When a child returns to school after a death, routine and heartbreak collide. We open this conversation with Erin’s story of walking her daughter into kindergarten weeks after losing her dad and the quiet power of structure—the same faces at the door, a predictable pickup time, and a teacher who became a steady anchor. From there, we build a practical roadmap parents and educators can use right away: how to set up half-days, flexible assignments, and a discreet system for “grief days” so kids can step out before overwhelm takes over.

We talk through classroom dynamics with care. Teachers need language that is clear, concrete, and compassionate when sharing hard news with students. We explain why gathering in a circle, naming death plainly, and normalizing mixed emotions helps classmates welcome a grieving peer without turning them into “the kid whose parent died.” We also share real-world tools for big feelings in busy halls: movement breaks, comfort corners, and small rituals like a double goodbye or matching hearts drawn on hands to ease separation anxiety.

Older students face different choices, from taking a lighter load to pausing a term. Erin reflects on her family’s decision to step back from college after the death of a sibling, highlighting how mental health, distance from home, and timing shape what “support” looks like. We round out the conversation with scripts for handling insensitive comments, an ally plan to reduce isolation, and simple ways to check in that go beyond “How are you?”—using a feelings wheel, images, and concrete questions that kids can actually answer.

If you’re navigating school after loss, you’re not alone. Grab these strategies, share them with a teacher or counselor, and make a plan your child can trust. For more resources, visit jessicashouse.org. If this conversation helped, please subscribe, rate, and leave a review to help other families find support.

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The hardest calendar invite is the one that pulls you back to work after a death. Your world has changed, yet the inbox still fills, the meetings still stack, and people don’t know whether to talk about it—or avoid it. In this conversation with Erin Nelson and Colleen Montague from Jessica’s House, we sit with the truth that you’re not the same person, and work needs to meet you where you are.

Erin shares her story of stepping away after her son Carter died and returning in phases, naming the clunky handoffs, the new workplace dynamics, and how grief reshapes leadership and teamwork. We unpack what many grieving parents experience: cognitive fog, surges of emotion during routine tasks, and the quiet relief of colleagues who check in without prying. Together we map practical steps to make re-entry kinder—looping in HR early, exploring family leave, proposing flexible schedules, and setting simple agreements with supervisors and peers so you don’t have to carry unspoken expectations.

You’ll hear grounded tools you can use the moment you’re back at your desk or on the floor: sensory grounding to find the present in a hard meeting, short “reset” lists you can keep nearby, and how a designated private space—a car, a quiet room, a “cry closet”—can help you release pressure without shame. We talk about distinguishing intrusive thoughts from the steady ache of grief and why brief logic tasks, like a quick game of Tetris, can interrupt re-traumatization. We also lean into body-based care: hydration, crunchy or cold snacks that wake you up, warmth and weight to calm your system, peer proofreading for foggy days, and micro-rest that supports sleep when nights are broken.

Whether you’re a nurse with no spare minute, a teacher without a private office, or a manager navigating your team’s uncertainty, this episode offers adaptable ideas and language to ask for what you need. If your workplace isn’t sure how to help, bring them this playbook. Subscribe for more compassionate conversations on parenting through loss, share this with someone returning to work after bereavement, and leave a review to tell us what practices steadied you.

Order the book When Grief Comes Home https://a.co/d/ijaiP5L

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For more information on Jessica’s House or for additional resources, please go to jessicashouse.org

Joyful traditions can feel unbearably loud when grief settles in a home. We sat down to map out a kinder way to show up for grieving parents during the holidays—one rooted in companioning, where presence matters more than pep talks and fixing gives way to listening. The goal isn’t to lift someone out of grief; it’s to walk alongside them with steadiness, humility, and care.

We unpack how the season’s bright energy often clashes with the body-heavy weight of loss, and why “Don’t cheer them up” can be the most loving rule of thumb. You’ll hear simple, human ways to help: say their person’s name without hesitation, send the photo or memory even if tears come, and use small rituals like lighting a candle and texting a picture to signal “I’m with you.” We share scripts you can borrow, from writing holiday cards that acknowledge the pain to invitations that include permission to leave early and a quiet room to decompress. We also talk consent before tributes—asking if a toast, a photo on the mantle, or a candle feels supportive—and letting the griever lead.

For those who want to move from vague offers to real relief, we lay out concrete ideas: handle teacher gifts, assemble toys, wrap presents, run errands, drop off freezer meals, or organize yard work. If you’re close, help build a shared note of needs so friends can plug in without creating more decisions. And through it all, lean into your strengths—whether you’re a doer, a writer, a steady texter, or a calm presence in silence. These small acts help parents conserve energy for what matters most: caring for their children in a season that magnifies absence.

If this conversation helped, share it with someone who wants to show up better. Subscribe for more grounded guidance, and leave a rating and review so other families searching for grief support can find us.

Order the book When Grief Comes Home https://a.co/d/ijaiP5L

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For more information on Jessica’s House or for additional resources, please go to jessicashouse.org