I never really thought about losing a parent until thinking about it was my only choice. I never really thought about the immense impact the loss would have on my life. Nothing is quite the same, yet everything has to move forward and that never quite makes sense to me. I have a few friends who have lost parents, who …
A Little One is Joining This Mental Health Crew!
Some exciting news is coming your way! I’ve been keeping this a secret for a while now, but so excited to share that my husband and I are expecting our first child! It’s been such an emotional whirlwind managing the joy of a baby and the grief of losing my mom. I find comfort in the fact that my mom …
Take Care of You First
There will always be work to do. Take care of you first. This weekend I decided to dedicate time to myself for self-care. 2021 has been incredibly tiring and has truly been an emotional rollercoaster. The effects of it all have been catching up to me and I’m feeling the exhaustion from it all. We just bought a new home, …
Keep Checking In On Others
Keep checking in on those around you. You never know who needs it. We are so good about it in the beginning, when someone experiences a loss, a trauma, or a breakup, we are so good in the beginning about checking in, seeing how that person is doing. In time though, we stop. We stop asking how people are. We …
You Can Talk About Your Pain
Yesterday I wrote a pretty long post on my personal page about my mom. It had been one month since my mom passed away. I can’t believe it’s been a month. I felt compelled to share the story – to share my pain during the 36 hours before, during, and after her death. I think about how far I’ve come …
You Will Find Yourself Again
Since my mom’s diagnosis of cancer, I always felt like I had lost pieces of myself. Since she passed away, I know for sure I have lost pieces of myself. I feel less motivated, I feel less joy, less excitement, and less gratitude for life itself. This journey has been a confusing one for me. Simple tasks become really, really …
Celebration of Life
This weekend we got to celebrate the life of my mom. We celebrated life in the most beautiful way. Typically, when people die there is a wake, a funeral and a repass. My mom was sure that she wanted none of that. My mom wanted a party where people could celebrate the life she lived. I’m so happy we were …
My Mom Would Want Me to Keep Smiling
As many of you have seen through social media, my mother passed away on Wednesday, May 19th after a long, courageous fight with pancreatic cancer. We all knew my mom was going to pass soon, we were preparing to put her on hospice, so I knew it would happen soon and that she likely wouldn’t make it through the summer. …
Listen to Your Body & Mind—Give Yourself What You Need
This week, I am tired. Emotionally. Physically. Tired. My therapist told me I should journal after visits with my mom, to reflect on what I’m feeling. At this point, we are all tired. It is tiring to watch the strongest woman I know be so physically weak. It is tiring to talk and think about what’s happening to her 24/7. …
You Keep Showing Up—That’s Strength
You have good and bad days, but you keep showing up – that’s strength. These last few days with my mom has been an up and down rollercoaster. My mom made the tough, but right decision to stop treatment. Her body is weak. The chemo will likely do more harm than good. She doesn’t want to spend more time in …