"I had turned 30 and had started having very vivid dreams at night about being pregnant and having a baby. I guess, in hindsight, this was my biological clock ticking.

I had always wanted children, but like many women these days, I went to college and then graduate school, and found myself excelling in my career. I hadn't dated since my high school sweetheart; we dated more than four years and broke up during college.

It was almost a panic when I realized I was 30 and it just didn't seem possible for me to start dating, find someone, get married, and have kids before I was "too old." So I started researching, using keywords "single motherhood by choice." I read a bit, ordered Mikki's book and another similar book, joined the online group and thought - wow - I could really do this!

I am a planner, though, so I put my brakes on and got myself a therapist. She was great. We had worked together before, but she actually did this kind of work as a specialty and I wasn't aware of that, so it was a great working relationship. We made several lists of the pros and the cons of single motherhood. What I would need in place to ensure I would be prepared for single motherhood. How I would address it with my family, etc. We covered all sorts of topics.

Then she gave me one challenge. She said, it looks like you have all your ducks in a row and are prepared to move forward with Single Motherhood (by this time I had met with my doctors, gotten referrals for fertility clinics, had my financial plan and goals, etc.), but I challenge you to give finding someone to love a real chance. My jaw kind of dropped. "But we have this plan," I thought.

She saw my expression and smiled. She knew my goal was to get pregnant by 35. She said I have a few years to put my plan into place, so keep an open mind and see what happens.

That was our last meeting. I never gave it a second thought, until just before my 33rd birthday. I decided the thought of single motherhood was getting scary. It takes such strength to be a single mother and I wasn't sure I had it in me. I also was torn about the decision on what and when to tell my child and other people. That seemed to be an ongoing issue in the back of my mind. I also really wanted to give my child a fair chance at having a father.

So I decided, I have two years, why not try? I got myself a Life Coach. And she held my hand through the process of learning how to date and even learning how to socialize at parties/events. I was super anxious about it. But we talked about what it was that I was afraid of: what my thoughts/feelings were, what made me feel less anxious (i.e., having a task to do, having a friend with me, etc.), how to overcome those fears (changing my thought processes, engaging in other activities, learning how to respond appropriately in social situations), how to meet guys (I don't go to bars, clubs, and don't date people I work with).

We worked intensely together and I finally elected to try one of those online dating sites (after multiple recommendations from friends who had matched and married from them). So six months later, I am engaged to the love of my life and we will be married in the spring.

We both want children so I plan to go the traditional route. If my first therapist would not have put that challenge in my head I am sure I would never have challenged myself.

There is nothing wrong with single motherhood, and I still would have proceeded with it had I never found a spouse. I was thankful for all the support and guidance I found through Mikki's site and book -- it was really helpful. All I want in life is to be a Mother. I'll do whatever it takes to become one."

Mikki's note: If you would like to talk to a Choice Mom-friendly therapist, be sure to check our list of 20 here....and use Comments field below to recommend life coaches you have worked with. It's a new area we could and should develop on ChoiceMoms.org