{"id":2400,"date":"2022-01-21T15:52:34","date_gmt":"2022-01-21T19:52:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/diaryofanhonestmom.com\/?p=2400"},"modified":"2023-12-20T18:02:05","modified_gmt":"2023-12-20T22:02:05","slug":"how-to-be-a-good-mom-while-coping-with-grief","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/diaryofanhonestmom.com\/blog\/how-to-be-a-good-mom-while-coping-with-grief\/","title":{"rendered":"Parenting While Grieving: How to Be a Good Mom While Coping with Grief"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"2400\" class=\"elementor elementor-2400\" data-elementor-post-type=\"post\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-7f612b2e elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"7f612b2e\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div 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class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-button-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-button elementor-button-link elementor-size-sm\" href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/40RtKmG\" target=\"_blank\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-content-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-text\">Get 1 Month Free<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-9e7df72 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"9e7df72\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-7ec3dcb\" data-id=\"7ec3dcb\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-619a495 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"619a495\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Parenting While Grieving: How to Be a Good Mom While Coping with Grief<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a10078a elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"a10078a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-12df79b elementor-widget-divider--separator-type-pattern elementor-widget-divider--no-spacing elementor-widget-divider--view-line elementor-widget elementor-widget-divider\" data-id=\"12df79b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"divider.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-divider\" style=\"--divider-pattern-url: url(&quot;data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns=&#039;http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg&#039; preserveAspectRatio=&#039;xMidYMid meet&#039; overflow=&#039;visible&#039; height=&#039;100%&#039; viewBox=&#039;0 0 126 26&#039; fill=&#039;black&#039; stroke=&#039;none&#039;%3E%3Cpath d=&#039;M3,10.2c2.6,0,2.6,2,2.6,3.2S4.4,16.5,3,16.5s-3-1.4-3-3.2S0.4,10.2,3,10.2z M18.8,10.2c1.7,0,3.2,1.4,3.2,3.2s-1.4,3.2-3.2,3.2c-1.7,0-3.2-1.4-3.2-3.2S17,10.2,18.8,10.2z M34.6,10.2c1.5,0,2.6,1.4,2.6,3.2s-0.5,3.2-1.9,3.2c-1.5,0-3.4-1.4-3.4-3.2S33.1,10.2,34.6,10.2z M50.5,10.2c1.7,0,3.2,1.4,3.2,3.2s-1.4,3.2-3.2,3.2c-1.7,0-3.3-0.9-3.3-2.6S48.7,10.2,50.5,10.2z M66.2,10.2c1.5,0,3.4,1.4,3.4,3.2s-1.9,3.2-3.4,3.2c-1.5,0-2.6-0.4-2.6-2.1S64.8,10.2,66.2,10.2z M82.2,10.2c1.7,0.8,2.6,1.4,2.6,3.2s-0.1,3.2-1.6,3.2c-1.5,0-3.7-1.4-3.7-3.2S80.5,9.4,82.2,10.2zM98.6,10.2c1.5,0,2.6,0.4,2.6,2.1s-1.2,4.2-2.6,4.2c-1.5,0-3.7-0.4-3.7-2.1S97.1,10.2,98.6,10.2z M113.4,10.2c1.2,0,2.2,0.9,2.2,3.2s-0.1,3.2-1.3,3.2s-3.1-1.4-3.1-3.2S112.2,10.2,113.4,10.2z&#039;\/%3E%3C\/svg%3E&quot;);\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-divider-separator\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d9d7a6d elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"d9d7a6d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">The Beginning of Grief After an Unexpected Death\n<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e522dac elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"e522dac\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cYour dad might not make the night,\u201d the ICU doctor said through the phone, almost helplessly.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I was at the movie theatre with my kids and my brother\u2019s family watching Sing 2 when I got the call and could barely hear him as I snuck through the seats. The sympathy in his voice was a dead giveaway. The \u201cI\u2019m sorry\u2019s,\u201d and the \u201cWe\u2019ve done everything we can do\u2019s,\u201d kept coming but I\u2019d only ever heard those things in that slow telling voice in the movies. And here we were, at the movies.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I left my kids at the movies with my sister in law and went to the hospital with my brother.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">On the way, we discussed how just 3 days ago, we were talking with our Dad about how we would rent a speed boat this summer and how we would celebrate Christmas after he got out with all the Chinese food. So this didn\u2019t seem real. We thought he was doing better.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The next 17 hours were a blur of waiting, worrying, denial and confusion as I prepared to accept the fact that I would likely be made fatherless at 32 with 2 young children at home who need me in the in middle of a pandemic, during the holiday season, without any other family to help plan anything to clear out his apartment or execute the will or do any of the other things that you do when you\u2019re in charge after someone dies. This isn\u2019t supposed to happen until you\u2019re older, except when it does. Even thinking these thoughts didn\u2019t seem real. It seemed so unfair. It was unfair. Still is.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In this blog I am going to share with you some of the ways I waded through the initial waters of grief as a mom.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-bf598f2 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"bf598f2\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Disclaimer: I am not an expert. I am not a professional. I am simply sharing my experience in hopes that it may help you. If you are in distress or struggling with your mental health, I highly recommend seeking professional support through your doctor or other health professional.Know that there is always someone with the skills and tools who can help you.\u00a0 <\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c05d9f4 elementor-widget-divider--separator-type-pattern elementor-widget-divider--no-spacing elementor-widget-divider--view-line elementor-widget elementor-widget-divider\" data-id=\"c05d9f4\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"divider.