The Widowed Mom Podcast

Grief and holidays can be a challenging combination, especially when the season is filled with traditions, memories, expectations, and reminders of the person you lost. But coping with the holidays doesn't mean you have to stop grieving or figure out how to feel happy all the time.

In this episode, I'm sharing practical ways to navigate holiday grief with more intention and self-compassion. We'll talk about how anticipating difficult moments can create unnecessary suffering, why it's important to consider your emotional capacity, and what to do when unexpected grief reminders catch you off guard.

Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://www.coachingwithkrista.com/388

Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lifecoachkrista/

Mentioned in this episode:

A Widow’s Guide to a Happier Holiday Season

Navigating the holidays after losing your loved one doesn't have to mean just gritting your teeth and surviving. Join Happier Holidays, a free 3-day online event for widows from November 10th through 12th, to learn practical tools for managing difficult emotions, releasing guilt, and taking control of your holiday season.

Happier Holidays 2026

If you're wondering how you're going to get through Thanksgiving without your spouse or partner, this episode is for you. Whether it's your first Thanksgiving as a widow or you've already been through several, the holidays can bring up grief, family expectations, and pressure to make everything feel the way it used to.

In this episode, I'm sharing practical ways to approach Thanksgiving with more intention and self-compassion.

Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://www.coachingwithkrista.com/387

Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lifecoachkrista/

Mentioned in this episode:

A Widow’s Guide to a Happier Holiday Season

Navigating the holidays after losing your loved one doesn't have to mean just gritting your teeth and surviving. Join Happier Holidays, a free 3-day online event for widows from November 10th through 12th, to learn practical tools for managing difficult emotions, releasing guilt, and taking control of your holiday season.

Happier Holidays 2026

Navigating the holidays after losing your loved one doesn't have to mean gritting your teeth and just trying to survive.

Join the free, 3-day online event, Happier Holidays, taking place November 10th through 12th, 2026. Designed specifically for widows, this event will teach you three practical, actionable tools to handle difficult emotions, overcome guilt and people-pleasing, and make confident decisions about your traditions and well-being. You deserve to create an experience that honors your grief while allowing space for peace and enjoyment - both during the holiday season and all year long.

You don't have to go through this season alone. Save your spot today at https://the-widowed-mom-podcast.captivate.fm/happierholidays

If you've ever wondered how to help a grieving friend, this episode is for you. Most of us want to support the people we love when they're grieving, but we were never taught what grief actually looks like or how to respond when someone is hurting.

In this episode, I explain why grief affects so much more than emotions, why the five stages of grief aren't a roadmap, and why there's no timeline for moving forward after loss. We'll talk about the secondary losses that often accompany the death of a spouse, why well-intentioned comments can feel dismissive, and how to be present with someone's pain without trying to make it go away.

Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://www.coachingwithkrista.com/386

Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lifecoachkrista/

Mentioned in this episode:

A Widow’s Guide to a Happier Holiday Season

Navigating the holidays after losing your loved one doesn't have to mean just gritting your teeth and surviving. Join Happier Holidays, a free 3-day online event for widows from November 10th through 12th, to learn practical tools for managing difficult emotions, releasing guilt, and taking control of your holiday season.

Happier Holidays 2026

When your husband dies, you may expect grief to affect your emotions, but what happens when it also affects your ability to think? Maybe you're forgetting things, struggling to concentrate, or second-guessing decisions that used to feel easy. If that sounds familiar, I want you to know that you're not alone.

In this episode, I'm talking about widow fog, why grief can impact your memory and concentration, and what you can do to support yourself when your brain just won't cooperate. We'll explore practical ways to reduce your mental load, why settling your nervous system can be more helpful than trying to think harder, and how to recognize which decisions can wait.

Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://www.coachingwithkrista.com/385

Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lifecoachkrista/

Mentioned in this episode:

A Widow’s Guide to a Happier Holiday Season

Navigating the holidays after losing your loved one doesn't have to mean just gritting your teeth and surviving. Join Happier Holidays, a free 3-day online event for widows from November 10th through 12th, to learn practical tools for managing difficult emotions, releasing guilt, and taking control of your holiday season.

Happier Holidays 2026

Dating after your person dies can feel incredibly unfamiliar, especially if the last time you dated was decades ago.

In this episode, I answer seven of the questions I hear most often about widows and dating, from how to know when you're ready to whether there is such a thing as dating too soon.

Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://www.coachingwithkrista.com/384

Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lifecoachkrista/

Mentioned in this episode:

A Widow’s Guide to a Happier Holiday Season

Navigating the holidays after losing your loved one doesn't have to mean just gritting your teeth and surviving. Join Happier Holidays, a free 3-day online event for widows from November 10th through 12th, to learn practical tools for managing difficult emotions, releasing guilt, and taking control of your holiday season.

Happier Holidays 2026

Making big decisions in the first year of widowhood can feel especially overwhelming when grief has affected your concentration, confidence, and sense of certainty.

In this episode, I’m challenging the common advice that widows should avoid all major decisions for a full year after their person dies. Sometimes waiting is helpful, and sometimes life requires you to decide sooner.

Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://www.coachingwithkrista.com/383

Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lifecoachkrista/

Mentioned in this episode:

A Widow’s Guide to a Happier Holiday Season

Navigating the holidays after losing your loved one doesn't have to mean just gritting your teeth and surviving. Join Happier Holidays, a free 3-day online event for widows from November 10th through 12th, to learn practical tools for managing difficult emotions, releasing guilt, and taking control of your holiday season.

Happier Holidays 2026

If you're having thoughts about self-harm, please reach out to a qualified mental health professional. Call or text 988 to get in touch with the Suicide and Crisis Line.

If you’ve ever wondered whether what you’re feeling is grief, depression, or both, this episode is for you.

I’m breaking down why grief and depression can look so similar, including changes in sleep, appetite, energy, concentration, motivation, and connection. I’ll also share some general patterns professionals may consider, such as grief that comes in waves versus a more persistent low mood or hopelessness.

Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://www.coachingwithkrista.com/382

Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lifecoachkrista/

Mentioned in this episode:

A Widow’s Guide to a Happier Holiday Season

Navigating the holidays after losing your loved one doesn't have to mean just gritting your teeth and surviving. Join Happier Holidays, a free 3-day online event for widows from November 10th through 12th, to learn practical tools for managing difficult emotions, releasing guilt, and taking control of your holiday season.

Happier Holidays 2026

Can you really die of a broken heart?

In this episode, I’m looking at the science behind that question, including the widowhood effect and the real medical condition known as broken heart syndrome, or Takotsubo cardiomyopathy

Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://www.coachingwithkrista.com/381

Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lifecoachkrista/

Mentioned in this episode:

A Widow’s Guide to a Happier Holiday Season

Navigating the holidays after losing your loved one doesn't have to mean just gritting your teeth and surviving. Join Happier Holidays, a free 3-day online event for widows from November 10th through 12th, to learn practical tools for managing difficult emotions, releasing guilt, and taking control of your holiday season.

Happier Holidays 2026

If you knew your person was going to die, you may have expected the loss to feel different because you had time to prepare.

In this episode, I’m talking about anticipatory grief: the grief that can begin before a death fully occurs. We’ll look at the losses that happen during illness, decline, and caregiving, from changing roles and intimacy to the future you thought you would share.

Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://www.coachingwithkrista.com/380

Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lifecoachkrista/

Mentioned in this episode:

A Widow’s Guide to a Happier Holiday Season

Navigating the holidays after losing your loved one doesn't have to mean just gritting your teeth and surviving. Join Happier Holidays, a free 3-day online event for widows from November 10th through 12th, to learn practical tools for managing difficult emotions, releasing guilt, and taking control of your holiday season.

Happier Holidays 2026