The stigmas and perceptions we, as a society, hold of widows and widowhood serve to compound an already traumatic and overwhelming grief.
It doesn’t have to be this way!
With all of my heart I wish I had known what I now know when my widowed grandmothers were still alive.
I would have understood much of what my grandmas, Bern and Liz, held in silence. Things, that if shared openly, could have helped countless others, and me, when our turn came.
I would have understood I didn’t have to be afraid of their widowhood and that it even existed every day for the rest of their lives.
I would never have said some of the things we grow up hearing said to grieving loved ones and repeat ad nauseam as adults.
Most of all I would simply have known better how to support my grandmas and honor them in their grief.
It’s my mission to help you understand a little more about the realities the widows you care about are experiencing as they grieve their extraordinary loss.
It’s also my mission to help you find better things to say and do for her that will have a more positive impact on her grief and life.
As a bonus, many of the things I’ll be sharing in regard to widows can also apply to widowers and others experiencing profound grief.
Stay tuned, or sign up for updates, as this site grows.
Let's change those stigmas and expectations together!
. . . I’m a wife and mom who became a widow in my 40’s.
Hi! My name is Marsha.
When my husband died I was completely blindsided by the realities of widowhood.
Even though I had had two widowed grandmothers, and other widows and widowers in my life, I wasn’t remotely prepared for the depth of grief that flooded my entire being.
Even though I had had two widowed grandmothers, and other widows and widowers in my life, I wasn’t remotely prepared for the depth of grief that flooded my entire being.
I was also stunned by the way many kind, heartfelt, and familiar words were being absorbed from well-meaning family and friends who loved and cared for us. Things I had likely said to people I care about. Things I quickly determined to never, ever say again!
Widows, widowers, and widowhood should not be something we avoid. To avoid them makes their reality and experience so much harder.
We can do better!
Widows, widowers, and widowhood should not be something we avoid. To avoid them makes their reality and experience so much harder.
We can do better!
Marsha
Marsha's Blog
Copyright Marsha Williams