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-divider\" style=\"--divider-pattern-url: url(&quot;data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns=&#039;http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg&#039; preserveAspectRatio=&#039;xMidYMid meet&#039; overflow=&#039;visible&#039; height=&#039;100%&#039; viewBox=&#039;0 0 126 26&#039; fill=&#039;black&#039; stroke=&#039;none&#039;%3E%3Cpath d=&#039;M3,10.2c2.6,0,2.6,2,2.6,3.2S4.4,16.5,3,16.5s-3-1.4-3-3.2S0.4,10.2,3,10.2z M18.8,10.2c1.7,0,3.2,1.4,3.2,3.2s-1.4,3.2-3.2,3.2c-1.7,0-3.2-1.4-3.2-3.2S17,10.2,18.8,10.2z M34.6,10.2c1.5,0,2.6,1.4,2.6,3.2s-0.5,3.2-1.9,3.2c-1.5,0-3.4-1.4-3.4-3.2S33.1,10.2,34.6,10.2z M50.5,10.2c1.7,0,3.2,1.4,3.2,3.2s-1.4,3.2-3.2,3.2c-1.7,0-3.3-0.9-3.3-2.6S48.7,10.2,50.5,10.2z M66.2,10.2c1.5,0,3.4,1.4,3.4,3.2s-1.9,3.2-3.4,3.2c-1.5,0-2.6-0.4-2.6-2.1S64.8,10.2,66.2,10.2z M82.2,10.2c1.7,0.8,2.6,1.4,2.6,3.2s-0.1,3.2-1.6,3.2c-1.5,0-3.7-1.4-3.7-3.2S80.5,9.4,82.2,10.2zM98.6,10.2c1.5,0,2.6,0.4,2.6,2.1s-1.2,4.2-2.6,4.2c-1.5,0-3.7-0.4-3.7-2.1S97.1,10.2,98.6,10.2z M113.4,10.2c1.2,0,2.2,0.9,2.2,3.2s-0.1,3.2-1.3,3.2s-3.1-1.4-3.1-3.2S112.2,10.2,113.4,10.2z&#039;\/%3E%3C\/svg%3E&quot;);\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-divider-separator\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-bc37396 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"bc37396\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">What is Grief?<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-9890101 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"9890101\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mayoclinic.org\/patient-visitor-guide\/support-groups\/what-is-grief\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>Grief<\/strong><\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is what we go through after a loss. Oftentimes we think of grief as something that comes after the death of a loved one, but we also can grieve the loss of a relationship, loss of a job or financial security, loss of good health or any other major life change which stems from loss.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When we grieve, it often involves deep feelings like sadness, despair, anger, regret, numbness and confusion. Grief can last from several weeks to years and arguably is something we never stop doing. For when we grieve we are processing the loss and this remembering and processing is really an act of love. <\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-adfbbfb elementor-widget-divider--separator-type-pattern elementor-widget-divider--no-spacing elementor-widget-divider--view-line elementor-widget elementor-widget-divider\" data-id=\"adfbbfb\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"divider.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-divider\" style=\"--divider-pattern-url: url(&quot;data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns=&#039;http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg&#039; preserveAspectRatio=&#039;xMidYMid meet&#039; overflow=&#039;visible&#039; height=&#039;100%&#039; viewBox=&#039;0 0 126 26&#039; fill=&#039;black&#039; stroke=&#039;none&#039;%3E%3Cpath d=&#039;M3,10.2c2.6,0,2.6,2,2.6,3.2S4.4,16.5,3,16.5s-3-1.4-3-3.2S0.4,10.2,3,10.2z M18.8,10.2c1.7,0,3.2,1.4,3.2,3.2s-1.4,3.2-3.2,3.2c-1.7,0-3.2-1.4-3.2-3.2S17,10.2,18.8,10.2z M34.6,10.2c1.5,0,2.6,1.4,2.6,3.2s-0.5,3.2-1.9,3.2c-1.5,0-3.4-1.4-3.4-3.2S33.1,10.2,34.6,10.2z M50.5,10.2c1.7,0,3.2,1.4,3.2,3.2s-1.4,3.2-3.2,3.2c-1.7,0-3.3-0.9-3.3-2.6S48.7,10.2,50.5,10.2z M66.2,10.2c1.5,0,3.4,1.4,3.4,3.2s-1.9,3.2-3.4,3.2c-1.5,0-2.6-0.4-2.6-2.1S64.8,10.2,66.2,10.2z M82.2,10.2c1.7,0.8,2.6,1.4,2.6,3.2s-0.1,3.2-1.6,3.2c-1.5,0-3.7-1.4-3.7-3.2S80.5,9.4,82.2,10.2zM98.6,10.2c1.5,0,2.6,0.4,2.6,2.1s-1.2,4.2-2.6,4.2c-1.5,0-3.7-0.4-3.7-2.1S97.1,10.2,98.6,10.2z M113.4,10.2c1.2,0,2.2,0.9,2.2,3.2s-0.1,3.2-1.3,3.2s-3.1-1.4-3.1-3.2S112.2,10.2,113.4,10.2z&#039;\/%3E%3C\/svg%3E&quot;);\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-divider-separator\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4c57000 elementor-widget elementor-widget-video\" data-id=\"4c57000\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;youtube_url&quot;:&quot;https:\\\/\\\/www.youtube.com\\\/watch?v=_u_TswLQ4ws&quot;,&quot;start&quot;:261,&quot;end&quot;:365,&quot;video_type&quot;:&quot;youtube&quot;,&quot;controls&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"video.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-wrapper elementor-open-inline\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-video\"><\/div>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3d5a01e elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"3d5a01e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">The End of his Life, The Beginning of my Grief<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-656f6a7 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"656f6a7\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-f5ff810\" data-id=\"f5ff810\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-fb0bf43 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"fb0bf43\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I was with my dad when he passed. It was just 1 day after he developed an infection from being intubated after his cardiac arrest. He went from a happy almost going home dad to someone I didn\u2019t recognize within days, hours even.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I had to make the decision for them to stop pumping him with all the medication and oxygen that was keeping his heart beating. He was heavily sedated and we were assured he was extremely comfortable. Not that it felt like it mattered.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I wanted them to wake him up so I could say goodbye. I wanted to know that he knew what was going on. I wanted so many things to get closure and I didn\u2019t get them. Some people say those in comas can hear you, but my dad was deaf, so that hope was gone.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I felt despair. I felt raw. I felt confused. <\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-530cdfb\" data-id=\"530cdfb\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0201c02 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"0201c02\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"728\" height=\"717\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-src=\"https:\/\/diaryofanhonestmom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Screenshot_20211230-183041_Photos.