Erin Blechman (part 2): From "What if" to "Even if" -E547

Get in touch In Part 2 of our conversation with Erin Blechman, we begin with two words familiar to so many bereaved parents, “what if?” What if I had noticed something? What if I had called? What if I had made a different decision? Erin shares how guilt and child loss can become deeply intertwined, and offers a powerful reframing, turning “what if” into “even if,” as a way of confronting the painful belief that we somehow could have controlled the outcome. The conversation expands into how child loss changes us, why every family member must be allowed to grieve differently, the importance of support groups and community, and what Erin calls our “grief illiterate culture.” Erin also shares how the private journals she began after Max’s death became her book, My Unexpected Journey, and how her own grief eventually led her to become a grief educator and walk alongside other bereaved parents. And finally, we return to Max, not to how he died, but to how he lived, a creative, compassionate young man with a beautiful heart who cared deeply about others. Support the show Help keep the Don’t Forget To Breathe podcast going. Become a supporter today and be part of the movement to bring light, connection, and hope to those living with loss. Follow this link to become a Supporter: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1376761/support