The Joyful Mourning - A Podcast for Women Who Have Experienced Pregnancy or Infant Loss – Details, episodes & analysis

A special episode in honor of your motherhood. This entire month we are giving space for your unique story of motherhood, providing a little extra support and hope as you head into Mother’s Day – a day that can be full of many complex emotions, often very painful.

But more important than our resources and articles on the blog and special episodes here on the podcast, mostly, I want you to know, we want you to know that Your motherhood is motherhood, too.

Even if it doesn’t look like everyone else’s, or like how you wish yours was.

Even in the journey you’re facing, this day is for you, too.

In this special episode I am kicking off this month with a poem written by Meg Walker called This is Motherhood, Too. I pray it brings you comfort, hope and gives you space to honor your unique journey as a mother. 

For our best and most helpful resources for navigating Mother's Day, download our free Resource Bundle & Workbook: www.themorning.com/mothersday. 

From Every Moment Holy, Volume II 

"Lead me, O Lord, through this layered confusion 

of celebration and lament, of things present,

and things past. Let me make of this day a new thing.

Though holidays might be hard days, O God, 

by the movement of your mercies 

may they also become holy days, 

teaching me again and again to entrust to you my many griefs,

as often as these unavoidable days uncover and reveal them."

"Now lead me, carry me, and walk beside me through this day,

O Christ, shepherd of all my sorrows. In unexpected places, let me find joy.

Amen."

FREE HOLIDAY RESOURCES: www.themorning.com/holidays

1. Download the Free Navigating the Holidays Workbook & Resource Bundle 
2. Join us for a Christmas Devotional Book Club for December (Get the devotional here.)
3. Our Christmas Gift Guides for Grieving Moms
4. Keepsake DIY Ornaments (click here)
5. Get your Christmas Apparel (Back in the shop!)

> www.themorning.com/holidays

FREE ONLINE SUPPORT COMMUNITY
A place away from social media where you can find support and care from women who are just like you. Women navigating the day to day ups and downs of grief. A place where you can feel not alone in this. Come join us: themorning.com/community

FREE GRIEF GUIDE

Our best and most helpful resources for navigating grief and life after loss all in one place. Plus a list of our favorite books for children about grief and loss. Download Here.

FREE GUIDE: IF YOU LOVE A GRIEVING MOM
And if you love a grieving mom, we have something for you too, a free guide with simple tips for how to love a grieving friend: themorning.com/friendsandfamily.

RATE, REVIEW &  FOLLOW ON APPLE PODCASTS
If you love The Joyful Mourning Podcast, please consider rating and reviewing the show! This helps moms who are grieving to find us a little easier and get that support they need. Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Then be sure to let me know how this episode helped you.

Listen into today’s special episode where I share: a non-comprehensive list of the things a grieving mom may be thinking about at any given moment. I say non-comprehensive because the things we think about as grieving moms are often complex and can be difficult to put into words.

I am sharing this somewhat seemingly random list of thoughts to do two things:

1. To help a grieving mom hear me say -- you are not alone in the way you are thinking about this nor are you crazy. The way you are seeing this and thinking about this is completely normal and to be expected. 
2. To help someone who has not experienced the loss of a baby better understand what is happening inside the head and heart of a grieving mom -- to have compassion and empathy when you might not understand how she is responding or better yet to have compassion and empathy when you judge her response as not appropriate.

October is Pregnancy and Infant Loss awareness month. In these short episodes I will be highlighting specific topics surrounding pregnancy and infant loss in order to give you a voice, to acknowledge your loss and to help others who have not experienced this kind of loss understand a little better what it is to be a baby loss mom. If you love a grieving mom this bonus series on the podcast is going to be incredibly helpful at understanding her better. 

IF YOU ARE A GRIEVING MOM

For an abundance of resources about navigating life after the loss of a baby head to www.themorning.com/resourcebundle

IF YOU LOVE A GRIEVING MOM

And if you love a grieving mom, we have something for you too, a free guide with simple tips for how to love a grieving friend, head to themorning.com/friendsandfamily.

