Suzanne Duncan
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Suzanne Duncan started her own coaching consultancy as a single mother of three. She truly never imagined she would be living as a single parent, but she was thrust into that challenge when her husband tragically lost his battle with cancer in 2011. Suzanne maintains a strong, loving relationship with her children and has put them at the forefront of everything she has accomplished since becoming a single parent. She holds a science degree, a graduate diploma of education, and is an accredited coach. Her inspiration to help others, especially single parents, comes from her own very personal awareness of the challenges facing all parents today.
With her husband’s death, Suzanne has raised her children on her own, and she has an inherent understanding of the difficulties single parents face. Being flexible and patient are two attributes high on Suzanne’s list of what makes a single parent successful. She is keenly aware that the very definition of success is personal, but in her view, it embodies having solid, open relationships with her children, encouraging them and boosting their self-esteem, and being a parent who is mindful, self-aware, and constantly growing.
Suzanne operates a coaching consultancy called DiscoveryWithin. As a coach and an author, she helps clients rediscover their potential, embrace their learning opportunities, and to generate positive relationships.
BOOK DESCRIPTION
The number of single-parent families is on the rise. One of the greatest worries many single parents face is how to manage parenting on their own. Do you feel you are a good enough parent? Do you feel overwhelmed, stressed, or alone? Do you worry about the future?
All by Myself & Rocking It! How to Be Successful at Single Parenting is not just another single-parenting guidebook. Rather, it provides insightful, practical, doable ideas to help you manage life as a single parent and teaches you how to look after yourself while nurturing your children, how to raise children with a good sense of self-esteem, and how to find the inner courage to be successful at raising happy, healthy children on your own.
LEARN HOW TO…
Finally break the cycle of aloneness, frustration, and uncertainty. Discover the power of changing your belief patterns and embrace your new identity. Put this powerful method in place to work for you and become an outstanding parent, a strong and loving role model for your children.
UNCOVER IN THESE PAGES…
All by Myself & Rocking It! How to Be Successful at Single Parenting is a survival manual for navigating the lonely and, at times, seemingly hostile world of single parenting. Learn to brace yourself for uncertainty and summon your inner courage to stand strong when friends disappear and challenges emerge from out of the blue.
- Unleash the new you and come to terms with your changing identity.
- Find the inner courage to tackle anything, even when the going gets tough.
- Listen to the call to better health and confront stress head on.
- Make the power of communication work for you.
- Realize the importance of being financially savvy, for your security and that of your children.
- Benefit from a heightened awareness of your child’s developmental stages and understand what they are going through.
- Play an integral role in building your child’s self-esteem.
- Discover joy, through the loving of laughter and light-heartedness.
- Know that you are not alone and find hope in the stories of other single parents.
PRAISE
“An inspiring personal testament that a single parent can rock it!” —Nikki Arnold, author of Positivithink™
“Suzanne Duncan captures the vicissitudes of family life in deeply moving and relatable terms. All by Myself & Rocking It! is enriched with practical insights on single-parenting.” —Berns David Lucanas, author of Time Is Up!
“I just finished reading the book written by Suzanne Duncan, All by Myself & Rocking It! As a single father to my son Shaun Miller—which you may all remember did a YouTube video called My Final Goodbye that was seen by over 6 million people and who passed away at 17 years old—I was really emotionally touched. What an inspiring story by a single mother about losing her husband to cancer at early age and taking the ropes as not only mother but also father to her children. What I learnt from reading this book are the primal screams that would have been etched in Suzanne’s brain. ‘Why me!’ But she knew her children needed guidance through their young lives. I have to say that while at times the grief is paralyzing and tells personal facts of the human experience, this book is packed with wisdom within post- traumatic growth, which is the possibility that people can actually grow in unexpected ways of trauma. I fully recommend this book to any one dealing with grief of a love one. With a resounding message, the book strikes a deep cord within the reader that life is very short, and this is a powerful story of a mother grieving for her children or for parents who lost a love one—a book that takes you on a huge journey in life.” —Cameron Miller, founder, Shaun Miller Foundation www.theshaunmillerfoundation.org
“Reading Suzanne Duncan’s book, I wished this book had been around when I found myself in the chaotic and confusing turmoil of grief and aloneness post-divorce many years ago. I needed a book like this to help me, inspire me, and remind me I wasn’t completely alone with everything, and that life can get good again.
