A Thousand Tiny Steps

Long before I lost Molly, I lost my first baby, Gordy from a heart defect and his loss followed me. I didn't plan on having kids, but Gordy was the first in a chain reaction of interesting events, and through time has shown me each of my children have played an important role in my life. In this episode, I discuss the trauma of losing my first child and how that affected my outlook when I had my o...

The trauma, grief, and guilt that comes with child loss is immense. My day to day life changed after my daughter Molly died, but with the help of online grief groups I've been able to work on my trauma. Not only has my life changed, but my daughter's life was turned upside down and it has been an uphill battle to return to "normal" life.    Key Takeaways:  [6:14] The bond between my daughters  [13...

When Jack was born it made me think of his future, the support system he has, and how I have to be mindful of my trauma when parenting. Child loss and grief have impacted how I parent and made me express my gratitude for others in my life on a daily basis. In this episode, I explore my awareness of these tumultuous emotions and trying to create healthy relationships through grief.   Key Takeaways:...

Times have changed from when I had my first child to now. My parenting style, social media use, and the changing culture about what makes a family has had profound effects on me. Stemming from the generational gaps in my household and the trauma I've endured, life is different. But underneath it all, I've seen the similarities between people, especially parents and not what makes us different, but...

When I had Jack, my phone would not stop ringing. From Good Morning America to The Today Show my story has been shared to thousands of people. I have had so many positive responses, but along with the positive came the stress and consequences of having my life publicized. This week, I'll go into the response of the media and my struggles with breastfeeding Jack, and the support I gained from other...

In this episode, I go more in depth about my emotional experience being pregnant and giving birth. From my friends and family's reaction to me having a baby and dealing with the difficulties of breastfeeding it was a wild ride.    Key Takeaways:  [2:50] The first round of IVF failing [5:45] Keeping my pregnancy under wraps  [7:26] People's reaction to me having a baby at 57 [10:55] Going to the gy...

Being an older mother had its challenges from doing two IVF transfers to dealing with preeclampsia. In this episode, I discuss my IVF experience, keeping my pregnancy a secret for months, and the journey of Jack's birth.    Key Takeaways:  [1:14] The importance of Jack's birth and cleaning my house  [5:01] Preparing for IVF [7:23] The first IVF transfer [11:12] Plethora of tests and COVID putting...

Having a baby was far from my mind in this episode as we dive into my medical tragedies and of course, the wonderful support system I met along the way. From my brain tumors, to my jaw surgery, to Kenny receiving a kidney, and the joy that came from the tragedy of Rachel Hunger's death.    Key Takeaways:  [1:36] Finding out I have brain tumors  [7:12] Neurological tests and scheduling surgery  [10...

  Having a baby at 57 was a long journey between having surgery, struggling with my medication, going through a lawsuit, and trying to keep my families heads above water. In this episode, I am going to dive into the process of having Jack, the people that helped make that happen, and the obstacles I met along the way.   Key Takeaways:  [1:06] Building a sense of community [2:29] The pill and begin...

In this episode, I'm thrilled to take you through my life with all the ups and downs that have occurred. From working as a teacher, having a baby at 57, losing my daughter, and reconciling with grief my life is full of extraordinary events. Today I'm going to be sharing an overview of my struggles and the importance of leaning on others.    Key Takeaways:  [1:49] Childhood and university experienc...

This podcast is about the extraordinary events in my ordinary life. From having a baby at 57 to overcoming addiction and more. By diving into my discomfort, I've grown as a person. If you want to hear stories of great tragedy and joy, while tapping into your own discomfort, join me as we begin our journey of a thousand tiny steps.    Connect with Barb: Facebook   Instagram   YouTube