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-2408 lazyload\" alt=\"\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/diaryofanhonestmom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Screenshot_20211230-183041_Photos.jpg 728w, https:\/\/diaryofanhonestmom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Screenshot_20211230-183041_Photos-300x295.jpg 300w, https:\/\/diaryofanhonestmom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Screenshot_20211230-183041_Photos-600x591.jpg 600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 728px) 100vw, 728px\" \/><noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"728\" height=\"717\" src=\"https:\/\/diaryofanhonestmom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Screenshot_20211230-183041_Photos.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-2408 lazyload\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/diaryofanhonestmom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Screenshot_20211230-183041_Photos.jpg 728w, https:\/\/diaryofanhonestmom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Screenshot_20211230-183041_Photos-300x295.jpg 300w, https:\/\/diaryofanhonestmom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Screenshot_20211230-183041_Photos-600x591.jpg 600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 728px) 100vw, 728px\" \/><\/noscript>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-fff4089 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"fff4089\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Because he tested positive for COVID, the rules were strict. As I brushed his face with my fingers and whispered my \u201cI love you\u2019s\u201d behind full PPE I couldn\u2019t see him clearly through the fog of my face shield. I couldn\u2019t feel the touch of his skin through my gloves. I was angry at all that COVID had stolen. I was angry it happened so fast. I didn\u2019t want it to be real but it was and I was living it.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When we left the hospital, it shocked me that the world was still turning and everyone else was still going about their business. That people could see me but they couldn\u2019t see the gigantic hole that had just been ripped through me. My brother drove me home, and at home, was my family. <\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0193af8 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"0193af8\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I don\u2019t have a surefire way to get through grief, I am still grieving. Honestly, this loss was my first big one, and having your dad be the first death of a loved one is heavy. There were many moments that I was not okay, but over the years I have had to lean in to being not okay and allow myself to feel my feelings. That has been a big part of my process. Each of these steps required a certain amount of vulnerability: with my spouse, with my kids, with my friends, and with myself.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">So without further adieu\u2026<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0afe23a elementor-widget-divider--separator-type-pattern elementor-widget-divider--no-spacing elementor-widget-divider--view-line elementor-widget elementor-widget-divider\" data-id=\"0afe23a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"divider.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-divider\" style=\"--divider-pattern-url: url(&quot;data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns=&#039;http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg&#039; preserveAspectRatio=&#039;xMidYMid meet&#039; overflow=&#039;visible&#039; height=&#039;100%&#039; viewBox=&#039;0 0 126 26&#039; fill=&#039;black&#039; stroke=&#039;none&#039;%3E%3Cpath d=&#039;M3,10.2c2.6,0,2.6,2,2.6,3.2S4.4,16.5,3,16.5s-3-1.4-3-3.2S0.4,10.2,3,10.2z M18.8,10.2c1.7,0,3.2,1.4,3.2,3.2s-1.4,3.2-3.2,3.2c-1.7,0-3.2-1.4-3.2-3.2S17,10.2,18.8,10.2z M34.6,10.2c1.5,0,2.6,1.4,2.6,3.2s-0.5,3.2-1.9,3.2c-1.5,0-3.4-1.4-3.4-3.2S33.1,10.2,34.6,10.2z M50.5,10.2c1.7,0,3.2,1.4,3.2,3.2s-1.4,3.2-3.2,3.2c-1.7,0-3.3-0.9-3.3-2.6S48.7,10.2,50.5,10.2z M66.2,10.2c1.5,0,3.4,1.4,3.4,3.2s-1.9,3.2-3.4,3.2c-1.5,0-2.6-0.4-2.6-2.1S64.8,10.2,66.2,10.2z M82.2,10.2c1.7,0.8,2.6,1.4,2.6,3.2s-0.1,3.2-1.6,3.2c-1.5,0-3.7-1.4-3.7-3.2S80.5,9.4,82.2,10.2zM98.6,10.2c1.5,0,2.6,0.4,2.6,2.1s-1.2,4.2-2.6,4.2c-1.5,0-3.7-0.4-3.7-2.1S97.1,10.2,98.6,10.2z M113.4,10.2c1.2,0,2.2,0.9,2.2,3.2s-0.1,3.2-1.3,3.2s-3.1-1.4-3.1-3.2S112.2,10.2,113.4,10.2z&#039;\/%3E%3C\/svg%3E&quot;);\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-divider-separator\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6372408 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"6372408\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">1. Relying On Others In My Support System Helped me to Parent While Grieving<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-bba9294 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"bba9294\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cIt takes a village\u201d they say. I believe the village was always more about supporting parents than it was about the kids. When parents feel supported, they are better equipped to support their children, and as the main touchpoint in our children\u2019s lives, we need to be okay. <\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When someone dies, or we experience great loss- we are not okay. This is why during a time of grieving it is especially important to allow others to stand in the gap for us and support us whichever way works best.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Now for me this included but was not limited to: my husband taking time off work and taking on more practical responsibilities around our home, friends setting up a <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mealtrain.com\/learn\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">meal train<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to make sure we had dinner made for several days in a row, friends and family who provided child care either for me to get things done or to be at home in grief, allowing others to clean for me, talking with mentors about what I was going through, allowing others to help with funeral preparations and other practical needs we had, and more.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I know that I am lucky to have these humans in my life and am fully aware that not\u00a0 everyone has a support system like this.\u00a0 I could have focused on what we didn\u2019t have: grandparents to help out or any of my dad\u2019s family to be there whatsoever, etc. But the ones who DID offer, we said yes to. It is important to let the people in who WANT to help. <\/span><\/p><p><strong>You are not inconveniencing people by asking for or accepting help. It is in our human nature to lend a hand and to rely on others.