One of my favourite inspirational speakers is a child psychologist named Dr. Jody Carrington. She speaks of the importance to connect to our community of friends and family. We are wired to do hard things, but those hard things are ...
If I had stayed home as much a year ago as I am now because of the pandemic, people would have been concerned. Is she becoming a hermit? Is she home moping? I remember being asked if I was getting ...
Living without him. This is something I'm still grappling with after all this time. Shortly after Mike died I remember thinking, "We're all so young. I still have so many years ahead of me, God-willing. How am I going to ...
As I write this, more than 57,000 Americans have died from Covid-19, and the number of Americans grieving for each other grows exponentially. In a country that compartmentalizes death to funeral homes and then largely ignores the entire topic, the ...
Widowhood has multiple challenges. Being widowed while solo parenting is one of those difficulties. Parenting teens is super easy… said no parent ever. Today’s teens face more complexities in their lives than their parents did when they were teenagers. Parenting ...
I never would describe myself as strong. People have told me, "you are a strong woman". But I don't always see myself that way, but I should. I have survived one of my worst nightmares, my lowest low and fought ...
I’m a hugger. A cuddler. A squeezer. Touching and affection are powerfully important elements that keep me happy, sane, and functioning. I know I’m not alone in this. Quarantining is wreaking havoc with the psyches of many of us who ...
Music has truly been therapy for my heart and soul over the last 22 months. Seth and I loved listening to music together. It started from the first time we met to our final days together. We would always have ...
Last week, a former student of mine messaged me from across the country and asked how I was doing. AND, she wanted to send me some of her homemade jam (or marmalade--she’s going to surprise me). How am I doing? ...
I’m going to share something that every widowed parent knows. Solo parenting sucks. Being the only one twenty-four hours a day seven days a week without an end in sight. And yes, I have amazing friends who would do anything ...