In this week’s episode I have the honor of interviewing Michele Benyo. Michele is a Certified Grief Recovery Specialist®, an early childhood parent coach, and the founder of Good Grief Parenting. After her 6-year-old son died of cancer, her 3-year-old daughter said, “Mommy, half of me is gone.” This heartbreaking statement defined Michele’s life purpose. Her mission is twofold: to help parents through the unimaginable challenges of parenting while grieving the death of a child, and to help parents meet the unique needs of a child who has lost a sibling in the early childhood years. The desire of Michele’s heart is to see families live forward after loss toward a future bright with possibilities and even joy.

The immense practical wisdom Michele shares during our time together is invaluable and I just know you are going to love Michele. 

FREE RESOURCE BUNDLE
Over the past 5 years we have helped thousands of women navigate life after the loss of a baby and we pulled our best and most helpful resources all into one easy to access resource. There is a separate bundle for miscarriage, infant loss and life-limiting diagnosis so the resources are very specific, tailored to you and your grief journey. To get your free resource bundle head to themorning.com/resourcebundle

SHOW NOTES
www.themorning.com/blog/episode144

FREE ONLINE COMMUNITY
www.themorning.com/community

RATE, REVIEW &  FOLLOW ON APPLE PODCASTS
If you love The Joyful Mourning Podcast, please consider rating and reviewing the show! This helps moms who are grieving to find us a little easier and get that support they need. Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Then be sure to let me know what you loved most about the episode!

Today’s special episode is all about the end of a year and the beginning of a new one. And you are going to hear from all three members of The Morning team in this special episode, Meg Walker is going to share with you thoughts about last year, Mary Margaret Powitz is going to share with you 3 hopes for the new year and I am going to finish our time with 3 prayers I have for you as we end 2021 and enter 2022. 

Before we jump into that I want you to hear me say: You made it through the holidays friends — I am so proud of you. I wish I could give you a hug and look you in the eyes and say “You did it. You made it through one of the toughest seasons a grieving mother has to walk through.” 

I would love to encourage you to spend some time today or tomorrow, just a few minutes, reflecting on this past year, on this moment right now, and on the holiday season. We created a simple workbook for you with questions and prompts to help you reflect on the year as we move into a new year, head to themorning.com/newyear to download yours. 

The purpose of writing out your thoughts is not to come up with perfect words but to get all that’s in your head out -- to remember things you don’t want to forget; to reflect, to pause, to ponder, and to process. 

You have been through so much this year, it will be an incredibly helpful exercise to take a few minutes to sit in it, reflect on it, learn from it -- before diving into a new year. Download that free workbook at themorning.com/newyear and then head over to our free community to share with us what you discovered during your time of reflection. 

New Year Reflection Workbook
www.themorning.com/newyear

Show Notes
www.themorning.com/blog/episode143

Free Community
www.themorning.com/community

Bonus Episode from the Christmas Promises for the Grieving Heart Daily Devotional

He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” Revelation 21:4

At Christmas we celebrate Jesus' first coming as a baby, when He came to be our Rescuer and Redeemer, our Healer and our Comforter. But we also anticipate His second coming, when He will wipe away all the tears, all the sadness, all the pain, all the brokenness, and all the death.

HOLIDAY WORKBOOK & RESOURCE BUNDLE
for the grieving mother
www.themorning.com/holidays

FREE COMMUNITY
www.themorning.com/community

Bonus Episode from the Christmas Promises for the Grieving Heart Daily Devotional

The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound;2 to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn; to grant to those who mourn in Zion— to give them a beautiful headdress instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the garment of praise instead of a faint spirit; that they may be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he may be glorified. Isaiah 61:1-3

The baby we celebrate at Christmas, that baby in a manger, He is our good news, our hope. He is good news because He came to bring freedom, to set us free. Freedom from death and sin and all that is broken. Jesus came to bring life. And He came to bring healing and comfort.

HOLIDAY WORKBOOK & RESOURCE BUNDLE
for the grieving mother
www.themorning.com/holidays

FREE COMMUNITY
www.themorning.com/community

This week on the podcast Kristyn Szala joins me back on the podcast to talk about Cuddle Cots – what they are, why a mom who has received a life-limiting diagnosis should know about these, how to learn more about them and how to get one for yourself or for someone you love.

