Laura's mom died when she was 2. She has no memories of her. She reached a breaking point when she outlived her mom and her son was the age she was when her mom died.

Laura's Take-Away: I'd like to dedicate my episode to Ruby, the 4-year-old daughter of my friend who recently died. Ruby, I’m thinking of you and your mother.

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 of my thoughts on grief, please visit my website, www.yourgriefjourney.com

Yvonne was the first woman to share her story on the podcast. She was told as a child that her mother wanted nothing to do with her. As she got older, she learned a different story.

If you enjoy her story, you can go to find her follow up interview here: https://open.spotify.com/episode/2NjOj6XuqfMjyrn1GljN1j?si=b4kqb3NKQ_icz2rZh5KS3w

Yvonne's take-away: My grief journey has helped me always be able to see a different perspective. I'm always looking for the other side of the story. 

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 of my thoughts on grief, please visit my website, www.yourgriefjourney.com

Dallas was an only child and had a very close relationship with her mom. Her mom was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2019. Dallas chose to channel her grief through writing during her mom’s time in hospice, her passing, and the year that followed. Dallas published her

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 of my thoughts on grief, please visit my website, www.yourgriefjourney.com

Welcome to the 2024 season of the DWOM podcast! I can’t believe this is the 4th year. I’m so thrilled that you are here and listening.

Today I will share my thoughts on healing. That you have to feel to heal. It has been on my heart to encourage others to do the hard work of feeling your grief.

I’d love to hear your thoughts once you listen! Please leave a comment on Instagram or Facebook or send me an email.

All of our stories are important. If you have a story to share,

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

Alisha’s mother is living, so she shares a different perspective on what it is like being a daughter without a mom. Due to mental health issues, her mother left the family when Alisha was 9 months old. Alisha was raised by her dad and paternal grandmother, until her grandmother died when Alisha was 11. That loss triggered the additional feelings of losing her mom.

Alisha’s Take-Away: There was not a resource like this for me when I was younger, and it’s a less common thing for the mom to leave, so I wanted to share the things that helped me get through a unique parental situation:

• Really great friends that are like family

• Your situation does not have an impact on what you are able to do. You can still have what you want in life

• Look to who you do have, instead of focusing on who you don’t have

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 of my thoughts on grief, please visit my website, www.yourgriefjourney.com

Isabelle’s mom died in 2016, just 11 days after receiving a diagnosis. Her mom, Greta, entered hospice and Isabelle became her primary caregiver. When someone is sick, you take care of them so they can get better. How do you nurse someone not back to health… but to death? Isabelle and her mom had just entered the part of their relationship where Isabelle looked at her mom more than just simply her mom, but as a woman and a friend.

Isabelle’s Take-Away: When the social worker came to go over the business of death, it made everything real. At that time, my mom said, “You know, I’ve never done this before.” Recently, I’ve realized how applicable that saying is to my grief. I’ve never done this before. Neither have you. We should all give ourselves some grace in our grief.

All of our stories are important. If you have a story to share,

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

Do you self-sabotage? Have you ever thought about the stories you tell yourself? Have you ever questioned if they are TRUE?

Today I share reflections from my own journey and provide a tool for reflecting on your own grief journey.

Gary John Bishop on the Ed Mylett Show:

https://www.edmylett.com/podcast/garyjohnbishop

Previous DWOM episodes that may be helpful:

Season 1 Episode 43: High-Functioning Codependency

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/episode-43-high-functioning-codependency/id1538554333?i=1000539755914

Season 2 Episode 2: Letting Go & Holding On

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/episode-43-high-functioning-codependency/id1538554333?i=1000539755914

Season 3 Episode 17: You are Worthy

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/episode-17-you-are-worthy/id1538554333?i=1000611431399

All of our stories are important. If you have a story to share,

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

Maddie’s mom died from a rare form of breast cancer when Maddie was 13 years old. Her episode is bring released on the 20-year anniversary of her mom’s passing.

Maddie feels like she has finally begun to grieve after avoiding it for so long.

Maddie’s Take-Away: Be compassionate with yourself. There is no right way to grieve. Feeling numb is normal. And then if one day you no longer feel numb, and that is overwhelming and scary, please know you will make it through.

These are a few of the things that have helped Maddie begin to process her grief:

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 of my thoughts on grief, please visit my website, www.yourgriefjourney.com

Leylani’s mom died from pulmonary failure when Leylani was 7 years old. She never had the opportunity to get to know her mom in depth or know her stories. She’s dealt with grief and closure for the past 21 years, but feels like sometimes it can get harder and harder.

Leylani’s Take-Away: If you are dealing with mother or pregnancy loss, you learn how to live with it. You have to learn how to talk about how you are feeling too. If you need someone to talk to, please reach out to me and we can talk.

Leylani’s email: [email protected]

Leylani’s Instagram Photography accounts:

Pets: @barkingmomentsrd

Pregnancy: @leylaniphotostudio

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