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Part of the beauty of the human experience is that we were made for connection. When we are at our darkest hour, there are people around us who will offer help and accepting this help is what brings us closer together. To allow others into our darkness is to create a bond with them and if death brings out any beauty, it is that.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I may not have been my children\u2019s main caregiver as much during my initial grief. I may not have cooked a lot of home cooked meals. I may not have kept up with the logistical responsibilities of running my house as well. I may have let go of control of things that I normally have control of. But I was still a good mom. Relying on others didn\u2019t change that.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I was able to get things completed I wouldn\u2019t have without support. I was able to be more present and practice patience with my kids because I was less strung out than I would have been without support. <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I was able to have time to grieve and be in my feelings because I allowed others to take over the other things. <\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Relying on my support system while grieving was one of the best things I did.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><blockquote class=\"instagram-media\" style=\"background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);\" data-instgrm-captioned=\"\" data-instgrm-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/CYc4dRXLVq5\/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading\" data-instgrm-version=\"14\"><div style=\"padding: 16px;\"><div style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;\"><div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;\">\u00a0<\/div><div style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;\"><div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;\">\u00a0<\/div><div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><\/div><div style=\"padding: 19% 0;\">\u00a0<\/div><div style=\"display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;\">\u00a0<\/div><div style=\"padding-top: 8px;\"><div style=\"color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;\">View this post on Instagram<\/div><\/div><div style=\"padding: 12.5% 0;\">\u00a0<\/div><div style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;\"><div><div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);\">\u00a0<\/div><div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;\">\u00a0<\/div><div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><div style=\"margin-left: 8px;\"><div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;\">\u00a0<\/div><div style=\"width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><div style=\"margin-left: auto;\"><div style=\"width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);\">\u00a0<\/div><div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);\">\u00a0<\/div><div style=\"width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><\/div><div style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;\"><div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;\">\u00a0<\/div><div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><p style=\"color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;\"><a style=\"color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/CYc4dRXLVq5\/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">A post shared by The Honest Mom (Libby) (@diaryofanhonestmom)<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/blockquote><p><script async src=\"\/\/www.instagram.com\/embed.js\"><\/script><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3274f62 elementor-widget-divider--separator-type-pattern elementor-widget-divider--no-spacing elementor-widget-divider--view-line elementor-widget elementor-widget-divider\" data-id=\"3274f62\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"divider.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-divider\" style=\"--divider-pattern-url: url(&quot;data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns=&#039;http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg&#039; preserveAspectRatio=&#039;xMidYMid meet&#039; overflow=&#039;visible&#039; height=&#039;100%&#039; viewBox=&#039;0 0 126 26&#039; fill=&#039;black&#039; stroke=&#039;none&#039;%3E%3Cpath d=&#039;M3,10.2c2.6,0,2.6,2,2.6,3.2S4.4,16.5,3,16.5s-3-1.4-3-3.2S0.4,10.2,3,10.2z M18.8,10.2c1.7,0,3.2,1.4,3.2,3.2s-1.4,3.2-3.2,3.2c-1.7,0-3.2-1.4-3.2-3.2S17,10.2,18.8,10.2z M34.6,10.2c1.5,0,2.6,1.4,2.6,3.2s-0.5,3.2-1.9,3.2c-1.5,0-3.4-1.4-3.4-3.2S33.1,10.2,34.6,10.2z M50.5,10.2c1.7,0,3.2,1.4,3.2,3.2s-1.4,3.2-3.2,3.2c-1.7,0-3.3-0.9-3.3-2.6S48.7,10.2,50.5,10.2z M66.2,10.2c1.5,0,3.4,1.4,3.4,3.2s-1.9,3.2-3.4,3.2c-1.5,0-2.6-0.4-2.6-2.1S64.8,10.2,66.2,10.2z M82.2,10.2c1.7,0.8,2.6,1.4,2.6,3.2s-0.1,3.2-1.6,3.2c-1.5,0-3.7-1.4-3.7-3.2S80.5,9.4,82.2,10.2zM98.6,10.2c1.5,0,2.6,0.4,2.6,2.1s-1.2,4.2-2.6,4.2c-1.5,0-3.7-0.4-3.7-2.1S97.1,10.2,98.6,10.2z M113.4,10.2c1.2,0,2.2,0.9,2.2,3.2s-0.1,3.2-1.3,3.2s-3.1-1.4-3.1-3.2S112.2,10.2,113.4,10.2z&#039;\/%3E%3C\/svg%3E&quot;);\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-divider-separator\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e28cb31 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"e28cb31\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">2. Lowering My Standards and Expectations on EVERYTHING Helped me Grieve<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-c5e2cab elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"c5e2cab\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-0e65311\" data-id=\"0e65311\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2afe741 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"2afe741\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As a mom of 2 kids who are 5 and 7, I have been around long enough to know that there is no such thing as perfect motherhood. I started lowering the bar a long time ago and subsequently: my state of mind, mom guilt meter, and family harmony have only seen the benefits of that. <\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When things get tough, the bar gets lower. It doesn\u2019t mean that it has to stay there, it means that for a season things will be different and your load as mom and a griever, will be made a little bit lighter.