The holidays bring a unique kind of heaviness when you're navigating them without your person. Your brain searches for them in every familiar tradition, every decoration, every family gathering - and when it can't find them, it sends out waves of emotion that can feel overwhelming. I'm addressing why the holidays can stir up such intense emotions for widowed moms and why there's no right way to feel during this season. Whether you're dreading every moment, feeling surprisingly peaceful, or experiencing emotional whiplash between the two, your experience makes complete sense. Listen in this week to learn what’s happening in your brain and body during this time, so you can offer yourself compassion instead of criticism. You'll discover why numbness, isolation, and rapid mood shifts are all natural responses to grief during the holidays. Most importantly, you'll learn that whatever you're feeling - from complete disconnection to unexpected joy - doesn't need to be fixed or justified. Join my free, 3-day live workshop, Happier Holidays for Widowed Moms, to learn 3 simple ways to make this season easier. It’s happening November 18th-20th, 2025, and you can register here: https://www.coachingwithkrista.com/freeholidayevent/ Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://www.coachingwithkrista.com/336
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335. 3 Things Widows Need to Get Unstuck
Do you ever feel like you're just going through the motions? Like you're functioning, but not really living? If you're nodding your head, you're not alone. In fact, this feeling is so common among widows that I've given it a name: the grief plateau. It’s that space where you're stable enough to function, but your future feels uncertain and life doesn't quite feel like you'd like it to. You might be back at work, taking care of your family, and managing day-to-day tasks, but inside, something feels... missing. If you're ready to take that first step, tune in this week as I share three essential keys to help you get unstuck and move beyond this plateau.Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://www.coachingwithkrista.com/335
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334. What to Say and What NOT to Say to a New Widow
Have you ever found yourself frozen, wanting to support someone who's grieving but afraid of saying the wrong thing?Most of us weren't taught how to show up for someone who's experienced a devastating loss. We want to help, but sometimes our well-intentioned words can accidentally cause more harm than good. Join me this week as I share practical guidance for anyone who wants to be a genuine source of support for a widow in their life. Drawing from my work with widows every day and my own experience, I break down the common myths about grief that lead to hurtful comments, explain why grief is a full-body experience that affects everything from memory to decision-making, and offer specific phrases that actually help versus those that don't.Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://www.coachingwithkrista.com/334
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334. What to Say and What Not to Say to a New Widow
Have you ever found yourself frozen, wanting to support someone who's grieving but afraid of saying the wrong thing? Most of us weren't taught how to show up for someone who's experienced a devastating loss. We want to help, but sometimes our well-intentioned words can accidentally cause more harm than good. Join me this week as I share practical guidance for anyone who wants to be a genuine source of support for a widow in their life. Drawing from my work with widows every day and my own experience, I break down the common myths about grief that lead to hurtful comments, explain why grief is a full-body experience that affects everything from memory to decision-making, and offer specific phrases that actually help versus those that don't. Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://www.coachingwithkrista.com/334
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333. That Thing You Can't Stop Thinking About: Ruminating in Widowhood
Have you been beating yourself up because you can't stop thinking about something? Maybe it’s the last conversation you had with your person, something someone said that felt hurtful, or a decision you're questioning. You tell yourself to move on, but the thought returns like a boomerang, taking up mental space you desperately need for other things. The frustration builds as you wonder why you can't just let it go, especially when everyone says not to let things "live rent-free in your head." Tune in this week to discover what’s really happening in your brain when you can’t stop thinking about something, and how to break the rumination cycle without forcing yourself to "just stop thinking about it." Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://www.coachingwithkrista.com/333
The Widowed Mom Podcast offers practical and empowering strategies for widowed moms who believe in the possibility of loving life again but sometimes worry their best days are behind them. If you want more than traditional therapy and grief groups can offer, if you’re stuck in an emotional pattern and feel like you can’t get free, if you want help navigating the unique challenges of being a widowed mom with support that is uplifting and honest, this is the podcast for you. In each episode, Certified Life Coach, widow and mom, Krista St-Germain, will teach you small, manageable steps and techniques to help uncover what’s holding you back and show you how to create a future you can actually look forward to. You may not believe it yet but you CAN move through your grief and live a life you love. If you want to learn more, head over to coachingwithkrista.com.
Ireland