Note: This episode includes discussion about mental illness and suicide. Please choose another story if these details may be triggering for you. 

Veronica's mom had schizophrenia and Veronica's father was a WWII veteran who suffered from PTSD. Veronica's childhood was very tumultuous, and she didn't have normal teenage years either. She ended up caring for both her mother and father as they neared the end of their lives. She is now trained in mental health first aid and has strengthened her spiritual foundation, so that she can choose to live and be love to others.

Veronica's Take-Away: Please remember this acronym for the MOTHER within:

You can find Veronica and her business, Mind Health First, at https://mindhealthfirst.com.au. Her email address is [email protected]. You can find her on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/mindhealth1st, and on Instagram as mind_health_1st. 

All of our stories are important! If you have a story to share, please send an email to [email protected]. You don't have to be a DWOM to share your story. All are welcome!

Would you like to talk about your grief journey? Sign up for a complimentary Connection Call here: https://calendly.com/daughterswithoutmoms/20-minute-connection-call?month=2021-09

For more information on my thoughts on grief, please visit my website, www.yourgriefjourney.com.

In this episode, Miranda shares about the difficulty she experienced with becoming a mom while at the same time losing her own mom. Her mom was diagnosed with multiple myeloma in 2011. Her mom died in 2019, shortly after MIranda gave birth to her first child. Miranda really struggled with anger, and found that grief therapy helped her realize that her mom is still a part of her life.

You can find Miranda on Facebook at www.facebook.com/mueller.miranda and on Instagram at www.instagram.com/m.rose.sweets/

Miranda's Take-away: I felt really alone as I was entering motherhood at the same time as losing my own mom. I want others to know that it's ok to spend time on yourself, that therapy works, and you are not alone!

All of our stories are important! If you have a story to share, please send an email to [email protected]. You don't have to be a DWOM to share your story. All are welcome!

Would you like to talk about your grief journey? Sign up for a complimentary Connection Call here: https://calendly.com/daughterswithoutmoms/20-minute-connection-call?month=2021-09

For more information on my thoughts on grief, please visit my website, www.yourgriefjourney.com.

In this episode, Randi Pearlman Wolfson shares about the death of her father when she was only 10 years old. He was 41 years old, and had been diagnosed with leukemia more than 3 years earlier. But Randi and her brother never really knew that their dad was sick, and then he was gone. As an adult, Randi spent nearly 20 years educating others in the topic of grief.

She has published a book, "Eddie's Brave Journey: How one little elephant learned all about grief". The book is intended to help children learn to understand their great big feelings, through the remarkable journey of one little elephant. 

You can find Randi on Instagram and Facebook as @griefandgrits

You can order the book from either of Randi's websites: www.griefandgrits.com or www.eddiesbravejourney.com

Randi's Take-Away: Understand that grief is something that will be with you for a lifetime. Recognize that it will come back and hit you, even years later. When someone you love, dies, it's normal to experience joy and sadness at the same time.

All of our stories are important! If you have a story to share, please send an email to [email protected]. You don't have to be a DWOM to share your story. All are welcome!

Would you like to talk about your grief journey? Sign up for a complimentary Connection Call here: https://calendly.com/daughterswithoutmoms/20-minute-connection-call?month=2021-09

For more information on my thoughts on grief, please visit my website, www.yourgriefjourney.com.

Today you'll meet Brigette. Brigette is a sister without a sister. Her sister, Aubrey, was born deaf and with Cerebral Palsy. They were only 18 months apart in age, and were extremely close. 

At the end of her life, Aubrey was fearful of leaving Brigette, and Brigette assured her that she was strong and capable. After Aubrey was gone, Brigette had a hard time with her grief and was in a really deep pit. She shares how Aubrey helped her realize that she was also strong and capable.

Brigette's Take-Away: Look into the mirror and know that you are strong and capable! If you don't feel strong and capable, find your people! Find people you can talk to, whether that be a counselor, an online community or friends that accept you as you are. You will continue to evolve and become, because that's what we do!

Brigette's website: www.thestrongandcapable.com

The Strong and Capable Facebook Group: www.facebook.com/groups/628549991097806

On Instagram: www.instagram.com/brigette.heller

All of our stories are important! If you have a story to share, please send an email to [email protected]. You don't have to be a DWOM to share your story. All are welcome!

Would you like to talk about your grief journey? Sign up for a complimentary Connection Call here: https://calendly.com/daughterswithoutmoms/20-minute-connection-call?month=2021-09

For more information on my thoughts on grief, please visit my website, www.yourgriefjourney.com.

Today you'll meet Quinn and Maddie. They were high school friends, who connected again in their mid-20's when they lost their moms within 2 months of each other.

They realized that their conversations were the kind of real talk that people need when experiencing loss. And thus, the Young & Bereaved podcast was born! You can find the podcast here https://bereavedpodcast.podbean.com/, or on any podcast platform.

Maddie and Quinn also recommend the podcast Terrible, Thanks for Asking, which you can find at https://www.ttfa.org/

In the podcast, we talk about the Yoga for Grief video from Yoga by Adriene. You can find that video here: https://youtu.be/iEVn59U2_LY

Maddie's Take-Away: Allow yourself to sit in your grief and fully feel it. Pair it with a hobby that uses your hands or motor skills. This will help you move through your grief. 