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">After my dad died, I became incapable of making decisions or having rational thought. Literally nothing else seemed to matter. Nothing seemed significant. My ability to cook, clean, emotionally connect with my family, remember when I last showered or if I ate that day, or even get through an hour without crying was extremely limited. Now, I could have made myself feel guilty about this, but for what? To add more stress to an already impossible situation? No.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Here are some practical ways I lowered the bar:<\/span><\/p><ol><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Screen time limits went out the door<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. More TV was watched by my children\u00a0 than I care to admit and for that I will apologise to no one.\u00a0<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Fed is best became the mantra.<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Toast. Cereal. McDonalds. Leftovers. Apples slices all day. Whatever was easiest and accessible and fed the humans was what got fed.\u00a0<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Sanitary was enough.<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> As long as no one is getting sick or hurt from the state of my house, I left it. Toys, paperwork, piles of stuff from my dad&#8217;s apartment, laundry, all of it was left unless it posed a risk.\u00a0<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Let others know to count us out. <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This looks different for everyone, for you it might be cancelling extracurriculars or playdates, for us, it meant no online learning (we were in the middle of an COVID shutdown)<\/span><\/li><\/ol><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">By lowering my expectations it meant there was less disappointment. If you don\u2019t expect a clean house, home cooked meals, to play and be present with your kids or to go to every engagement you have agreed to- then you can\u2019t be disappointed that you \u201cfailed\u201d. Keeping perspective and knowing these changes were temporary really helped my mindset. Your kids are not going to grow up having been deprived from having seasons of relaxed routine and expectations. Honestly, my kids told me it was the \u201cBEST MONTH EVER\u201d.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Not so much for me, but hey, knowing they were okay helped me be a little more okay.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d6a1ffb elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"d6a1ffb\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-src=\"https:\/\/diaryofanhonestmom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/DiaryofanHonestMom_Floral02-01-150x150.png\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail wp-image-1660 lazyload\" alt=\"\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/diaryofanhonestmom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/DiaryofanHonestMom_Floral02-01-150x150.png 150w, https:\/\/diaryofanhonestmom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/DiaryofanHonestMom_Floral02-01-300x300.png 300w, https:\/\/diaryofanhonestmom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/DiaryofanHonestMom_Floral02-01-768x768.png 768w, https:\/\/diaryofanhonestmom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/DiaryofanHonestMom_Floral02-01-600x600.png 600w, https:\/\/diaryofanhonestmom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/DiaryofanHonestMom_Floral02-01-100x100.png 100w, https:\/\/diaryofanhonestmom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/DiaryofanHonestMom_Floral02-01.png 1000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px\" \/><noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/diaryofanhonestmom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/DiaryofanHonestMom_Floral02-01-150x150.png\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail wp-image-1660 lazyload\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/diaryofanhonestmom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/DiaryofanHonestMom_Floral02-01-150x150.png 150w, https:\/\/diaryofanhonestmom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/DiaryofanHonestMom_Floral02-01-300x300.png 300w, https:\/\/diaryofanhonestmom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/DiaryofanHonestMom_Floral02-01-768x768.png 768w, https:\/\/diaryofanhonestmom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/DiaryofanHonestMom_Floral02-01-600x600.png 600w, https:\/\/diaryofanhonestmom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/DiaryofanHonestMom_Floral02-01-100x100.png 100w, https:\/\/diaryofanhonestmom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/DiaryofanHonestMom_Floral02-01.png 1000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px\" \/><\/noscript>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-fd15d40 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"fd15d40\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-392410f\" data-id=\"392410f\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3d4a8b7 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"3d4a8b7\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">3. Communicating With My Husband and Kids Helped me to Parent While Grieving<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8a8fd39 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"8a8fd39\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Disclaimer: when you are grieving you don&#8217;t always know what you need, and if that is the case that is okay. <\/span><\/p><p><strong>\u00a0The people in our lives who want to be there to support and love us don\u2019t always know how to. <\/strong><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Often, they don\u2019t know what to say or what to do. They know it\u2019s a tender situation and don\u2019t want to do or say the wrong things. At first I didn\u2019t know what I needed, but as I sat and thought and realised what I needed: I asked for it and it was so helpful to those around me who desperately wanted to help. In turn, it was helpful to me.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I was advocating for myself, which may seem selfish &#8211; but as a mom it is the most selfless thing we can do. When we have the space to grieve, to feel, to let go, and to take care of our own needs we are more equipped to mother well. Communicating your needs is an act of love not only to yourself but to your children as well.