<p>In this raw and necessary solo episode, Nicole unpacks the unique and complex grief of losing a mother during the COVID-19 pandemic. This is a shared experience of loss where the inability to say goodbye, hold a hand, or gather for a funeral created profound, lasting impacts.<a href="https://docs.google.com/document/d/1F3PxLMIArTwVxMaAI6uyvmoIJiG3IJRkuPIYXZ-h7yk/edit" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">1</a></p><p><br></p><p>Nicole discusses the unexpected public scrutiny and judgment she faced after sharing a viral video about the guilt of how she spent her mother&#39;s last holiday. She shares why this experience highlights a critical need to change the narrative around grief and challenge societal expectations.</p><p><br></p><p><strong>Key Takeaways from This Episode:</strong></p><ul><li><p><strong>The Weight of Forced Isolation:</strong> Explore the impact of not having a choice in skipping the rituals of grief, like funerals and community support, and how that absence affects the grieving process.</p></li><li><p><strong>Guilt vs. Shame:</strong> Using the insights of Brene Brown, Nicole breaks down the difference between guilt (&quot;I did something wrong&quot;) and shame (&quot;I am wrong&quot;) and how this confusion can prevent self-care and interfere with moving forward.</p></li><li><p><strong>Your Emotions Are Information, Not Identity:</strong> Learn the transformative truth that your feelings do not define your worth or who you are. Your emotions are simply information letting you know what needs to be moved from your body.</p></li><li><p><strong>Moving Complex Emotions:</strong> Grief is experienced every day, across life’s joys and challenges. Nicole shares her invitation to stop the opinions and &quot;shoulds&quot; and give yourself permission to feel and move anger, rage, and guilt to find self-love on the other side.</p></li></ul><p><strong>Resources:</strong></p><ul><li><p>Download the free <strong>Can&#39;t Call your mom Anger Workbook Guide</strong> to begin taking care of yourself and moving stuck emotions: <a href="https://docs.google.com/document/d/1F3PxLMIArTwVxMaAI6uyvmoIJiG3IJRkuPIYXZ-h7yk/nicoleweston.ca/workbook" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">nicoleweston.ca/workbook</a>.<a href="https://docs.google.com/document/d/1F3PxLMIArTwVxMaAI6uyvmoIJiG3IJRkuPIYXZ-h7yk/edit" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">1</a></p></li></ul><p><strong>Connect with Nicole</strong></p><p><strong>→  Book a free 15-minute connection call: </strong></p><p><a href="https://nicoleweston.as.me/connection" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer"><em>https://nicoleweston.as.me/connection</em></a></p><p><strong>→  Join the Can&#39;t Call Your Mom community:</strong></p><p><a href="https://www.instagram.com/channel/AbZEHq7v2zWhwJfc/" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer"><strong>https://www.instagram.com/channel/AbZEHq7v2zWhwJfc/</strong></a></p><p><strong>→  Website:</strong> <a href="http://www.nicoleweston.ca" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">www.nicoleweston.ca</a></p><p><strong>→  Instagram:</strong>  @thenicoleweston</p><p><br></p><p>Please subscribe, leave a review, and share this with a woman in your life who is carrying this. If you know someone who lost her mom during Covid and has never had a space to talk about it. Send it to her. Every share reaches another motherless mother who is searching for this community.</p><p><br></p><p>Produced by Nicole Weston &amp; Co-Produced Hunter Blackett</p><p>Photography by Heather Whitcombe <a href="https://www.whitcombecreative.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferer">https://www.whitcombecreative.com/</a></p><p><br></p><p><br></p>