Kristyn shared her full story with us in Episode 134 but is joining us this week to talk specifically about Cuddle Cots and the role this resource played in her bereavement care. Kristyn says over and over during our time together what a blessing Cuddle Cots were to her after her son Asher was born still due to complications from a life-limiting diagnosis of Trisomy 18. Cuddle Cots gave her, and give moms like her, the gift of time. This amazing resource gives parents, as well as friends and family, the ability to spend time with their baby that they wouldn’t really be able to otherwise.

Cuddle cots are not widely known about in the US but they are gaining traction as a very helpful resource in bereavement care for families who have experienced the loss of a baby and Kristyn shares all about that in this episode.

If you have been given a life-limiting diagnosis or knows someone who has this episode is going to be very helpful. And if you are a grieving mom, looking for a way to bless other moms I would listen in – knowing about Cuddle Cots and helping to raise awareness about this unique and helpful resource might be the very thing someone you know and love will need in the future.

Like I shared last week in Episode 141 with Gina Harris, CEO of Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep, as we near the end of the year, if you are looking for year end giving opportunities this would be a really, really great opportunity to give to in honor of your baby this Christmas. To find out more about how to connect with Kristyn and give a donation head to www.facebook.com/AshersHope. Or reach out to your local hospital and give a donation for them to begin raising the funds necessary to purchase their own Cuddle Cot!

FREE RESOURCE FOR LIFE-LIMITING DIAGNOSIS & LIFE AFTER BABY LOSS

Over the past 5 years we have helped thousands of women navigate life after the loss of a baby and we pulled our best and most helpful resources all into one easy to access resource. There is a separate bundle for miscarriage, infant loss and life-limiting diagnosis so the resources are very specific, tailored to you and your grief journey. To get your free resource bundle head to themorning.com/resourcebundle

SHOW NOTES
www.themorning.com/blog/episode142

FREE ONLINE COMMUNITY
www.themorning.com/community

This week I have the honor and privilege of interviewing Gina Harris, a mom who has experienced devastating loss with two sons diagnosed with life-limiting diagnosis as well as the immense pain of two subsequent miscarriages. Gina understands this journey well and is here today to share with us not only as a mother who has experienced the loss of a baby but also as the CEO of Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep.

Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep is an organization that provides the gift of remembrance portraits to parents experiencing the death of a baby. Gina is passionate about the value of photographs for families like us and I was so grateful for this conversation. I especially loved when she said:

“the photographs of our son David, are our most prized and cherished possession. They are everything to us still to this day. 14 years later… these photographs document the existence of our precious babies.” 

I can’t wait for you to hear more about Gina’s story, the role that remembrance photography played in her story as well as Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep. Gina shares with us how we can help spread the news about the services they offer, both for moms and for medical professionals, and how you can get connected and learn more about their volunteer opportunities. As a side note they need more than just photographers as volunteers, so don’t dismiss those volunteer opportunities until you hear Gina share a little more about ways you can serve.

Also, I wanted to mention that as we near the end of the year, if you are looking for year end giving opportunities this would be a really, really great organization to give towards and you could even do so in honor of your baby this Christmas. To find out more about how to give a donation head to nowilaymedowntosleep.org, that’s nowilaymedowntosleep.org. 

HOLIDAY RESOURCES
Along with this podcast episode we have pulled together all of our best and most helpful resources for navigating the holidays, into our Holiday Workbook & Resource Bundle.

This resource is going to include quick access to all of our holiday material, including links to our holiday interviews and posts like how to handle Christmas Cards as well as a workbook that gives you space to prepare your mind and heart for the holiday season  -- you can find that free download at www.themorning.com/holidays

FREE COMMUNITY
www.themorning.com/community

SHOW NOTES
www.themorning.com/blog/episode141

Today we are talking about Christmas traditions for the grieving mom. I want to share a few things I’ve learned about traditions over the years, how they might be helpful to you, as well as a few traditions you may want to incorporate into your Christmas season and a few tips for navigating traditions in general. 

HOLIDAY RESOURCES
Along with this podcast episode we have pulled together all of our best and most helpful resources for navigating the holidays, into our Holiday Workbook & Resource Bundle.

This resource is going to include quick access to all of our holiday material, including links to our holiday interviews and posts like how to handle Christmas Cards as well as a workbook that gives you space to prepare your mind and heart for the holiday season  -- you can find that free download at www.themorning.com/holidays

FREE COMMUNITY
www.themorning.com/community

SHOW NOTES
www.themorning.com/blog/episode140