Part 1 - Special One-Year Anniversary Episode: Karen Millsap Interviews Jenny Lisk
“Early on somebody gave me the advice that I needed to be honest with them and tell them what was happening, because kids are really perceptive and they will either figure out or they’ll just know that something really bad is happening. And so if you don’t tell them, they’ll actually conjure up worse things in their imagination then whatever the true situation is.”
— Jenny Lisk
We’re changing things up this week, in honor of the one-year anniversary of the podcast. I’ve asked my friend Karen Millsap to interview me on my own show. Long time listeners will remember Karen from Episode 14. She’s a widowed parent herself, and she is a Mindset Mastery Coach who is passionate about teaching individuals the tools and resources to feel better, live better, and achieve their goals with a healthy mindset.
This week – in Part 1 – we talk about my story. I’m always on the other side of the mic, asking the questions, but this week the tables are turned. Karen interviews me, and I share my journey of the past few years with my husband, Dennis, being diagnosed with terminal brain cancer and then dying when our kids were 9 and 11.
Some topics we discuss include:
Our “normal” life before my husband, Dennis, died;
His diagnosis with glioblastoma, an aggressive form of brain cancer;
Living through the 8 months he was terminally ill;
Parenting our 9 & 11-year-olds through his illness;
What the early months of being a widowed parent were like;
Starting Megan’s Cards for Cancer with my daughter to raise money for brain cancer research; and
Looking ahead to Part 2 – next week – with more about how I started the Widowed Parent Podcast, and what I’ve learned so far from my guests.
Many thanks to Karen for taking the mic this week and helping me share my story. I hope you enjoy our discussion.
Links & resources for this episode
Episode 14 of the Widowed Parent Podcast - Karen Millsap on turning pain into purpose
Wise Minded Parenting, by Laura Kastner
Option B video on finding meaning
More links for listeners
Thank you sponsors & partners:
Help Texts - Grief support text messaging service. Tips and support delivered all year long, personalized based on your loss. Listeners get $10 off: https://helptexts.com/jennylisk
BetterHelp - Talk with a licensed, professional therapist online. Get 10% off your first month: betterhelp.com/widowedparent
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