The Widowed Mom Podcast

Feeling stuck after loss looks different than most people imagine. You're functioning, checking off your to-do list, and everyone thinks you're doing well. They tell you how strong you are. But inside, you're watching your life happen from the outside, going through the motions without really feeling connected to any of it. This particular kind of stuckness happens when you're past the point of ba...

There’s an invisible ceiling above you, limiting what you believe is possible for your life after loss. You didn't put it there consciously, you probably can't even see it clearly, but you can feel its weight pressing down on everything you do. This quiet but powerful belief problem shapes your entire future without you even realizing it's there. After losing your person, you put one foot in front...

When Hugo died, people kept assuming I'd be furious at the driver who had meth and alcohol in his system. But the anger just wasn't there - it felt like a tragedy, not a betrayal. The emotions I carried were heavy with sadness and shock, but not the white-hot rage everyone expected. This time around, with my recent breakup and having to sell the house, I'm experiencing wave after wave of inte...

Black-and-white thinking shows up everywhere in grief - in the harsh judgments we make about ourselves, in the impossible standards we hold ourselves to, and in the rigid rules we create about how healing should look. It's that voice that says you're either doing grief "right" or you're failing completely, with no room for the messy middle ground where most of us actually live. In this week’s epis...

In this episode, I'm addressing the productivity pressure that so many widows face - that nagging feeling that you should be doing more, moving faster, or getting back to normal. This isn't just about recognizing the pressure; it's about understanding how deeply our culture has tied our sense of worth to our output. Join me this week to discover how to identify when productivity pressure is a...

While cleaning light fixtures in my home, I discovered layers of built-up dirt that had dimmed what were actually crystal-clear glass fixtures. For years, I had accepted the clouded appearance as normal, never questioning if something better lay beneath. This simple household revelation sparked a powerful metaphor for how we often settle into life after loss. I understand firsthand how w...

As I navigate intense emotions using my regular tapping practice, I've noticed a common pattern that many of us fall into during grief - attempting to smooth over difficult feelings with gratitude.  While gratitude is undeniably powerful and beneficial, I've observed how it can sometimes become a way to bypass emotions that need to be felt and processed. Tune in this week to learn how yo...

Living a full and meaningful life after loss isn't about waiting until you feel completely ready - it's about recognizing the subtle signs that you're prepared to take those first steps forward. Many widowed moms find themselves in what I call a "grief plateau." If this is you, it's time to move beyond merely surviving to truly thriving. In this episode, I explore the five key signs that suggest y...

Is true happiness possible without pursuing another romantic relationship? This is a question many widows contemplate privately.  In this episode, I break down what it means to build a steady, loving relationship with yourself and how to create genuine fulfillment as a widow. I discuss why rushing into dating from a place of discomfort can lead to settling for less than you deserve, and share...

In this raw and unfiltered conversation, I sit down with my client Janet Lea who shares her experience of grief after losing her wife of 43 years. Janet's perspective is fresh—she's approaching the one-year mark since Mary Lou's passing—and her insights are both heartbreaking and illuminating. Join us this week as Janet lets us in on the realities of grief—from the unexpected ways it manifests phy...

“ Am I doing this wrong?” The question haunts so many of us on our grief journey. We look around at other widows, compare our progress to arbitrary timelines, and wonder if our unique experience somehow means we're failing at grief. In this episode, I tackle the common fear that there's a "right way" to grieve and explain where this anxiety actually comes from.  Join me this week as I explore...

Have you ever wondered why grief feels so physical? Why your heart races, your sleep vanishes, and your body aches when you're mourning the loss of someone you love?  In this illuminating episode, I welcome back renowned grief researcher Dr. Mary-Frances O’Connor to discuss her new book, The Grieving Body , which explores the profound physical impact of grief. Dr. O'Connor explains that grief...

