The Widowed Mom Podcast

Have you ever felt stuck in your grief, unsure of how to move forward after losing your husband? I talk with Danielle Fitzpatrick about her journey through grief after losing her husband to pancreatic cancer when she was only 36 years old. Danielle shares openly about the challenges she faced as a young widow and mother, from the numbness and insecurity she felt in the early days of grief to the d...

If you're doing everything right but still not feeling the happiness you expect, you're not alone. Many widows face this challenge, even after putting in the effort to rebuild their lives. I explore why this happens and offer a powerful tool to help you shift your mindset. By becoming aware of the stories you're telling yourself, you can regain control and start loving life again. Get full show no...

What if, instead of being in the way of fully living life, grief is actually the way to fully living? I invite you to consider a powerful reframe: grief as a feature, not a bug. By listening to our grief, we open ourselves up to the possibility of post-traumatic growth - making changes that lead us toward a more aligned life, not in spite of what happened, but because of what we do after it happen...

Do you feel inundated by all the "New Year, New You" messaging right now? What if, instead of trying to fix ourselves, your only job this year was to start selling yourself on your own inherent worthiness? Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here:  https://www.coachingwithkrista.com/293 Mentioned in this episode: You're Invited to Grief Essentials LIVE Join us for 8 weeks of...

The death of a loved one can feel like the end of the game, but it’s important to remember that life doesn’t stop. Learn the concept of Game 1 versus Game 2, and how it can help us reframe our experience of loss and embrace the next chapter of our lives. Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here:  https://www.coachingwithkrista.com/292 Mentioned in this episode: You're Invite...

Why does the holiday season feel so challenging after loss, and what can you do to have an easier, more present experience at this time of year, even if you’re navigating grief?  Learn the three ways you might be making the holidays harder than they need to be, and my top tips for creating the experience you want to have.  Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: ...

From the emotional volatility and disruption to our sense of self to the challenges we might face in our relationships, I explore what Inside Out 2 teaches us about navigating the messy, non-linear path of grief. Hear my insights from Inside Out 2, which I hope will change the way you view your grief journey. Learn how grief presents an opportunity to redefine who we are and what matters most to u...

I explore the profound lessons about grief, sadness, and joy from the beloved Disney Pixar movie, Inside Out, and share how they mirror our own experiences with loss and grief. Learn valuable insights about allowing our emotions to work together, rather than forcing one to dominate. Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here:  https://www.coachingwithkrista.com/289 Mentio...

Have you ever shared something difficult about your grief, only to have someone respond with a dismissive comment like, “They're in a better place” or, “At least you had the years you had together?” This instinct to fix or "right" a situation is known as the righting reflex. It’s a common response to seeing someone in pain that’s usually well-intentioned… but it doesn’t feel good. I explore the co...

I sit down with my client, Amy Krill, who shares her story of love, loss, and resilience after the unexpected passing of her husband four years ago. Hear Amy’s journey of embracing grief wholly, making bold decisions, and ultimately creating a life she loves on the other side of tragedy. Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here:  https://www.coachingwithkrista.com/287 M...

I share a powerful philosophy that has transformed my approach to personal growth and decision-making: we learn by doing.  Hear examples of how learning by doing can help you navigate this chapter with greater ease and resilience, and how to apply this mindset to your journey as a widow to create the life you desire. Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here:  https://ww...

Are you dreading the holidays as a widow? Do certain sights, smells, or sounds trigger painful memories and emotions during this festive season? The holidays can be an incredibly challenging time when you're grieving the loss of a loved one, but being prepared and having a plan can make the experience more manageable. I explore practical strategies for handling holiday triggers with more ease...

Do you ever feel pressured to find a romantic partner in order to be truly happy? What if being single was actually an opportunity to build a rich, fulfilling life on your own terms? I talk with Meghan Keane, founder of NPR's Life Kit podcast, about her new book Party of One: Be Your Own Best Life Partner . Meghan shares her personal journey of losing her father at a young age and supporting...

Are you holding on to your late partner’s belongings, unsure of when or how to let them go? It’s a tricky balance isn’t it - the desire to keep their memory close while also wanting to move forward, or maybe you simply aren’t ready to begin thinking about the future yet. Explore why releasing your partner's belongings after a loss can be so difficult. Hear a helpful reframe for this struggle that...

From the Industrial Revolution to the modern-day superwoman ideal, women in grief especially have internalized the belief that our worth is tied to our output, but at what cost? Learn how the pressure to be productive can be harmful during grief. You'll also explore questions to help you examine your current relationship with productivity, allowing you to redefine success and give yourself permiss...

Have you ever felt that deep ache or yearning after losing your person? While it’s a normal part of the grieving process, our minds often make the presence of this ache mean something negative about ourselves or our grief. Hear why you feel this ache in the first place, why it’s not a problem to solve, and how to rethink the ache so you can begin moving towards the experience you want to have...

Jenny Douglas is an amazing widow who has been through the trenches of grief and come out the other side. We discuss how Jenny rebuilt her life and rediscovered joy, even in the midst of sadness, and why investing in yourself is one of the best things you can do for your well-being. Jenny shares her powerful story of love, loss, and finding herself again after her husband John passed away. Get ful...

Have you ever considered that widowhood could be a doorway to a more intentional life? It's not about loving that our person died, but about using this experience as an opportunity for growth and change, only if you want it. Hear how the loss of your person can bring up both new and long-standing struggles, and how widowhood can serve as an invitation to rewire our brains and change patterns...

When empty nesting meets widowhood, you can expect to experience complex emotions. This unique combination of life transitions can feel like a double whammy, leaving you disoriented, lonely, and unsure of your identity. Explore six key challenges that arise when empty nesting and widowhood collide, and learn what you can do about the compounded sense of loneliness and the struggle of rebuildi...

Those automatic, habitual first thoughts you have in grief might not be particularly kind or useful, but the good news is that with awareness, you can choose subsequent thoughts that move you closer to the life you want. Learn how to be on the lookout for unhelpful first thoughts, and to explore examples of choosing second or even third thoughts that will allow you to see different possibilities.&...

18 months ago, Helen Tanner was widowed after her husband Philip died unexpectedly following a short illness. In this episode, Helen shares her raw experience of becoming a widow at 43 years old, and how she’s navigating her grief as a doctor and mother of two. Hear how Helen’s medical training left her ill-equipped to handle her grief, how she has helped her young boys process their anger and sad...

One of the most essential ingredients to loving life again, yet one of the least talked about, is your belief in your inherent worthiness. Even if it’s unconscious, if you don’t believe you’re worthy of loving life again, you will keep repelling it. Learn how your long-held limiting beliefs may be blocking your path forward and how to cultivate a deep knowing that your worth is fully intact....

Hugo’s death happened in such a way that, within a matter of hours, the rug had been ripped right out from underneath me, and he was gone. While you might not have the same story, I know that sense of powerlessness is a shared experience, no matter how your person died. Learn why the desire for control and power is normal, examples of how this might be manifesting in your life, and how to mak...

Losing a loved one leaves us feeling like we’re at the effect of circumstances in life we didn’t and would never ask for. While we can’t change the significant loss we experience in grief, we can intentionally choose our internal experience of how we respond to life. Learn why choosing helpful thoughts in grief matters, how the intentional thoughts you choose can shape your grief experience,...

How do you allow yourself space to grieve without fighting your feelings? This is something my Mom Goes On client, Berit Van Neste, had to learn when she lost her husband, Roy, to dementia and began slowly putting the pieces of her life back together. Berit shares her journey through love, loss, and finding herself again, and the surprising lessons she’s learned about navigating grief. Get fu...