Quinn's Take-Away: If your loved one wants to talk about their death, allow yourself to be comfortable with the situation and have the conversation. This may alleviate regret later on. 

All of our stories are important! If you have a story to share, please send an email to [email protected]. You don't have to be a DWOM to share your story. All are welcome!

Would you like to talk about your grief journey? Sign up for a complimentary Connection Call here: https://calendly.com/daughterswithoutmoms/20-minute-connection-call?month=2021-09

For more information on my thoughts on grief, please visit my website, www.yourgriefjourney.com.

Today I'm sharing a topic I recently learned about: High-Functioning Codependency

If you're anything like me, you don't even like the word codependent, because you are independent!

This term was coined by psychotherapist and author, Terri Cole. You can find more information about her work at www.terricole.com

All of our stories are important! If you have a story to share, please send an email to [email protected]. You don't have to be a DWOM to share your story. All are welcome!

Would you like to talk about your grief journey? Sign up for a complimentary Connection Call here: https://calendly.com/daughterswithoutmoms/20-minute-connection-call?month=2021-09

For more information on my thoughts on grief, please visit my website, www.yourgriefjourney.com.

In this episode, you'll meet my husband Brian. Today we are celebrating 25 years of marriage, and I asked him to share his perspective on what it is like to support someone on their grief journey. Where I have lost all of the people in my family of origin, both of his parents and both of his brothers are living. We have both learned things about each other over the past 25 years. 

Brian's Take-Away: Love is love. When someone you love is hurting, it's heart-wrenching. 

All of our stories are important! If you have a story to share, please send an email to [email protected]. You don't have to be a DWOM to share your story. All are welcome!

The Permission II: Permission to be YOU program will begin on October 25th. Please visit my website for more information.

Would you like to talk about your grief journey? Sign up for a complimentary Connection Call here: https://calendly.com/daughterswithoutmoms/20-minute-connection-call?month=2021-09

For more information on my thoughts on grief, please visit my website, www.yourgriefjourney.com.

This episode is the story of Southofthe49th's journey with his wife after her diagnosis of a brain tumor. He does not share his identity, due to the privacy of his kids, but has learned how to use TikTok as a way to share his story and document memories for his children. You can find him on TikTok as @southofthe49th. 

He also recommends finding a Grief Share group for support on the grief journey. You can simply go to their website, put in your zip code, and find a meeting near you. 

Take-away: It's ok to be sad, but it's also ok to find joy at the same time. 

All of our stories are important! If you have a story to share, please send an email to [email protected]. You don't have to be a DWOM to share your story. All are welcome!  

The Permission II: Permission to be YOU program will begin at the end of October. Please visit my website for more information. 

Would you like to talk about your grief journey? Sign up for a complimentary Connection Call here: https://calendly.com/daughterswithoutmoms/20-minute-connection-call?month=2021-09

For more information on my thoughts on grief, please visit my website, www.yourgriefjourney.com.

In this episode, you'll meet Emily. She is a 24-year-old adult orphan. She lost her dad in 2018, and her mom, just one year ago, in October, 2020. Emily shares how she never had a close relationship with her mom, who was disabled and suffered from addiction and mental health issues. On top of the grief of the physical loss of her parents, she has complicated grief around the lack of validation from the relationship she had (or didn't have) with her mom. Emily is currently pursuing her Masters in Clinical Social Work, specializing in grief and trauma therapy. 

You can find Emily on Instagram: @griefbyemily

Emily's Take-Away: Grief is traumatic, and if it is complicated, regret is normal. Give yourself grace and be gentle with yourself. Find time to sit in your grief. Get comfortable with the uncomfortable. 

All of our stories are important! If you have a story to share, please send an email to [email protected]. You don't have to be a DWOM to share your story. All are welcome!

For more information on my thoughts on grief, please visit my website, www.yourgriefjourney.com.

Laura May shares her story about growing up with a mom who suffered from mental illness and addiction. Laura May was never really parented in a healthy way and grew up feeling insignificant, as though she was always in a shadow. Laura May has worked hard to learn from her experience and to do more than just survive - she wants to thrive!

Laura May shares about the journal she's written: Power of the Joy Journal. She also offers coaching and counseling. You can find all of her information on her website: www.knowselfservices.com. 

You can find Laura May as @lauramaythecoach and @motherlessdaughtersinbusiness on Instagram, as @lauramayculver and @motherlessdaughtersinbusiness on Facebook, and on LinkedIn. You can find her on Shopify: https://knowself-services.myshopify.com/

To reach Laura May, please email [email protected].

Laura May's Take-Away: Joy and fulfillment through a lifetime of chaos is achievable. You are important! You need to paddle your own canoe and look after yourself. 

All of our stories are important! If you have a story to share, please send an email to [email protected]. You don't have to be a DWOM to share your story. All are welcome!

For more information on my thoughts on grief, please visit my website, www.yourgriefjourney.com.