Lynn Haraldson Reflects on Becoming a 19-Year-Old Widowed Parent

I had such a great discussion with Lynn Haraldson for this episode. She was widowed 40 years ago, at the age of 19—with an 11-day-old baby at home.

I especially appreciated the longer lens Lynn brings to the experience of being a widowed parent. Her journey has included many twists and turns, and she reflects on it all in her new memoir, An Obesity of Grief. Listen especially for Lynn telling us about her daughter’s high school project, when she reached out to the newspaper in their former small town to learn about the father she never knew.

Summary of Key Points:

• Becoming a Young Widow: Lynn became widowed at the age of 19, with an 11-day-old baby, navigating through the grief and challenges of becoming a young single parent unexpectedly.

• Long-term Grief and Healing: Her journey over 40 years involved dealing with trauma, grief, weight issues, mental health issues, and anger, which she reflects on in her new memoir, An Obesity of Grief.

• Daughter's Quest to Know Her Father: Lynn shared a poignant story about her daughter’s high school project, where she reached out to their old town's newspaper to learn about the father she never knew, highlighting the lasting impact of loss and the quest for connection.

• Grieving Process and Support Systems: She discusses the importance of support systems and the varying experiences of grief, including how societal attitudes and available resources for widowed parents have changed over time.

• Advice to Other Widowed Parents: Lynn offers insights and advice for others navigating widowhood with children, emphasizing the importance of addressing grief and finding community support.

• Impact of Widowhood Over Decades: Reflects on how the early experience of widowhood shaped her life, her parenting, and her perspective on loss and healing over four decades.

• Journey of Writing and Reflection: Lynn’s process of writing her memoir served as a reflection and exploration of her grief, trauma, and the journey towards healing, offering insights into the complexities of long-term grief management.

• Personal Growth and Understanding: Through therapy and self-reflection, Lynn came to understand and address the trauma and unresolved grief stemming from her husband's sudden death, contributing to her personal growth and understanding of grief.

Links & resources for this episode

• An Obesity of Grief: A Journey from Traumatic Loss to Undying Love, by Lynn Haraldson

• Lynn’s website & blog

• Episode 122: Meghan Riordan Jarvis on Trauma & Grief

• Episode 49: Claire Bidwell Smith on Anxiety & Grief

• Camp Widow

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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