All posts by MaryMac

MaryMac is a grief and bereavement specialist, host of The Mary Mac Show podcast, award-winning author, speaker, executive grief coach, consultant and founder of The Foundation For Grieving Children, Inc., the first national public charity of its kind which raises funds to assist, counsel, comfort and educate children, teens, young adults and their families after a loved one's death.

The Mary Mac Show | Mother’s Day Can Sting

The Mary Mac Show Podcast

In Episode 23, we remember our mothers and mother figures who made an impact on our lives. We also discuss the pain of bereaved mothers, ladies who struggle to bear the title and those who will never be called “Mom.”

The pain from a mother’s death is often severe especially if we had a wonderful relationship with our Moms.

But, sometimes, our relationship wasn’t as we would expect and we struggle with the ‘what if’s’ and perhaps guilt that may bring.

Yet whatever the relationship, good or bad, that we had with her, we must forgive ourselves and even moreso her for what you needed that you didn’t get, for what you and she said to each other that stung, and all the unfinished business that might still linger that neither of you can do anything about anymore.

We also recognize all the mother figures who raised you and cared for you if your Mom died younger than expected.

And we also talk about bereaved mothers who have buried their child, children or even all their children.

Lastly, we look at women who struggle to have children, those who miscarried or had a stillborn child, as well as those who deal with infertility and/or the knowledge that they may never have children of their own. We also remember women who are older now and wished they had children years ago when it was still possible, or those who never found the right husband to raise a family.

This can be a very melancholy day for some. Let us acknowledge them all.

Listen in to Episode 23 here or on your favorite podcasting platform.

xoxo

The Mary Mac Show | Coronavirus | A Cousin’s Death | Coping With The Inability To Be At Your Loved One’s Deathbed

The Mary Mac Show Podcast

In Episode 22, I wanted to speak about the experience of having had a loved one die of the coronavirus and how that affects us.

Dianne M. Daniels, who is taking the same online course as I am, was gracious to provide her outlook after the death of her beloved cousin, Alexis.

A bright, beautiful and accomplished women, Alexis was also an entrepreneur who is survived by her husband, Arthur, two children, David and Olivia, as well as her mother DeeDee, and countless other family members who will miss her terribly. Alexis’ battle against the virus took her life on April 10th.

Dianne speaks of how the weeks leading up to Alexis’ death were filled with anxiety yet hopefulness. Alexis had had allergies and breathing difficulties including asthma which meant she was at greater risk to contract the virus.

Dianne M. Daniels
Alexis Wyatt Williams

Listen in to Episode 22 to hear more about Dianne’s experience leading up to the death of her cousin, Alexis.

Also in this episode, I discuss how to cope with the inability to be with those who were in nursing facilities and hospitals and died without family near.

There are so many complicated emotions which arise from a coronavirus death.

Before this virus struck us and quarantined our families, we would simply go to their home, the nursing home, the hospital or other facility and be with them as they passed away.

But not being able to do that just now has added guilt, anger, a feeling of impotence and other emotions which we would be smart to deal with now, right here, so these feeling don’t linger and spiral out of control.

Listen in to Episode 22, share with those who might be in need of comfort and knowledge and rate and review wherever you hear my podcast.

Learn EFT by visiting Brad Yates’ youtube channel. His video on Overwhelm will also help you.

Navy Seals breathing exercise to calm you, decrease anxiety.

Get my free book “The 21 Things You Must Know About the Grieving Process” by completing the form and you’ll receive an email with link to obtain it.

Blessings to the Williams and Daniels families as they grieve the loss of Alexis.

Stay well, stay safe. xoxo

The Mary Mac Show | Coronavirus | Perspective of Teen Olivia Moody

The Mary Mac Show PodcastThis week we look at how our teenagers are dealing with being quarantined at home and what they think about this pandemic.

I have the good fortune to know Olivia Moody, who is my neighbor and an exceptional young lady. Her heart is always in the right place, doing wonderful things to help lift the spirits of all those she meets.

I wanted to learn what Olivia was feeling and thinking about this unprecedented time in our lives and she graciously agreed to share her perspective.

In Episode 21, I tell you what she has shared about her life now and how different is it since the lockdown began. You are in for a real treat!

On the podcast, I promised to share the beautiful note she wrote and secretly left for all her neighbors at their doorstep.

Below is her note:

“What you get by achieving your goals is not as important as what you become by achieving your goals.” Zig Ziglar

Thank you Olivia for your thoughtful and caring gift to all of us!

Listen in to Episode 21, share with those who might be in need of comfort and knowledge and rate and review wherever you hear my podcast.

Learn EFT by visiting Brad Yates’ youtube channel. His video on Overwhelm will also help you.

Navy Seals breathing exercise to calm you, decrease anxiety.

Get my free book “The 21 Things You Must Know About the Grieving Process” by completing the form and you’ll receive an email with link to obtain it.

Stay well, stay safe. xoxo

The Mary Mac Show | Coronavirus | Speaking To The Young Ones

The Mary Mac Show PodcastSince there is so much going on in our world and inside our homes each day, it isn’t uncommon to sidestep what our young ones are feeling.

Just like adults, they deal with the grief associated with no seeing their friends and relatives on a regular basis.

They don’t know what all this means. They haven’t seen you in this state before. Trying to juggle all the household chores of cleaning, cooking, taking care of them, homeschooling or at least tutoring them through their now online classes and somehow doing all your work online yourself.

And if you are an essential worker, who is caring for them each day.

All the while, they are just as confused and left wondering what all this means.

They watch the television and since they aren’t really sure what is happening or when this will end, they just observe.

But they don’t like that the questions floating through their minds aren’t really answered.

And they don’t know what to ask you or other adults mostly because they see you don’t really have any answers anyway.

Episode 20 we explore language you can use to help explain to our young ones what we know at this time and how they can help the family move through this crisis.

Listen in here.

The Mary Mac Show | Coronavirus | Speaking About Death and Dying

The Mary Mac Show PodcastOne of the most difficult transitions in life…is to death.

Most of us don’t want to consider what might happen if someone we love is diagnosed with a life-threatening illness.

It shocks us and causes us to change a great many things in our life so we can be with them more and perhaps even move closer to them, if need be.

It can become necessary to balance our regular life with the new demand of helping them get through this time in their life, whether it results in remission and cure, or in death.

No one is skilled at helping others die. We just aren’t.

We aren’t skilled at helping ourselves die, either.

We need help.

In Episode 19, we discuss how to talk to our family about dying and death.

And we consider how we can comfort and speak with a family member leading up to their death.

What we should do and not do and how we can be there for them.

xoxo