Widows Dating Divorced Dads

keywords

widowhood, dating, grief, love, hope, relationships, identity, family, healing, personal growth

summary

In this heartfelt conversation, Ona and Kelsy share their experiences as widows navigating the complexities of dating, love, and personal growth after loss. They discuss the importance of hope, identity, and the journey of finding love again while honoring their late husbands. Kelsy shares her story of resilience, the challenges of online dating, and the joy of building a new relationship with Joseph. The conversation emphasizes the significance of living life fully, creating joyful memories for their children, and the power of connection and communication in relationships.

takeaways

• Kelsy describes her late husband as a 'Husband on Loan from Heaven.'
• The journey of widowhood can lead to profound personal growth.
• Finding hope and identity after loss is a gradual process.
• Dating again can be both exciting and challenging for widows.
• Online dating experiences can be humorous and enlightening.
• Love is an essential part of life, even after loss.
• Manifestation can play a role in finding love again.
• Building a relationship with a new partner requires open communication.
• Integrating a new partner into family life can be a positive experience.
• Traveling and creating memories with children is vital for healing.

titles

• Dating Again: A Widow's Perspective
• Living Fully After Loss: A Widow's Tale

Sound Bites

• "I have those feelings again."
• "I want to live life."
• "I felt like I was walking outside of my body."

Chapters

00:00

Introduction and Background

01:58

Kelsy's Journey as a Widow

04:23

Finding Hope and Identity After Loss

08:19

The Leap into Dating Again

12:23

Dating Experiences and Lessons Learned

17:14

Navigating Relationships with Children

22:21

Building a New Life and Future

28:18

The Importance of Travel and Adventure

49:28

Conclusion and Reflections on Love and Life

Megan & Ona dive into how it feels to move on from your late husband and be intimate with someone else. The tears, the guilt, the OMG moments - we cover them all!

Megan & Ona jumped right into traveling with their Divorced Dads + kids but it hasn't always been laughter and fun! Hear who does the planning, who pays, and how they navigate the ups and downs.

They also talk about taking trips with just their own kids and the Divorced Dads and how that has felt to the other half of the blended family.

Solo parenting is tough, but adding in a Divorced Dad and more kids isn't always easy. Hear our tips on what's worked, what hasn't, and the one thing that we do that keeps our relationship strong!

In this conversation, Ona and guest speaker Christie discuss their experiences as widows dating divorced dads. They share stories about their weekends and the challenges they face in navigating their new relationships. They also discuss the difficulties of milestones and transitions, as well as the complex emotions that come with grief and loss. Christie shares her personal story of losing her husband in a plane crash and the impact it had on her and her children. They also touch on the importance of life insurance and the support they received from their communities. After experiencing the loss of their spouses, Christie and Ona both found love again and began dating. They discuss the challenges and joys of navigating new relationships while grieving. They emphasize the importance of being patient with oneself and allowing time to process emotions. Both Christie and Ona have found happiness with their new partners and are grateful for the opportunity to love again. In this conversation, Christie and Ona discuss their experiences with blending families and finding love after loss. They talk about the challenges of finding a new home that accommodates their large families and the importance of considering the needs of all family members. They also share the funny and heartwarming comments their children have made about their new relationships. Christie opens up about going through the annulment process and her plans for a future wedding. They discuss the importance of finding a partner who understands and supports their grief journey, as well as the ongoing challenges of parenting as a widow. They also touch on the changes in perspective and the dark humor that come with grief. Overall, the conversation highlights the resilience and joy that can be found in finding love and creating a new family dynamic after loss.

keywords

widow, dating, divorced dads, grief, loss, milestones, transitions, emotions, plane crash, life insurance, support, dating, grief, love, relationships, emotions, blending families, finding love after loss, challenges, new home, large families, children's comments, annulment process, future wedding, grief journey, parenting as a widow, changes in perspective, dark humor, resilience, joy

takeaways

• Navigating relationships as a widow dating a divorced dad can be challenging
• Milestones and transitions can be difficult for widows and their families
• Grief and loss can bring up complex emotions
• Having life insurance can provide financial security in the event of a spouse's death
• Support from friends and community is crucial during times of grief Grief is a lifelong journey, but it is possible to find joy and love again.
• Being open and honest about emotions is crucial in navigating new relationships while grieving.
• Therapy can be helpful in processing emotions and navigating the complexities of blended families.
• It's important to give oneself time and space to heal before entering into a new relationship.
• Finding a partner who understands and supports your grief journey is essential. Blending families after loss can be challenging, especially when it comes to finding a new home that accommodates everyone's needs.
• Children's comments about new relationships can be funny and heartwarming, showing their excitement and acceptance.
• Going through the annulment process can be heavy and emotional, but finding a partner who understands and supports the journey is important.
• Creating a new family dynamic after loss requires resilience and a willingness to navigate the challenges that come with parenting as a widow.
• Grief can bring about changes in perspective and a dark sense of humor, which can help in finding joy and moving forward.

