Carmel Breathnach Reflects on Losing Her Mom at Age 11

“I would say that one caring, consistent, loving presence is enough to make a difference in a child’s life. And that child will love you so much for the care that you give them. And just be present for them, hear them, see them, and also take care of your own health. That’s very important.”

— Carmel Breathnach

I had such a great discussion with Carmel Breathnach for this episode. Carmel is originally from Ireland and now lives in Portland, Oregon. She lost her mom at age 11, and writes primarily about early mother loss. She’s working on her memoir, “Briefly I Knew My Mother.”

Some topics Carmel and I discussed include:

• Carmel reads from a letter she recently wrote to her 11-year-old self;

• Ways her dad supported her and her brother after her mom’s death;

• Challenges with school and teachers;

• What she’s learned by having to face grief as a young person;

• What brought her to the US;

• How her early experience with grief influenced her work as a teacher; and

• Her thoughts on Mother’s Day as a motherless daughter.

I hope you enjoy my discussion with Carmel Breathnach.

Links & resources for this episode

• Carmel’s blog - A Lovely Woman

• My father is my everyday hero

• Dear 11 year old me

• 10 books I recommend for motherless daughters

• Motherless Daughters, by Hope Edelman

• Letters from Motherless Daughters, by Hope Edelman

• After This: When Life is Over, Where Do We Go? by Claire Bidwell Smith

• Anxiety: The Missing Stage of Grief, by Claire Bidwell Smith

• Episode 35 with Allison Gilbert

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:

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