Finding love and ‘moving on’ when you are in the thick of grief might feel impossible. But, sometimes (and often unexpectedly) you’re able to let new people into your lives and hearts. This was the case for our wonderful guests today - Sky Sports presenter Simon Thomas, along with his wonderful wife Derrina. In this honest and heart warming discussion, Derrina and Simon talk about how they have supported Ethan (Simon’s son and Derrina’s ‘chum’) in navigating their new reality, making space for grief, and how they continue to ensure that Ethan’s mum’s presence and love is still felt in their home. It’s a warm and powerful listen though we do mention grief and loss of loved ones, so if you are sensitive to these subjects we suggest coming back to this episode when you are ready. To become part of the Blended family, follow @blended on instagram

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*Trigger warning* This episode covers the loss of loved ones. What is grief? Is there a right or wrong way to grieve? And what are the different approaches to dealing with it? Today’s guest is bestselling psychotherapist, Julia Samuel MBE, who brought such warmth and wisdom to these really tough subjects. Julia believes that every family has a story - so much so that she’s titled her most recent book just that. In this warm and informative episode, Julia and Kate explore some of the common issues that can arise when living in blended families: what we inherit and how we can help support each other. Julia has a talent at simplifying complicated topics and offers such useful advice into how families can face challenges together. Kate and Julia also talked about her twelve touchstones for family wellbeing - from fighting productively to making time for rituals. To become part of the Blended family, follow @blended on instagram To hear more from Julia and to follow her work, head to https://juliasamuel.co.uk/ or follow her on Instagram @juliasamuelmbe

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*Trigger warning* This episode covers loss of pregnancy, struggles with fertility and death of loved ones. Mother’s Day is meant to be a beautiful celebration of the women that shaped us. But for so many people out there, it can be a really tough day to navigate. In this moving first episode of Blended, Kate brings together voices of women, children and young adults from around the UK who share their honest experiences of Mother’s Day and how they've courageously dealt with fertility struggles, loss of pregnancy and grief. Kate also speaks with bestselling psychotherapist Julia Samuel who shares some expert advice on how to deal with common triggers on the day. In listening to other stories, Kate hopes that you find some solace in your own. And remember, you are not alone. If you are struggling, please seek professional advice and guidance. To become part of the Blended family, follow @blended on instagram Thank you to Child Bereavement UK for their contribution to this episode.

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Hosted by Kate Ferdinand, this podcast is a celebration of blended families - exploring the stories of relationships bound by love, no matter what their circumstances are. Covering subjects such as second marriages, divorce, grief and life after loss, adoption, fostering and (not-so-wicked!) stepmothers, Kate will champion different voices and experiences by speaking with experts, everyday people and celebrities in the public eye.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.