Are you filling  every hour of your day  since your partner died? Maybe well-meaning friends have advised you to “just stay busy” or “give it time” as if these are magical solutions to grief. While staying busy  can  provide temporary relief, it might actually be keeping you stuck in your grief journey without you even realizing it. Staying busy can feel like a way to maintain...

What happens when the life you thought was perfect suddenly shatters? In this week's episode, I sit down with Jo Kleinsorge, who lost her high school sweetheart to suicide two years ago. Their life seemed picture-perfect on the surface - financially stable, healthy kids, world travelers, surrounded by great friends. But in an instant, everything changed. Get full show notes, transcript, and more i...

Do you find yourself trying to control everything in your life since losing your person? If so, I want you to know that this is completely normal, especially after loss. Our need to control often comes from a deep desire to feel safe when our world has been turned upside down. But here's the truth: trying to control what we can't control is exhausting. It's like trying to hold onto sand - the tigh...

Do you look outside at the blooming flowers and singing birds and wonder why you don't feel as bright and cheerful as the season suggests you should? You're not alone. Sometimes spring brings up a very different kind of tension - when everything outside looks light and beautiful, but inside, it feels heavy and tender. Maybe even dark. In this week's episode, I'm getting vulnerable and sharing my o...

How often are you pushing yourself to the point of exhaustion? For many widows, juggling work, children, household responsibilities, and grief creates a perfect storm where taking breaks seems impossible.  In this episode, I share the warning signs that your body and mind desperately need rest, how to redefine what a "break" actually means, and why making rest non-negotiable is essential for...

Do you ever feel like your grief progress is too slow? That the little things you accomplish each day don't really matter in the grand scheme of things? I'm here to tell you that every small win counts, especially when you're grieving. In this episode, we dive into the power of celebrating small wins and how they can help build momentum and confidence during the grief journey. You'll learn why our...

I open up about my own recent experience with secondary loss, feeling the impact of recent plane crashes that involved the same types of aircraft my late husband Hugo used to work on. It's a stark reminder that grief doesn't have an expiration date, and secondary losses can hit us when we least expect them. If you've been struggling with vanishing friends in the wake of your loss, know that you ar...

Letting go can be incredibly challenging after loss. It may feel like a betrayal to release things tied to your partner's memory. However, holding on to what no longer aligns with the life you want to live can come at a high emotional cost. Learn why endings are essential for growth and how to take small steps toward letting go of what feels heavy.  Get full show notes, transcript, and more i...

Emotional eating is incredibly common, especially for those dealing with grief. It's not just about food either - maybe for you it's over drinking, over scrolling, over working, or over shopping. We're going to talk about why we eat our grief, how to understand what's driving this behavior, and a simple shift that can change how you respond to these cravings. Get full show notes, transcript, and m...

I want to reflect on what I have learned in the last 100 episodes, building on the lessons I shared back in episode 200. Let's dive into eight powerful lessons that these past 100 episodes have taught me about grief. From understanding that grief isn't something to "get over" to recognizing the resilience within each of us, these insights have the potential to shift your perspective and support yo...

I share a simple yet powerful mindset shift that can help you navigate your emotions with more ease and less suffering. I explore the difference between struggling and feeling sad. By the end of this episode, you'll have a new perspective on sadness and a tool for creating more space for your feelings. Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here:  https://www.coachingwithkrista...

What if I told you there was a way to reimagine Valentine's Day and make it a meaningful, connecting experience - even in the midst of grief?  I explore four pillars of connection that can transform Valentine's Day from a painful reminder of loss to an opportunity for love and belonging. Whether you choose to focus on one, two or all of these pillars, you have the power to make this holiday w...

I explore the fascinating concept of post-traumatic growth and how it's available to all of us, including widows. Post-traumatic growth doesn't mean being grateful for your loss or minimizing your pain. It's about intentionally creating more meaning, purpose, and fulfillment in your life after a traumatic event. I share powerful sentences that can help foster post-traumatic growth, the thoughts th...