The Widowed Mom Podcast

Over the last hundred years, there have been several different grief theories developed by experts to help people understand the bereavement experience. Some of them are strongly criticized and don’t speak to most widows’ experiences. I’m detailing the main grief theories in recent history, the criticisms of them, and how having an understanding of them benefits you on your own grief journey....

In a world where Valentine’s Day is shoved down our throats, let’s approach it consciously together this year. We get to be the boss of our experiences, so how are you going to take back Valentine’s Day for yourself? Join me on this episode as I dig into the narratives we’ve been sold about Valentine’s Day and share my love letter to you as my way of acknowledging this day. Get full show note...

Have you stopped taking action on something you said you wanted because you’re experiencing a lack of motivation? What if I told you there is no motivation required to create what you want? Learn what happens when we believe we need motivation, why we don’t have to solve for a lack of motivation, and what becomes possible when you decide motivation isn’t required. Get full show notes and more...

No goal makes us more worthy as humans, but it is incredibly fun to let ourselves go after the thing we want most.  Learn the best way to create what you want as a widow, and how to truly believe that everything you want is possible and available to you. Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.coachingwithkrista.com/243 Mentioned in this episode: You're Invited to Grief Ess...

If self-care feels terrible, it’s probably a sign that you’re doing it right. Self-care is not a luxury, indulgent, all about spas and vacations, or a sign that you’re not grieving “right.” Hear how self-care feeling terrible is a green light to keep going, not a sign that you should stop, and three strategies for improving your sense of self-care. Get full show notes and more information her...

Your life has taken an unexpected turn you didn’t ask for. You mastered game 1, and you’re now in uncharted territory in game 2, but you can definitely win at this game too. I share the top seven ways we hold ourselves back from winning at game 2 so you can set yourself up for this next chapter of your life. Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.coachingwithkrista.com/241...

Losing your person is a big deal, and it’s challenging to grapple with this new life you didn’t choose. How can we appreciate this seismic shift that’s happened in our lives, and is it even possible? Learn what the metaphor of game 1 versus game 2 means, and why it’s a useful way to think about this next chapter of life you’re currently in. Get full show notes and more information here: https...

What would it be like if you never believed the “should” thoughts in your brain? What if, every time one appeared, you simply replied with, “No thank you”? I’m no longer interested in entertaining “should” thoughts, and I believe we can intentionally choose what we want without them. Learn how to embark on a should-free year in 2024. Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.coach...

Whether you have lost your spouse suddenly or lived in anticipatory grief for a long time, like my client Darlene Barnett Carter, there is no easy way to cope with the loss of someone you love. Darlene was desperate for support after her husband’s death, but she had some reservations about how coaching might affect her faith and the true benefits of group coaching.  Hear Darlene’s journey thr...

Most people have heard of the five stages of grief, but we need to stop talking about it. The idea of the five stages of grief was first suggested in 1969, but grief theory has come a long way since then. Discover why the five stages of grief are not reflective of your experience as a widowed mom and why it’s okay that we never reach “acceptance” in grief. Get full show notes and more informa...

Widows are constantly being told that we’re supposed to be grateful and that we should count our blessings. We’re being sold the idea that gratitude is the “fix,” and I don’t buy it. Hear why the gratitude trap is problematic, how it might be doing you more harm than good, and the difference between true gratitude and forced gratitude. Get full show notes and more information here: https://ww...

Are you either a widowed mom wondering where the heck her self-confidence went or a coach (or aspiring coach) who’d like to feel confident coaching grief? If so, this week’s bonus episode is a quick must-listen. Tune in and learn about two time sensitive offerings you’ll probably want to be on the list for! Click here to sign up for my free, live workshop: www.coachingwithkrista.com/rocksolid/ Men...

You probably understand this intellectually, but there is no right or wrong Holiday experience. That includes your family’s traditions, what other people expect of you, and even how you think your spouse might have wanted you to spend the Holidays.  If any of it doesn’t feel aligned with you, this episode is your invitation to rewrite the rules of your Holiday experience. Get full show notes...

