This episode contains graphic depictions of domestic violence. Listener discretion is advised. If you or someone you know needs help, please call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233, or text “START” to 88788.
Leaving isn’t the hard part. It’s admitting to yourself that what you’ve been calling “home” has been hurting you. In this episode, I sit down with Wadzanai Karanja, a domestic violence survivor and single mother, to talk about the red flags she didn’t yet know to name, the years of isolation that kept her far from help, and the moment she chose safety over staying. We also break down the research that debunks the idea that children need two parents under one roof to thrive, and dig into what emotional safety, stability, and real community support actually look like for single mothers rebuilding their lives on their own terms.
Wadzanai Karanja is a survivor, a mother, and a passionate voice for women choosing safety over expectation. Her story is a powerful reminder that protecting your child sometimes begins with protecting yourself.
Resources mentioned:
- Journal of Marriage and Family: Longitudinal study on children leaving high-conflict homes (1,400 participants)
- American Psychological Association: Resilience in stable single-parent households
- National Center for Health Statistics: Maternal education as a protective factor
In this episode, we cover:
- The early red flags of coercive control
- How isolation and fear keep women from leaving
- Why many “traditional” family norms harm more than they help
- What the research says about single-parent stability
- How community becomes a lifeline for survivors
- A parenting truth that might change how you view “broken homes”
Hosted by Chancé Hindir-Lane, Selfish Parenting is the honest, empowering podcast that challenges the myth of self-sacrifice in motherhood. Each episode explores identity, partnership, and the balance between nurturing your family and yourself.
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