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Things I communicated:<\/span><\/h3><ul><li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I need help with the dishes<\/span><\/li><li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I need help scanning pictures for the slide show<\/span><\/li><li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I need you to ask me hard questions<\/span><\/li><li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I need to be alone<\/span><\/li><li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I need to have a hot bath<\/span><\/li><li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I need to laugh about something<\/span><\/li><li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I need to listen to sad music<\/span><\/li><\/ul>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-91fd8e9\" data-id=\"91fd8e9\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-182ecfa elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"182ecfa\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"wp-caption\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/diaryofanhonestmom.com\/shop\/merry-and-bright-and-probably-tee\/\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-src=\"https:\/\/diaryofanhonestmom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/20220103_204434-768x1024.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-2407 lazyload\" alt=\"A black and white portrait photo of Libby Ward dealing with grief when her feather passed away\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/diaryofanhonestmom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/20220103_204434-768x1024.jpg 768w, https:\/\/diaryofanhonestmom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/20220103_204434-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/diaryofanhonestmom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/20220103_204434-1152x1536.jpg 1152w, https:\/\/diaryofanhonestmom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/20220103_204434-1536x2048.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/diaryofanhonestmom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/20220103_204434-600x800.jpg 600w, https:\/\/diaryofanhonestmom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/20220103_204434-scaled.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/><noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/diaryofanhonestmom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/20220103_204434-768x1024.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-2407 lazyload\" alt=\"A black and white portrait photo of Libby Ward dealing with grief when her feather passed away\" srcset=\"https:\/\/diaryofanhonestmom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/20220103_204434-768x1024.jpg 768w, https:\/\/diaryofanhonestmom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/20220103_204434-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/diaryofanhonestmom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/20220103_204434-1152x1536.jpg 1152w, https:\/\/diaryofanhonestmom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/20220103_204434-1536x2048.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/diaryofanhonestmom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/20220103_204434-600x800.jpg 600w, https:\/\/diaryofanhonestmom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/20220103_204434-scaled.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/><\/noscript>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figcaption class=\"widget-image-caption wp-caption-text\"><\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8ed293a elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"8ed293a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I needed lots of things and once I could vocalise them, my partner and friends could help.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Lastly, I communicated to my children what had happened to my dad\u00a0 and what I was experiencing- in an age appropriate way. This will look different for every family. Not only is it important to discuss the reality of death with our kids, but it is important to them to see how it affects us. I allowed my children to see my grief at times. I asked them to talk about memories with Grandpa. I read them books about love and loss and grief. I told them they could ask questions.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2069434 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"2069434\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Optional: Communicate Your Feelings<\/span><\/h3><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As an extrovert and verbal processor I am not one to be lost for words &#8211; except for when I lost my dad. <\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I remember sitting in our hot tub several times in the evenings directly after his passing. The hot tub is where my husband and I go to\u00a0 connect, without kids or phones or distractions. It is where we really get to talk. Those first few nights I just stared off into the distance, not at anything in particular but just lost in a sea of thought and worries and fear and deep despair. I wanted someone to crack me open and let it out but I didn\u2019t even know where to start.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Not everyone is a verbal processor like I am and not everyone is ready to talk about their hard and deep feelings. <\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Personally, I needed people who were willing to be with me in it. To listen. To ask questions. To lament with me. I needed it so badly. <\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">My husband is an amazing support to me but not a man of many words. I needed him to let me know it was okay to share the dark scary confusing things I was thinking and feeling. Once I told him I needed this, I was able to let so much out and it was very healing and cathartic for me. You can do this with any trusted person. I recommend sharing your feelings when you are ready, it is cathartic.