Kim Murray Reflects on Widowed Parenting and Shares Resources for Widowed People

I had such a great discussion with Kim Murray for this episode. Kim is a widowed parent, and we have so much in common. Her husband died of glioblastoma, as did mine. Her kids were 8 and 10 when he was diagnosed; mine were those ages, too. Most importantly, though, Kim gets real with us. She talks about things people aren’t willing to talk about – including her son’s struggles beginning a few years after his dad died, and the stories she was telling herself about her parenting because of his struggles. She also tells us about all the terrific resources she’s put together over at her website, Widow 411, which I encourage you to check out.

Some topics Kim and I discuss include:

• The shock of finding out that her husband had terminal brain cancer;

• Talking with her kids about their dad’s diagnosis, and deciding when to tell them his cancer was terminal;

• Why she prefers the term ‘solo parent’ rather than ‘single parent;’

• Taking her kids to a family grief support program;

• Her older son beginning to struggle in 8th grade, about 3 years after his dad died, including self-medicating in an attempt to handle his grief;

• Trying to find help for her son, and the doubt and shame she experienced because of his struggles;

• Why she started Widow 411; and

• The topics she tackles on Widow 411, ranging from grief, to money, to home maintenance and more.

I hope you enjoy my discussion with Kim Murray.

Links & resources for this episode

• Kim’s website: Widow 411

• Kim’s Ultimate Survival Guide for Widows

• Kim’s pieces on Medium

• Essay: When I Became Everything I Never Wanted to Be: An identity and existential crisis mixed together
  Sandcastles Grief Support Program (Detroit, Michigan)

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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