In this episode, Ona and Megan discuss their coping mechanisms in grief. They share their experiences in the early days and weeks after their husbands' deaths, including feelings of sadness, anxiety, and disbelief. Ona found comfort in having people around her and not being alone, while Megan found solace in sleeping and going through the motions of daily life. They also talk about the judgments they faced from others who didn't understand their coping methods. Overall, they emphasize the importance of finding what works for you and not comparing your grief journey to others. In this part of the conversation, Megan and Ona discuss their experiences of being alone after the death of their partners. They talk about sleeping arrangements and how they rearranged their living spaces. They also share their thoughts on seeing their partners' bodies after they passed away. The conversation then shifts to therapy and grief support. Megan expresses guilt for not seeking therapy for herself and her children, while Ona shares her experiences with grief groups and therapy. They discuss healthy coping mechanisms, such as reaching out to friends, going for walks, and journaling. In this conversation, Megan and Ona discuss both healthy and unhealthy coping mechanisms they have adopted after the loss of their partners. They talk about healthy coping mechanisms such as reading, physical touch, and leaning on loved ones for support. They also discuss unhealthy coping mechanisms like excessive shopping and drinking. They share their experiences of using trips and vacations as a way to escape and find joy. Overall, they emphasize the importance of giving oneself grace and understanding that coping mechanisms are a part of the grief journey.

Keywords

coping mechanisms, grief, sadness, anxiety, disbelief, support, judgment, being alone, sleeping arrangements, living spaces, seeing the body, therapy, grief support, coping mechanisms, coping mechanisms, healthy coping, unhealthy coping, reading, physical touch, support, shopping, drinking, trips, vacations, escape, joy, grace, grief journey

Takeaways

• Coping mechanisms in grief vary from person to person and there is no right or wrong way to cope.
• Having people around can provide comfort and support during the early days of grief.
• Sleeping and going through the motions of daily life can be a way to cope and maintain a sense of normalcy.
• Judgments from others about coping methods are unhelpful and should be disregarded.
• Each person's grief journey is unique and should not be compared to others. After the death of a partner, the experience of being alone can be overwhelming and scary.
• Rearranging living spaces and sleeping arrangements can provide a sense of comfort and safety.
• Deciding whether or not to see the body of a deceased loved one is a personal choice, and there is no right or wrong decision.
• Therapy and grief support can be beneficial in helping individuals and families navigate the grieving process.
• Healthy coping mechanisms for grief include reaching out to friends, going for walks, and journaling. Healthy coping mechanisms include reading, physical touch, and leaning on loved ones for support.
• Unhealthy coping mechanisms can include excessive shopping and drinking.
• Trips and vacations can be a way to escape and find joy.
• It's important to give oneself grace and understand that coping mechanisms are a part of the grief journey.

We took a hiatus as Megan "celebrated" the 4 year anniversary of her late husband Matt's death and then proceeded to have a disaster of a holiday week with Pony & kids, while Ona has gone 18 days without seeing B3.

In this episode, we talk all things FRIENDSHIP in grief. Hear how friends have shown up for us and how, while other close friendships were sadly lost.

Follow us on Instagram @widowsdatingdivorceddads for more!

In this conversation, Ona and Megan discuss how they navigate special days and anniversaries related to their late husbands. They share their experiences and feelings about celebrating birthdays, anniversaries, and the day of their husbands' passing. They talk about including their new partners in these celebrations and the pressure they sometimes feel to do something special. Ona and Megan also discuss the challenges of carrying their own grief and not being able to take on the grief of others. Overall, they emphasize the importance of finding what feels right for them and their families. In this conversation, Ona and Megan discuss the pressure and expectations surrounding special dates and celebrations after the loss of a loved one. They share their experiences with the buildup of emotions leading up to these dates and the challenges of keeping memories alive. They also talk about the importance of acknowledging and supporting each other during these difficult times.

In this episode, Megan and Ona discuss the baggage that they bring as widows and the baggage that divorced dads bring. They talk about the challenges and insecurities that arise from their respective baggage and how it affects their current relationships. They also touch on the importance of communication and vulnerability in navigating these challenges. In this part of the conversation, Megan and Ona discuss the challenges they face in their relationships due to their baggage from previous marriages and the loss of their partners. They talk about the difficulty of effectively communicating their emotions and needs, especially during times of grief. They also touch on the frustration of not being the top priority in their partners' lives and the reminder that their partners have another parent for their children. The conversation highlights the complexity of blending families and the struggle to navigate different parenting styles. Overall, they acknowledge that finding love again in their 40s is not easy and that their relationships require constant effort and understanding.

Do Megan & Ona see MARRIAGE their Divorced Dads in the future?! Hear their thoughts, the challenges, and if the kids are ready for such a big change.

But first, they share about feeling bitter on Father's Day!