Grieving While Parenting: Mindfulness, Mental Health, and Motherhood

How do you grieve while parenting? How do you tend to your own heartbreak and hold space for your children’s?

In this heartfelt conversation with Reshma Kearney, a Trauma-Informed Mindfulness and Healing Guide, shares her journey after losing her husband, Sean, to suicide. She opens up about navigating grief as a solo parent, communicating loss with honesty, and finding moments of presence through mindfulness in the first three years of grief.

Reshma’s story touches on the complexities of mental health, cultural perspectives on grief, and the delicate balance of creating new traditions while honoring those we’ve lost. Through her experience, she reminds us that grief is not something to fix, but something to tend to, with gentleness, awareness, and grace.

Whether you’re parenting through loss, supporting someone who is, or learning to meet your own pain with compassion, this episode offers warmth, wisdom, and ways forward.

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TIMESTAMPS:
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0:05 — Third Year of Grief
2:47 — Getting to Know Sean
6:47 — Losing a Husband and Father to Suicide
12:18 — Leading with Truth: Communicating Loss to Children
22:52 — Mindfulness and Healing: Tools for Recovery
25:06 — Emotions in Grief: Anger, Resentment, Relief, and Acceptance
27:52 — Military Mental Health: The Need for Awareness
32:28 — Cultural Perspectives on Grief and Mental Health
37:31 — Myths Surrounding Suicidality
39:15 — Parenting Through Grief
42:02 — Maintaining Bonds with Loved Ones After Loss
45:20 — Trauma-Informed Support and Resources
47:14 — Navigating Holidays After Loss
50:49 — Redefining Joy and Hope in Grief

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KEY TAKEAWAYS:
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Grief is non-linear, and there’s no “right way” to heal.
Mindfulness helps bring steadiness and presence to painful moments.
Children grieve differently; their process deserves honesty and patience.
Truthful communication about death fosters safety and healing.
Cultural background shapes how grief is expressed and supported.
Emotions like anger, guilt, or relief are natural parts of grief.
Creating new traditions can help families honor loved ones meaningfully.
Small moments of joy can coexist with deep sorrow.
Open conversations about mental health can save lives.
Parenting through grief calls for grace, flexibility, and self-compassion.

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GUEST: Reshma Kearney
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Trauma-Informed Mindfulness and Healing Guide
  / reshmakearney  
https://www.reshmakearney.com/

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HOSTED BY: Nina Rodriguez
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Creator of Grief and Light, Grief Guide
https://www.griefandlight.com/
  / griefandlight  
Resting Grief Face on Substack: https://griefandlight.substack.com/

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Grief Support Resources for the Road:
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Grief Tending Toolkit: https://griefandlight.myflodesk.com/g...
Access our online community: https://grief-and-light-community.mn....
Pause, Pivot, Podcast Workbook: https://griefandlight.myflodesk.com/p...

Thank you for listening! If this conversation moved you, please share it with someone who might need to hear it.

Disclaimer: griefandlight.com/safetyanddisclaimers

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#GrievingWhileParenting #GriefAndLightPodcast #MindfulnessAndGrief #ParentingThroughLoss #SuicideLossSupport #traumainformed