“This book is a quick and easy read. Suzanne shares her own personal stories of becoming a single parent to three children and at the same time provides a guide full of simple but incredibly valuable recommendations and advice on how to best move on and take control of your life as a single parent.
“In the book Suzanne covers a wide range of vital areas, all from dealing with grief, to acceptance, and to moving on. She offers good parenting advice and notes on the importance of health- and self-care. The book even covers basic travel and financial advice. Suzanne thoughtfully gives simple and easy-to-implement tips and a few handy exercises to get you into action, if that’s what you need.
“Great little inspirational quotes and highlights of wisdom are scattered throughout the book, as well as useful links to further resources and reading.
“Although I read this book at a time when I have well and truly adapted to life as a single parent, I got lots out of reading it. It was a great reminder of how and why to be more present with your children, as well as being a great role model for them.
“In fact, this book could be of benefit not just to single parents but also to any parent who would like to feel in control of their life, thrive, be healthy, and happy. It’s for any parent who wants to be their best selves and who wants their children to grow up resilient, empowered, and loved.” —Christina Tolstrup, single mother
“This is a great resource for all single parents. Practical advice is combined with nurturing kindness. I would highly recommend this book to my patients.” —Dr. Christine Taylor
“Every person’s story through loss or separation is different. Suzanne takes you through how she overcame the personal challenges faced in her bid to return to a normal family life. Read it. Digest it. Let it stimulate your thinking that may help you understand (and possibly help you overcome) the challenges that you are facing or have faced.” —Steve Littlejohn, proud father of one
“A wonderfully comprehensive guide to not only surviving but also thriving in the single-parenting world. A must read that I wish I’d had access to during my marriage separation.” —Emma Hargreaves, mum of two
“When life doesn’t go according to plan, we can often feel that we’re on our own. As a single parent in a new stage of life, Suzanne guarantees that you won’t be alone. The choices you make today will determine your opportunities for tomorrow. This book will encourage you to look at your life with a sense of possibility and optimism so that you’re in the best place possible to create the future you desire for you and your children. Heartfelt, inspiring,and lived.”
—Nicole Davidson, author of How to Put the Balance in Your Business—An Owner’s Guide to Having It All,
www.nicoledavidson.com
“Suzanne’s book gives a raw, real, honest, and holistic insight to transitioning into becoming a single parent. The book offers parents tools to be able to manage the challenges and pitfalls in the journey that lies ahead. It highlights possible impacts on children during this time and gives parents the guidance to be able to provide certainty, and help them through this transition with as little impact as possible to their children. A great read and a must have for any parent transitioning into being a single parent.” —Lesley Banton, parenting strategist, https://www.facebook.com/Theparentwhisperer/
“All by Myself and Rocking It is a very inspiring read, and as a divorced single parent of almost five years, Suzanne’s book is very close to home. I loved reading about her brave journey and how she has succeeded in the face of adversity. This gives me hope and makes me feel excited about life and all the possibilities and adventures that lie before us. I love how she quotes ‘the opportunity to blossom again is within your grasp,’ because there is so much truth here, which I have certainly learnt this along my own journey. Thank you, Suzanne, for sharing your stories and all the encouraging advice and hopeful affirmations.” —Bianca Devin, Hum Photography, www.humphotography.com.au.
“I feel this book is written with so much love. Every word touched my heart so much that my tears could not stop flowing as I moved on through the pages. The author has put it so forwardly the feeling of separation, courage, and decision to change and actions to moving on, as she quoted ‘Love to LEARN, GROW to give and be excited to EVOLVE.’ I couldn’t agree more. Life is a continuous learning and growing. When we give, we will receive too. It’s a journey of discovery!”
—Janty Widjaja, mother of two
“All by Myself and Rocking It effectively communicates simple actionable techniques to smooth the road forward for those like me, who have or are also traversing the journey into unexpected ‘single parentdom.’ On top of tips, which I had also adopted when finding I was ‘all by myself,’ Suzanne’s book enlightened me to more avenues I could incorporate into the map of my new ‘normal’ life. Whether you read this book from start to finish or scan the chapters where you see gaps in your life, you will find something of relevance to your current emotional, circumstantial, or financial stage of your solo parenting days.” —Anne Cook, single parent of nine years
