She Had Almost Nothing—But Somehow Gave Us Everything | Britney & Her Mom

This week, Britney sits down with the woman who shaped her life—her mom, Maryann. In one of the most personal episodes of What She's Having, they discuss growing up in a close-knit Italian family, navigating divorce, raising children as a single mother, blending families, forgiveness, and what it truly means to create a home filled with love. Maryann shares how she raised two children on her own after Britney's father left, the sacrifices she made to keep her family together, and why kindness, resilience, and family have always been her guiding principles. Together, they reflect on childhood memories, teenage rebellion, motherhood, grandparenthood, and the lessons that continue to shape generations. This conversation is a love letter to mothers everywhere—and a reminder that some of life's greatest gifts are the people who show up for us every single day. In This Episode: • Growing up in a large Italian family rooted in tradition • The lessons learned from an Air Force childhood • Becoming a single mom and starting over after divorce • Why family dinners mattered so much • Raising children with kindness, respect, and strong values • Blending two families into one loving household • Forgiveness, co-parenting, and finding peace after heartbreak • Britney's teenage years and family growing pains • Becoming a grandmother and watching the next generation grow • The most important lesson every parent should teach their children Timestamps 00:00 Introduction to Britney's mom, Maryann 01:04 A tribute to the woman who shaped Britney's life 06:14 Growing up in an Air Force family 09:14 Italian family traditions and Sunday dinners 11:10 Why food became her love language 13:12 The importance of family meals 17:03 Starting a catering truck before food trucks were trendy 18:31 Meeting Britney's father and building a family 20:22 Divorce, heartbreak, and becoming a single mom 22:28 Losing the house and starting over 23:50 Finding a village to help raise children 24:52 Refusing to become a victim 28:35 Why she never spoke badly about Britney's father 30:10 Advice for anyone navigating divorce 33:25 Forgiveness and finding peace before death 37:23 Britney's teenage years and family struggles 43:20 Parenting teenagers and setting boundaries 47:29 How Britney was as a teenager 50:54 Waiting for grandchildren 54:40 The story behind Maverick, Hero and Bullet's names 58:07 Watching Britney become a mother 01:01:26 Advice for mothers today 01:03:11 Why kindness matters most 01:05:29 Lessons on forgiveness and family 01:06:14 Final reflections and gratitude Sponsor Codes ✨ Leaf & Flower Use code WHATSHES15 for 15% off ✨ BodyBio Use code WHATSHESHAVING for 20% off ✨ Firefly Recovery Use code WhatShe'sHaving for15% Off Credits: Hosts: Jennifer Cataldo & Britney Semler New episodes weekly of What She’s Having 🎙️ 🎙️ New episode drops Wednesday.