie, a former C-suite advertising executive, opens up about what it meant to make peace with uncertainty and go all-in on a path few dare to walk alone. She speaks candidly about the emotional and physical toll of navigating fertility, the surreal process of choosing a sperm donor, and the serendipity of becoming pregnant at 40 against the odds.

Leslie reflects on the sacred, joyful, and affirming experience of parenting solo, how she intentionally built an extended community of support for her daughter, and the clarity that comes from living life on your own terms. Her story is a compelling reminder that motherhood is not defined by convention, but by intention, courage, and deep love..

Episode Links and Resources

Leslie Stone

Single Mothers By Choice

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