Expert Insights & Community Resources

The holidays are supposed to feel magical, twinkling lights, excited kids, cozy traditions. But for so many moms, the “magic” is often buried underneath mental lists, endless tasks, and the pressure to make everything perfect. Between planning holiday dinners, making sure your kids have the right outfit for the school concert, coordinating family gatherings, remembering the Secret Santa gift, and still keeping up with work and home…winter quickly becomes less of a season and more of a marathon. And with all of that comes the familiar companion: mom guilt.

Grief is complicated, complex and heavy. As a grief therapist and an active griever myself, I know how difficult the holidays can feel especially when you are coping with disenfranchised grief, or “invisible grief” as I like to call it. After a while, all grief feels invisible in western culture, we barely acknowledge grief, even though it is a natural part of life and something we all go through. However, there is some grief that we are truly given no tools for, and it feels like we do not have any space at all to grieve.

Whether your baby was born early or full-term, parenting is a constant process of discovery. Even now, six years after I gave birth to my daughter, I tell her, “Sweetie, you and mommy are both learning on the job.” Some children hit their milestones effortlessly. Others need a little (or a lot) of extra support along the way. What matters most isn’t where your child starts; it’s how you respond when they need someone in their corner. Whether you’re navigating challenges now or simply want to feel more confident supporting your child in the future, this blog is for you. Advocating for your child isn’t about having all the answers; it’s about being prepared to ask questions, trust your instincts, and show up in ways that will help your child flourish.