Grief doesn’t only take a person. It can take your future in a hundred quiet ways, then surprise you with a wave when you thought you were “doing okay.” Today we’re talking about secondary losses, the ripple effects of loss that show up months and even years later, and why a single milestone like an engagement post, a graduation, or a new baby can drop you right back into the rawness.

Brad, Erin, and Colleen unpack what secondary loss really looks like for parents grieving a spouse or parents grieving a child. We explore the ripple metaphor: the death is the stone hitting the water, and the expanding circles are everything else that changes, identity, routines, traditions, roles at home, friendships, and even your sense of safety in the world. Colleen also shares the “glitter parent and glue parent” idea, and why trying to become both after a death can drain you fast.

We also get practical about supporting grieving children. Kids have secondary losses too, including shifts at school, friendship changes, and the pressure to take on adult responsibilities. We talk about naming what’s changing, giving kids permission to still be kids, and offering small, age-appropriate choices to bring back a sense of control. Finally, we address financial stress, big decisions like moving, and why grief can make thinking clearly harder, plus how to expand your circle so you don’t carry it alone.

If this conversation helps you feel less alone, subscribe, share it with someone who needs it, and leave a rating and review so more grieving families can find grief support when it matters most.

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