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-60facc7 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"60facc7\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">4. Allowing Myself to Feel Helped Me to Grieve<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5a7111a elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"5a7111a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This is a tough one. I want to start by saying I know and acknowledge that every single person grieves differently. I can attest to this by sharing<\/span><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/@diaryofanhonestmom\/video\/7052139829353598213?is_from_webapp=1&amp;sender_device=pc&amp;web_id6878069115367360006\"> this viral Tiktok <\/a><\/strong><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">that I made with a heavy dose of dark humour. <\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>Let\u2019s go with this:<\/strong> <em>crying is normal, joking is normal, anger is normal, confusion is normal, wanting to be alone is normal, wanting to be with others is normal. <\/em><\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Grief is all the love we didn\u2019t get to express and death is complicated so however you deal is okay.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">But there is something to be said for allowing yourself to feel- whichever feelings those are. One thing I have learned on my trips around the sun is that attaching guilt, shame or meaning to our emotions doesn\u2019t help anyone. It doesn\u2019t fix anything. It doesn\u2019t heal anything. It doesn\u2019t do anyone justice. It just makes it worse.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When my dad died <strong>I felt regret<\/strong> that I didn\u2019t see him more- that is valid. <strong>I felt anger<\/strong> towards people in his life that made his life difficult- that is valid. <strong>I felt jealous<\/strong> that other people get to have their dads for longer- that is valid. <strong>I felt grateful<\/strong> that I got to have a relationship with him- that is valid. <strong>I felt sad<\/strong> that he had to die- and that is valid too.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There is no sense thinking things like \u201cit could be worse\u201d or \u201cat least _____ didn\u2019t happen\u201d or \u201cat least you got __________\u201d. Toxic positivity and <\/span><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/ericalayne.co\/comparative-suffering\/\">comparative suffering<\/a><\/strong><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> have no place in grief. All of our journeys are unique, and each relationship is unique too. So allow yourself to sit with the feelings you have and let it be. There will be a time to work through them or to look for the source or to wade your way through the waters, but for now just sit in it. Your feelings say nothing about you or your character. There is no right or wrong way to grieve. Don\u2019t overthink it, get comfortable being uncomfortable- because grief is not linear and we are not perfect.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I told my kids that \u201cif mommy is sad it\u2019s because my dad died, not because of anything you did\u201d. You see, I didn\u2019t want to suppress my feelings and have them come out in bursts at them. I didn\u2019t do it perfectly I am sure, but I hope that by allowing my feelings and talking about them, I let my kids know that I am a human who feels too. I hope it let them know they didn\u2019t do anything to upset me.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I hope that they see that when life gets complicated for them and they have hard feelings that they don\u2019t need to squish them away or feel ashamed but that it is a normal part of humaning. I hope that it helped them to build trust with me.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5f59cb2 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"5f59cb2\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Parenting While Grieving is Hard, But You Can Do Hard Things<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7be2edd elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"7be2edd\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Losing someone or something that alters our life as we know it can rock us to our absolute core. It is hard and complicated and scary and overwhelming. Parenting while grieving is even harder because we still have responsibilities. Navigating our feelings and balancing our need to grieve and our need to be there for our kids can seem impossible but it isn\u2019t.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0<\/span> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Putting some of these tips in place, is not going to make your grief go away. It won\u2019t make the world make sense again. It won\u2019t bring them back. It won\u2019t take away all of the feelings or speed up the process. Doing these things will hopefully give you, as a parent, space to expect the unexpected, emotion wise &amp; task wise.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">By <strong>relying on others, lowering our expectations, communicating and allowing ourselves to feel our feelings<\/strong> it allows us to create opportunities to allow our grief to take place. It creates a safe place for us to let go and grieve in whatever way works best for us. By making these changes we are doing ourselves and our children a favour and truly showing love.\u00a0 And how honouring to the person we have lost to know that we can carry on loving after they have left us. What a beautiful way to be human.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">So what now?\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-59b0b6f elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"59b0b6f\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-18f29c3\" data-id=\"18f29c3\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-dc4c181 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"dc4c181\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Listen to these podcasts on Grief<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-38effdd elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"38effdd\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Listen to these podcasts:<\/span><\/p><ol><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Jen Hatmaker interviews Sal and Im from <\/span><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/goodmourningpodcast\/\">@goodmourningpodcast <\/a><\/strong><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">and they break down a lot of barriers and talk about how Grief is complicated and there is no right or wrong way. It helped me feel so seen.