The Group: Seven Widowed Fathers Reimagine Life

06/18/2021

Really looking forward to watching "Fatherhood" this weekend. The movie is based on real-life widowed father, Matt Logelin - an awesome guy who was kind enough to write a great review of our book, "The Group."

It's a story about a single dad doing the best he can after the sudden death of his wife.

01/15/2021

We just learned that our colleague and friend, Carole Geithner, is re-releasing her book "If Only."

In our work with bereaved families, we have found "If Only" to be an invaluable resource for adolescents and young adults who tend to feel isolated in their grief. Mrs. Geithner captures the nuances of adolescent grief in way that resonates with this population and gives parents insight into the challenges their children face.

If you know of a teen or young adult who is looking to make sense of their grief, consider gifting them a copy

Thirteen-year-old Corinna's world is turned upside down by the death of her mother. IF ONLY is the story of Corinna's first year struggling with her aching loss while having to navigate the more typical coming-of-age dilemmas, with all their awkward intensity. Corinna is strong but fragile, angry an...

01/06/2021

Congratulations to our friend, Jenny Lisk, on the release of her new book, Future Widow.

By chronicling the months she cared for her terminally ill husband (and father of her children), Jenny shows how its possible to maintain hope and - at the same time - prepare for an unwanted future.

“Frank, tender, real, and ultimately optimistic, Future Widow is the ultimate gift for someone going through the unthinkable.”

11/08/2020

On the morning of December 18th, his life seemed near perfect. He had a great marriage, three healthy and happy kids, had graduated law school and just been awarded his dream job. He was 30 years old and had every reason to believe the future ahead was bright.

Later that day, while out Christmas shopping, his wife and children were involved freak car accident when a tractor-trailer had slammed into their car. After hearing the news, he raced to the hospital where he learned that his wife and infant daughter had died. His two young sons were injured, but would survive.

Everything changed in an instant. A future so promising was snatched away. At age 30, he was now a widowed father.

Devastated beyond measure, he focused his energies on caring for his boys. Being a father meant more now than ever. They had lost their Mom, and he was now their everything. He planned to quit his new job, and only agreed to stay on when assured that he could be home every night with the boys.

The ensuing days, weeks, and months were tough. He grieved deeply, slept little, and tried to help his sons make sense of their loss. The future felt scary. There were times when he was sure that he would never feel whole again.

But he persevered. He grew as a person - and as a father. He found meaning in his work and in connecting with others. In time, he found love again.

This widowed father reimagined a new life for himself and his family.

And this week, he was elected President of the United States.

07/22/2020

If you know Kate Bowler and her work, you can get why Don and I are so excited this. Kate is amazing and her podcast is fantastic!

Hope you have a chance to listen to our conversation about life after loss.

When a group of young moms died around the same time, clinicians Justin Yopp and Don Rosenstein wanted to refer their widowed spouses to a grief support group... but none existed. So they started their own. Kate, Justin, and Don discuss the loss of imagined futures and the particular needs of young,...

06/21/2020

Happy Fathers Day to all the widowed Dads out there.

Its a bittersweet day, we know. As one of men in our group said today "You're thankful for having children to call you Dad, but miss the woman that made it possible."

www.widowedparent.org

03/26/2020

Its hard to focus on much other than COVID-19 these days, but here's a podcast link for those interested. The Dougy Center is a real leader in the field of childhood bereavement, it was great to have a chance to discuss our Widowed Parent Program.

In 2010 Dr. Justin Yopp and his colleague, Don Rosenstein, piloted a support group for widowed dads that grew into being part of the . A decade later, Dr. Yopp and his team continue to learn from widowed parents about the unique challenges of grieving their partner, raising children as a solo parent...

01/11/2020

We all grieve.

Whether it’s following the loss of a loved one, the loss of a job or home, or the loss of security when diagnosed with a serious medial condition: we all grieve.

Watch this informative and inspiring TEDx talk to see how to move forward and reimagine new lives following loss.

View and share >>

When grieving widowers came together to share their losses, they gained tools to help them do they unimaginable: reimagine lives without their wives. This compelling talk highlights research by Dr. Justin Yopp and Dr. Donald Rosenstein and their work with a group of grieving fathers. If you know som...

09/06/2019

In the spirit of , a reminder to check out our book, “The Group”. We remain so appreciative of the wonderful feedback since it’s release last year.

And a reminder, all proceeds go straight back to our program.

- Don & Justin

The Group offers a singular perspective on grief by weaving together the latest thinking on bereavement, resiliency and post-traumatic growth with the true story of seven men who were raising children on their own after the deaths of their wives. The men connected with each almost immediately, an...

07/25/2019

Heather Stang is a thanatologist and author of “Mindfulness & Grief.” She’s also a real pro when it comes to conducting a thoughtful and intelligent interview. It‘s a treat to be featured on her podcast:

Dr. Justin Yopp explains why peer support groups for widowed parents may be one of the most helpful resources for bereaved fathers and mothers, as well as other insights on parenting after loss.

07/25/2019

Sharing an essay written by Abigail Johnston, a mother living with metastatic cancer. Honest, compelling, and thought-provoking. Well worth the time to read.

Abigail shares her metastatic breast cancer "bucket list".