The holidays can be magical, messy, and a little bittersweet. Sometimes, they bring up feelings we didn't even realize we were carrying.

In this episode, we're talking about grief and the holidays, and why this time of year can bring so much to the surface. And we're not just talking about grief after losing someone we love. We're talking about missing the people who aren't here anymore, the people who are still here but no longer part of our lives, the childhood holidays we can never get back, and the seasons of motherhood that seem to pass way too quickly.

From the empty chair at the table to the traditions that look different now, we're getting into the complicated feelings that can come with a season that tells us we're supposed to be happy. Because sometimes, the holidays hold joy and sadness, gratitude and longing, all at the same time.

We're talking about:

• Why grief can feel especially heavy during the holidays

• Missing people, relationships, and versions of life that have changed

• The memories, music, recipes, and traditions that bring it all back

• The bittersweet reality of watching our kids grow up and realizing we're living the good old days

• Navigating changing family dynamics, estrangement, divorce, and traditions that no longer look the same

• Letting ourselves feel the hard stuff without feeling guilty for the good stuff, too

Grief is often the price we pay for loving deeply. And maybe the goal isn't to avoid the sadness or recreate the holidays exactly as they used to be, but to make room for what we're missing while still embracing what we have.

As always, we're here for the messy middle, the big feelings, and the reminder that even when the holidays don't look the way they used to, you can still find moments of magic in them.

In case no one's told you today, you handled that perfectly. 💖

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