The holidays are time markers and they remind me of what I’ve lost. They also remind me of all the expectations society has around holidays and the hypocrisy of it all. After losing Molly it was too difficult to celebrate the holidays. Now that I have Jack we have begun to create new traditions and try to do “normal” holidays again. I am focusing on celebrating the holidays the way I want to and not catering to society's expectations. 

 

Key Takeaways: 

 

[2:53] My initial relationship to grief 

[4:39] Arguing with Kenny about drinking 

[5:43] Trying to improve and grow as a person 

[8:34] Faking that everything was fine around the holidays as a child 

[12:13] Not celebrating Christmas as a Bahai 

[13:06] Traditions I had with Kenny and my daughters

[14:06] Stopping celebrating holidays when Molly died, but starting again 

[17:04] How our traditions are changing with Jack 

[21:39] Holidays show how hypocritical people are 

[25:06] Finding joy in tragedy and people being uncomfortable with feelings 

[27:07] Feeling forced into traditions 

[28:14] Giving away a MollyB basket for the holidays 

[29:03] Feeling like a child and being stuck in the past 

[30:39] Struggling with disenfranchised grief 

 

Resources:

 

• Prince of Tides 
• Sad Book 

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The Molly B Foundation