\u00a0<\/span><\/li><\/ol><p><a href=\"https:\/\/jenhatmaker.com\/podcast\/series-40\/elephants-in-the-room-part-1-grief-on-your-terms-with-sal-im\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>Elephants in the room part 1: Grief on Your Terms with Sal and Im<\/strong><\/span><\/a><\/p><ol><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Brene Brown interviews <\/span><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/iamdavidkessler\/\">David Kessler<\/a><\/strong><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> who has researched and written a book on the 6th stage of grief, finding meaning.\u00a0 It was validating and brought me hope.<\/span><\/li><\/ol><p><a href=\"https:\/\/brenebrown.com\/podcast\/david-kessler-and-brene-on-grief-and-finding-meaning\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>David Kessler and Brene Brown on Grief and Finding Meaning<\/strong><\/span><\/a><\/p><p><strong>Leave a comment and let me know how you were able to cope with grief and what helped you.<\/strong><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Thank you for being here.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you aren\u2019t already make sure to follow me on<strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/diaryofanhonestmom\/\"> Instagram<\/a><\/strong> and<strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/@diaryofanhonestmom\"> Tiktok<\/a><\/strong> for relatable mom content and encouraging mental health content.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0a94f54 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"0a94f54\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">-Libby <\/p>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-59120b2\" data-id=\"59120b2\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-abe8dd8 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"abe8dd8\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<blockquote class=\"instagram-media\" data-instgrm-captioned data-instgrm-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/CYpQG_Zlrn9\/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading\" data-instgrm-version=\"14\" style=\" background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:540px; min-width:326px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);\"><div style=\"padding:16px;\"> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/CYpQG_Zlrn9\/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading\" style=\" background:#FFFFFF; line-height:0; padding:0 0; text-align:center; text-decoration:none; width:100%;\" target=\"_blank\"> <div style=\" display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;\"> <div style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;\"><\/div> <div style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;\"> <div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;\"><\/div> <div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;\"><\/div><\/div><\/div><div style=\"padding: 19% 0;\"><\/div> <div style=\"display:block; height:50px; margin:0 auto 12px; width:50px;\"><svg width=\"50px\" height=\"50px\" viewBox=\"0 0 60 60\" version=\"1.1\" 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570.82,37.631\"><\/path><\/g><\/g><\/g><\/svg><\/div><div style=\"padding-top: 8px;\"> <div style=\" color:#3897f0; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:550; line-height:18px;\">View this post on Instagram<\/div><\/div><div style=\"padding: 12.5% 0;\"><\/div> <div style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;\"><div> <div style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);\"><\/div> <div style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;\"><\/div> <div style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);\"><\/div><\/div><div style=\"margin-left: 8px;\"> <div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;\"><\/div> <div style=\" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg)\"><\/div><\/div><div style=\"margin-left: auto;\"> <div style=\" width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);\"><\/div> <div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);\"><\/div> <div style=\" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);\"><\/div><\/div><\/div> <div style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;\"> <div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;\"><\/div> <div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;\"><\/div><\/div><\/a><p style=\" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/CYpQG_Zlrn9\/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading\" style=\" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none;\" target=\"_blank\">A post shared by The Honest Mom (Libby) (@diaryofanhonestmom)<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/blockquote> <script async src=\"\/\/www.instagram.com\/embed.js\"><\/script>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-4a598180 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"4a598180\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-no\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-65c69aaf\" data-id=\"65c69aaf\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-43d4d2a4 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"43d4d2a4\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-no\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-33 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-321f8ae7\" data-id=\"321f8ae7\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-337b6fb3 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"337b6fb3\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/40RtKmG\" target=\"_blank\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"229\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-src=\"https:\/\/diaryofanhonestmom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/audible-logo-min.png\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-7012 lazyload\" alt=\"\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/diaryofanhonestmom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/audible-logo-min.png 1000w, 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family.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":2401,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[29,28],"tags":[108,47,107,93],"class_list":["post-2400","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-mental-health","category-motherhood","tag-grief","tag-motherhood","tag-parenting","tag-self-care"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v26.4 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Parenting While Grieving: How to Be a Good Mom While Coping with Grief - Diary of an Honest Mom<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Parenting while grieving. 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