The Diary of an Independent Woman Podcast

In this entry, I remember the years I was working full-time while attending university, and how quickly responsibility became something I didn’t question.

From starting as a receptionist to managing a temp agency, my days — and sometimes nights — we... more

Entry Four: The Good Girl

At thirteen, I was already paying attention to things most kids don’t think about — like money and the quiet stress it can bring into a house. When my school held a raffle for tickets to Lagoon, a theme park hours away, I d... more

In this entry, I remember the summer I asked to work in the fields with my aunt. I was between twelve and thirteen years of age and had been hearing my parents argue about money.

Without really understanding it, I decided I needed to take care of my... more

In this entry, I remember the summers I spent at home caring for my younger siblings. By the time I was ten, I knew the rhythm of the day and what needed to be handled before anyone asked.

I didn’t think of it as responsibility. I thought it was wha... more

In the first entry, I begin in the kitchen I grew up in — a space that was always moving and where I learned, without being told, when to step in and help. It didn’t feel like responsibility then. It felt normal.

This is where I first remember becom... more

In this short introduction, I share what this diary is and why I’m finally reading it out loud. I talk about growing up as the eldest daughter, learning independence early, and how strength became something I carried for years without questioning.

T... more