Widow's Voice

Widowed Without Children

Exploring What Might Help

| Posted by:

  Today I wish to offer three simple tools to help those of us who are having an especially “off” day.   Three fresh ideas or strategies for your back pocket at the ready in advance of your need.   Difficult days arrive out of nowhere for new widowed people, or long-time widowed people.   […]

Widowed Without Kids

| Posted by:

I’m one of the widowed people who have no children and my guess is that it’s a very different experience than those of you who lost your spouse but have kids. Even when I was a child myself, I never even thought I’d have a child of my own. Other kids (probably all girls) played […]

Sunday Family Dinner

| Posted by:

As I mentioned last week I have been reviewing estate documents.  I’ve been thinking about what I want to do, and how to convey my testamentary wishes to my lawyer. I have some technical questions for him, too. *** Speaking of heirs, my nephew Kevin invited me to Sunday lunch at 3:30 p.m. His brother […]

Just Another Day

| Posted by:

I sat on a stool at the kitchen counter, reviewing estate documents and setting up a Zoom meeting with my estate lawyer for early next week.  The sliding door to the rear porch and backyard was still wide open.  Weather permitting, opening this door is one of my first acts of the day. Then, if […]

Cat Ladies

| Posted by:

A recent Pew poll of people of different ages who don’t have biological children (see https://www.pewresearch.org/social-trends/2024/07/25/the-experiences-of-u-s-adults-who-dont-have-children/ 7/25/24) suggests this circumstance is more common nowadays than when I came up. I could go into detail trying to explain how my situation evolved, but why bother?  Today I am seventy-three years old and don’t plan to become […]

Feeling all the Feels

| Posted by:

How Grief Impacts Feelings At age 26, I received a helpful definition for feelings. You may be thinking that could be a bit late in life to receive information about something that impacts life on a daily basis and you would be right. Regardless of timing, I gratefully received this definition. “Feelings are spontaneous, inner […]

School’s Out

| Posted by:

My great-nephew graduates from grammar school this Friday.  It will mark an important transition for the young man.  It is a big deal! As I’ve mentioned here from time to time, I come from a small family.  My mother, father, and sister are gone.   My current “immediate” family is down to two nephews, one great-nephew—the […]

Memorial Day Weekend: A Time For Reflection

| Posted by:

The Memorial Day Weekend sort of crept up on me this year. Back in my former locale at the Jersey Shore, this weekend ushers in the official start of a short, yet very active, summer season of beaching, barbecue gatherings, boating, fishing and so many other outdoor activities.  My late husband Rich, who served militarily […]

Of Moms and Dogs (Happy Dog Moms Day)!

| Posted by:

  “If you can’t have a child, have a dog. If you can, have both of them.” William Lewis Judy, 1949 (Founder of National Dog Week, 1928) Today is a difficult milestone. With my Mom’s passing in February, I knew this Mother’s Day weekend would be an emotional time. Last week, while in Winn-Dixie, I […]

Dear Old Dad

| Posted by:

Zoey said, “ I’m lucky to have you as my tutor.” And with that, I felt tears well up in my eyes. I had to look away from the camera that was connecting us via Zoom. I took a moment to gather myself before looking up and replying softly, thanks. She couldn’t know it, of […]