Writer, Coach, & Widowed Mom Carole Marie Downing

“The best thing that I can say, that’s taken me time to come to, is that your family is whole just as it is. And there will be that place of missing, always.… And I really am beginning to understand more and more, even though we’re a two-person family right now, there is so much wholeness of us as a family… Often times to see yourself whole means reaching out, to know you’re not the only one that feels broken, to know you’re not the only one that feels in pain, and you’re not alone in this.”

— Writer, coach, & widowed mom Carole Marie Downing

I had a fantastic discussion with Carole Marie Downing for this episode. Carole Marie lost her husband when her son was six years old. She wrote a book chronicling her first year of grief called “Singing Beyond Sorrow: A Year of Grief, Gratitude, & Grace”. She is a writer, coach, & facilitator, for widows, and was previously a hospice nurse.

We had a wide-ranging discussion on raising kids after loss, and Carole Marie shared lots of great tips and ideas.

I hope you enjoy my discussion with Carole Marie Downing.

Links & resources for this episode

• Carole Marie’s web site

• Singing Beyond Sorrow: A Year of Grief, Gratitude & Grace, by Carole Marie Downing

• The Dougy Center: The National Center for Grieving Children & Families (Portland, OR)

• The Dougy Center School & Community Toolkit

• Me, Too: Supporting families & children in grief (Portland, OR)

• No-Drama Discipline: The Whole-Brain Way to Calm the Chaos and Nurture Your Child's Developing Mind Paperback, by Daniel J. Siegel

• National Alliance for Grieving Children

• Boys Alive

More links for listeners

• Download: Kids & Grief: What You Need to Know

• Article: I’m a Widowed Mom: Here Are My 3 Tips for COVID-19 Widows

• Book: Widowed Parents Unite: 52 Tips to Get Through the First Year, from One Widowed Parent to Another

Thank you sponsors & partners:

Help Texts - Grief support text messaging service. Tips and support delivered all year long, personalized based on your loss. Listeners get $10 off: https://helptexts.com/jennylisk

BetterHelp - Talk with a licensed, professional therapist online. Get 10% off your first month: betterhelp.com/widowedparent

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