When Grief Comes Home - Parenting & Grief

Grief often arrives without warning and changes everything we thought we knew about ourselves, our families, and the world around us. In this episode, we talk with Erin Nelson and Colleen Montague about their new book, When Grief Comes Home, a resource created from years of both personal loss and professional experience supporting families who are grieving. Erin, founding Executive Director of Jessica’s House in Central California, and Colleen, Program Director, discuss how they came to write this book that blends memoir, practical tools, and reflective questions.

We discuss:

• Erin's personal experience with grief including the death of her husband when their children were just 3 and 5 years old, her mother from suicide, and her son Carter, who died in an accident
• The unique impact of sudden loss
• The power of rituals and expressive activities
• What teens really need when they are grieving
• Strategies for returning to school and work
• Activites and discussion starters parents and caregivers can use to connect with their kids
• Learning to trust yourself in grief
• Making space for the dark parts of grief while also staying open to moments of light and joy

Resources & Mentions:

• When Grief Comes Home: A Guide For Living Through Loss While Supporting Your Child, by Erin and Colleen – [available wherever you get your books]

• Jessica’s House: https://jessicashouse.org/

• Dougy Center: https://www.dougy.org/

💬 Connect with us: griefoutloud@dougy.org 🎧 If you find this episode meaningful, consider leaving us a rating or review to help more people find Grief Out Loud.

Grief Out Loud is produced by Dougy Center: The National Grief Center for Children & Families.