The loss of Paula’s husband left her deep widow fog, feeling like nothing was grounding her, only wishing she could be where he was. She was terrified of surrendering to her emotions in fear of falling into a downward spiral with no way out, but she found the support she needed.  Hear Paula’s experience of widow fog, the realizations she had about life after losing her husband, and the w...

When was the last time you worried about crying? On one hand, I get it. None of us wants to cry, especially in public. But on the other, I want us to stop using our tears against ourselves in ways that don’t help our grief. Discover why we feel the need to apologize for our tears, how it doesn’t hurt anyone else but us, and how to be unapologetic about your tears. Get full show notes and more info...

Have you ever caught yourself feeling happy and then immediately started to worry about it? What does it mean? Is it safe to feel good? Are you doing something wrong in grief? Hear what’s going on, why it makes sense that happiness sometimes feels scary for widows, and what you can do about it. Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.coachingwithkrista.com/232 Mentioned in this...

Dr. Lucy Kalanithi is a physician, storyteller, and widow of Paul Kalanithi, the author of the New York Times Bestseller, When Breath Becomes Air . She’s dedicated to helping others choose end-of-life experiences that best align with their values, but, more than anything, she’s a widowed mom. Hear Dr. Lucy’s experience of losing her husband Paul, her insights on the surprising manifestations of gr...

Does it feel like every other widow’s relationship was all roses… and yours wasn’t? The truth is there are all shapes and sizes of widowhood experiences. I debunk the myth of perfect relationships, and show you how to start letting go of the emotional weight that is feeling like a widowhood outcast. Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.coachingwithkrista.com/230 Mentioned in...

When I let go of the story that I wasn’t supposed to be a widow, it helped me create the space to choose what I wanted to make of it. Listen in to hear why the same is possible for you. Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.coachingwithkrista.com/229 Mentioned in this episode: You're Invited to Grief Essentials LIVE Join us for 8 weeks of expert guidance, practical tools and a...

The fear of forgetting our person is one of the deepest natural fears we face in grief and as widows. Hear why the fear of forgetting them isn’t a problem and my favorite strategies for preserving the memories you want to keep. Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.coachingwithkrista.com/228 Mentioned in this episode: You're Invited to Grief Essentials LIVE Join us for 8 weeks...

Anna Sale is an interviewer and the host of the award-winning podcast, Death, Sex & Money , where she has mastered the art of listening and offering space for being listened to when we go through hard things. She offers what she has learned from all the interviews she has conducted on tough topics that are hard to talk about, and how we can make these conversations easier. Get full show notes...

Creating more time is technically impossible, but we can use it in more intentional ways that add value to our lives. You want to treat your minutes, hours, and days in ways that matter to you, so join me today to learn 5 ways you can create more time for yourself. Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.coachingwithkrista.com/226 Mentioned in this episode: You're Invited to Gri...

Grief is individual, unique, and impossible to mess up or get wrong. Contrary to what we've been taught, it also doesn't come to an end. That’s why I love the dual process model. Hear what the dual process model entails and how it provides a framework for avoiding grief on purpose. Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.coachingwithkrista.com/225 Mentioned in this episode: You'...

I love watching the clients who come into Mom Goes On not knowing what to expect. Alexis Cuthbert is one of those people. Hear Alexis’s journey of navigating grief and widowhood, and the revelations that have transformed her life since being a part of Mom Goes On. Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.coachingwithkrista.com/224 Mentioned in this episode: You're Invited to Grie...

“I don’t know” is a phrase I’ve taught many widows to avoid using in their lives. Learn whether your “I don’t know” story is serving you or holding you back, and hear why it’s sometimes useful not to know, and how to make peace with not knowing. Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.coachingwithkrista.com/223 Mentioned in this episode: You're Invited to Grief Essentials LIVE J...