For years my grandma has gotten depressed around Thanksgiving we all knew it was because it was my grandfather’s favorite holiday. Years past and then it became her being grumpy was because it was the last time, she saw my ...
My late husband's birthday was just the other day. It was the 4th such occasion since he passed. I will honestly say that it has gotten a little easier each time, but it still can be a difficult day. What ...
Today is Children’s Grief Awareness Day. I frequently write a blog for this specific day. I usually write it from the perspective of a widowed, solo mom raising a grieving child. But this year, I thought it would be better ...
This is the third version of a post for the week. I like the other two, but it just didn’t feel finished or right. Today I got to see my stepson it has been over a month since I last ...
The first year or two after losing Rick, every memory that popped into my mind was an emotional trigger that sometimes made me sob, and other times just brought on some quiet tears. The trick was learning to handle these ...
As a widow, I have learned to embrace the joy and the sorrow. But it has definitely been a learning curve. When Jared first died, I could not, or would not, embrace the joy. I only wanted to feel ...
A lamentation is an expression of sorrowing, mourning, or regret. This blog is full of lamentations from widows. But it is also full of hope, hence the name “Hope for Widows”. I recently read a blog post about venting. ...
Note from Donna: One day out of frustration on not being able to come up with a suitable blog idea a new friend grinned and went “‘I’ll do it,” blinked at her and although I knew she was kind of ...
The words “generational trauma” are discussed in the national conversation of late. As many people open their minds about the long-term impact of our nation’s past, the subjugation of women and minorities, childhood poverty, interpersonal cruelty, and long wars on ...
“Maybe I shouldn’t write for other widows as my audience.” “Why not?” “Because my narrative isn’t about missing my husband and the tender moments we shared in the end. I feel like an atypical widow that way. ...