Welcome to our Blog
Whether you’ve been widowed six months or six years, the grief and pain of losing a spouse or partner never goes away. Join me as I share my own story and those of others from the young and widowed community. Let me know what topics hit close to home, which posts you draw strength from or how you’ve been inspired to keep moving through the overwhelming pain. It’s a place where you’ll always feel connected, knowing there are other young widows and widowers across the globe who understand the many emotions that come with being young and widowed.
Remembering Daddy: Preserving Memories for Children
As time goes by, a young child’s memories of his/her father can begin to fade. Read how these widows are honoring their late-spouses and keeping their legacy alive: “I went through my husband's clothing, matched clothing of his to pictures, then had special quilts...
The Truth Behind the Funeral Dress
1,667 days. That’s how long the dress has been in my laundry basket. 1,667 days since I stood over the casket wearing it and kissed my husband goodbye for the last time. Every Sunday as I do laundry, I get to the bottom of the hamper and freeze. Will this be the day...
10 Things No One Tells You About Being Widowed
Sure, we expect the sadness, loneliness and copious amount of tears, but there are several things that seem to have been left out of the “Being Widowed 101” Manual. Check out the list below and let us know if you can relate to any of them: 1. Where’s My Period? The...
Widows Share Stories of Love After Loss
You may think losing a spouse makes one give up on love. It can. But for many in the widowed community, it creates a deeper appreciation for life. It makes us realize that life was meant to be lived and to embrace people and things that make our heart smile. That may...
Five Things a Widow Should Never Apologize for Doing
1. Seeking Professional HelpYou’ve heard it a thousand times, over and over again: “You’re so strong”. And you are. But there are going to be times when it feels like you can’t go on. You’ll have moments, days or even weeks when the dark cloud that once hovered...
Widows Reinvent Themselves Post Loss
re·in·vent: To make major changes or improvements to (something) Losing a spouse gives you a boldness and strength that you never knew existed. Once you realize that you have and will survive the storm that rages around, you find you can take on anything life throws...
Grieving Publicly A Double-Edged Sword
I’m not a huge baseball fan. Heck, I’m not even a fan. The little I know of baseball came from hanging with my late hubby on the couch as he rooted for his beloved Mets. On Sunday, September 25th when news broke that Florida Marlins pitcher José D. Fernández and two...
Widowers Discuss Dating Post-Loss
Somewhere between Year 2 and Year 3 of being widowed, my mother-in-law inquired about my dating status. Upon hearing it was nonexistent, she told me that while she understood I was still grieving, I needed to remember that I couldn’t hide from the world and at some...
Dating with Minor Children A Challenge for Young Widows
I’m fairly certain he wasn’t expecting me to tell him I needed a week’s notice. We’d spent several weeks chatting on the phone and exchanging flirty text messages and going out was the next logical step. He was the first guy I had been receptive to going on a date...
There’s No Way to Prepare to be Widowed
I can recall my husband calling to say he wasn’t feeling good. We both thought he just needed some rest and to take his medication and he’d be back to his old self in no time. Within a week, I heard the words that forever changed my life, “Your husband has died”. It...
My Late Husband Wasn’t Perfect & Neither Was Yours
I have a confession… My late husband wasn’t perfect. Over the past 4 ½ years of being widowed, I’ve somehow managed to erase every flaw, quirk, bad habit and imperfection that made my hubby human. He was elevated to a status in my mind so off-limits that mere-mortals...
What Young Widows Want Their In-Laws to Know
Though I’m at a place in my grief where it isn’t “raw”, I’m not so far removed that I can’t recall the words spoken by loved ones who helped me work through my pain. Among that special group are my in-laws, specifically my husband’s mother and sister. Despite the fact...
Choosing to Become an Only Parent
It’s often said that when life hands you lemons, you make lemonade. Well, life handed me lemons and I made a baby! A few years ago, I made the conscious decision to become a single mother. I understand that choice may ruffle the feathers of those who are pro-marriage...
Five Ways to be Widowed & Miserable
Fail to Acknowledge Your Grief We’ve all been there. Our spouse/partner has died and yet the Earth continues to rotate on its axis, not slowing for a second to even acknowledge our pain. It’s just business as usual. So, we too continue moving through each day. Numb....
Widows by Suicide Need Compassion, Not Judgment
“I wonder what his wife did that led him to that decision.”I let those words swirl around in my head as I tried to make sense of them.“What his wife did?” I asked aloud.“Yes, she must have done or not done something to make him commit suicide.”I explained how...
To The Friend Who Hid Her Happiness
Dear Friend, Our conversation was the same as it’s been since we chatted as teenagers. We laughed about the events that happened in our lives since we last spoke. Funny how there could have been so much “crazy” in a 24-hour period. Now in our mid-30’s, we’ve traded in...
Widows Seek Answers for Unexpected, Sudden Deaths
When my hubby died, it was so random and unexpected that both our families were left confused. Despite his not feeling well, death was never on our radar. We were left with so many questions: What happened? Was he hiding the severity of his pain? Had he been...
Regardless of Age, Being Widowed Sucks
Someone I hadn’t spoken to in a few years recently reached out to me. During our conversation, he asked if I was still writing. I explained that in addition to writing as part of my day-to-day responsibilities at work, I was also blogging for The Huffington Post....