The Survivors Podcast

Parenting Through Grief: How to Show Up When You’re Shattered

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*WARNING: This podcast mentions suicide, sexual abuse & trauma and may be triggering.

 

Episode Summary

This conversation delves into the complexities of parenting while grieving, exploring personal experiences of loss and the impact on family dynamics. Lisa & Natasha share their stories of navigating grief, the importance of vulnerability, and how to teach children about emotions and loss. They emphasize the cyclical nature of grief and the necessity of allowing children to witness their parents' struggles, fostering compassion and understanding.

In this conversation, they explore the complexities of grief, family dynamics, and parenting. They reflect on personal experiences with loss, the importance of emotional expression, and the impact of generational patterns on parenting styles. The discussion emphasizes the significance of unconditional love and the necessity of being real with children, especially during difficult times. They also touch on the upcoming conversation about life in the FLDS community, highlighting the emotional weight of sharing personal stories.

 

Episode Sponsored by The HelpHUB™ 

Struggling with your mental health? Feeling lost, overwhelmed, or just alone? Well, you're not. Welcome to The HelpHUB™—your online destination for mental health resources, treatment options, content, and tools to help meet you exactly where you are in the moment. Visit TheHelpHUB.co to get started.

 

Takeaways

  • Parenting is challenging even on the best days.
  • Grief adds an overwhelming layer of stress to parenting.
  • Moms often bear the brunt of emotional labor in families.
  • Grief can be cyclical and affect parents long after a loss.
  • It's important to allow children to see their parents' emotions.
  • Vulnerability can teach children compassion and understanding.
  • The impact of grief can change family dynamics significantly.
  • Talking about mental health is crucial for families.
  • Modeling emotional honesty helps children navigate their own feelings.
  • Grief can create a sense of disconnection from reality. It's okay to cry and express emotions.
  • Unconditional love is vital in parenting.
  • Breaking generational patterns can empower children.
  • Grief can coexist with joy and meaningful relationships.
  • Presence is more important than performance in parenting.
  • Children need to see their parents as human.
  • Showing vulnerability teaches resilience to children.
  • Parenting through grief requires self-compassion.
  • Children are witnesses, not caretakers of parental grief.
  • Life is hard, but love and kindness can guide us.

    • Chapters

    00:00 Navigating Parenting and Grief
     
    03:09 The Weight of Grief on Parenting
     
    05:55 Personal Stories of Loss and Grief
     
    09:04 The Impact of Grief on Family Dynamics
     
    12:04 Teaching Children About Grief
     
    15:09 The Role of Vulnerability in Parenting
     
    18:01 Breaking the Cycle of Silence Around Grief
     
    24:27 Reflections on Grief and Family Dynamics
     
    30:27 Breaking Generational Patterns in Parenting
     
    35:34 Navigating Grief While Parenting
     
    39:49 Upcoming Conversations on Life in the FLDS

     

    Mental Health Resources

    • If you or someone you know is struggling, please call 988 for help.
    • The Survivors Podcast Website – https://thesurvivors.net/
    • The HelpHUB™ – Mental health resources, tools, and support networks – https://www.thehelphub.co/
    • National Domestic Violence Hotline – Call 1-800-799-SAFE (7223) 

      • Follow & Connect With Us

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      🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-survivors-podcast

      🎥 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheSurvivorsPodcastChannel

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      See you next week! In the meantime, keep surviving.

       

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      The Survivors PodcastBy Lisa Sugarman & Natasha J. Layton
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