Lessons of Insights and Encouragement on the Path of Motherhood

A Powerful Guide That Speaks to the Heart of Single Motherhood

A Review

Living, Learning, Loving: Insights and Encouragement on the Path of Motherhood by Gail Cawley Showalter is a book that feels like a warm hand on your shoulder during some of the hardest and most beautiful moments of single motherhood. From the first chapter, it is clear that this book was written with sincerity, lived experience, and genuine compassion.

Showalter’s honesty makes each story relatable and comforting. She shares the realities of raising children alone, offering insight without judgment and encouragement without pressure. Her experiences help you feel understood in a way that is both rare and refreshing. At the same time, her advice is practical and easy to apply to real life. She speaks on setting healthy boundaries, managing finances wisely, and navigating dating as a single mother with confidence and clarity.

What makes this book especially meaningful is its focus on personal growth. It reminds you that while motherhood is demanding, you still deserve room to grow, heal, and rediscover yourself. The reflective questions at the end of each chapter encourage deeper self-awareness and help guide you toward emotional and spiritual strength.

This book is more than guidance; it is encouragement, empowerment, and a reminder that single mothers are capable, strong, and worthy of joy. It is a comforting companion and a powerful resource that I would recommend to any mother on her journey.

I raised three children as a single mother before I remarried. I have experienced the potholes, pests, and perils of being the sole head of household. I was an educator in both regular and special education for twenty years. I am the founder of Single Moms EmpowerEd, a nonprofit organization that supports single mothers pursuing degrees that lead to employment. I’m also a Certified Professional Coach, and my stories have been published in several books and magazines. My book, Living, Learning, Loving, is available on Barnes & Noble, Amazon, and wherever books are sold.