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So much beauty and tenderness in your words. Thank you for sharing. The cycle of life is a part of motherhood so absolutely feels relevant 💫

I can understand that feeling of grief deep in my body around the time of anniversaries. Awe and wonder, too. I don’t think I experienced awe until I experienced great loss ✨

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Thank you so much Sarah and I'm glad my words resonated with you. The body knows doesn't it, even if the mind tries to hide it. Yes, I completely get this, I agree with you about only experiencing awe after a great loss too. Even though grief is painful, there is lots of beauty to be found in it too I feel. So lovely to open up these conversations about grief, thank you for sharing.

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Wow your words are so beautiful. I felt so much emotion as I read. I feel really honoured you shared this with us, it feels very tender but also very powerful. I think grief is such an unexplainable emotion... mainly because it’s so hidden away in our society. But it sounds like you have honoured it so lovingly. He sounds like a wonderful man. Sending you a huge hug and hope that this time is gentle on you. Xxx

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Thank you for your lovely comment Lauren ❤️. Absolutely, we almost don't know how to grieve, it's that hidden. And I feel, there's an expected timeline too of when grieving should be over, when in reality, you'll always grieve for that person. He was one of a kind ❤️. Thank you again, your words have brought me comfort today xx

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Thank you for sharing ❤️ it’s so important we’re allowed to take up space for grief and I’m sorry it doesn’t feel easy to do.

Also, my youngest turns 3 on October 8th ✨. The life death life cycle is so magic and happiness and love and grief can never really be fully separated, can they.

Sending you so much love 🥰

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Thank you for your lovely comment Zoe ❤️- totally agree, because when we can talk about it we can process it better. Aw how lovely, happy birthday to your youngest on Sunday ❤️. Absolutely, it all comes together, grief is just love with nowhere to go. X

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Oct 3, 2023Liked by Jenna Folarin

Jenna, thank you for sharing these beautiful, vulnerable words. So, so much of what you say deeply resonates with me after loosing my mum suddenly and traumatically eight years ago. "I’ve noticed that even if I’m not thinking about this date specifically, my body knows it’s coming up." THIS every year.

And your wonderful resources to find comfort in the grief journey. I also loved the idea of your brain only allowing space to handle what you can throughout the journey. I am finding that more than ever to be true. My kids have grown a little, I'm able to make space to really feel my pain, stop and grieve in a way I couldn't at the start. It was just a case of survival.

Thank you friend for keeping this conversation alive 🙏

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Thank you Elizabeth for your kind comment and I am so glad my words resonated with you ❤️. I am so sorry about your Mum too, sending you love. Yes, it's always there isn't it that knowing and that feeling especially around the anniversary of their passing. You start to remember the days leading up to it, then that moment where life would never be the same again.

I think because grief isn't talked about much, when someone does talk about it, like in the podcasts or books I mentioned, it's a relief. Bringing the darkness into the light.

I can totally understand what you mean about only having the space now to grieve now your kids are a little older. It is very hard to grieve when you have small kids, there is simply no time and like you say it's about survival. I hope in amongst the hard parts of grieving, you have some lovely memories of your mum too that bring you comfort ❤️.

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Oct 3, 2023Liked by Jenna Folarin

This is a lovely piece. Thank you for sharing.

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Thanks so much for you lovely comment Kylie ❤️

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I’m glad you shared it too! Love all your recommendations. Everyone grieves so differently and these are great options. My dad passed 15 years ago at age 67 - this was a great way to honor your dad, you should write where you are with the grief and remembering your dad when it’s been 15 years! I bet more lovely feelings would come up. Also, yes people want to read this and no, it’s not too depressing!

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Thanks for your lovely comment Stephanie, it means a lot ❤️. Absolutely, grief is such an individual thing, everyone will find different things helpful. I'm so sorry to hear about your Dad too, 67 seems so young too. I love that idea of reflecting in a few years too, I wonder how the grief will shift and change. I'd love to hear your reflections too, if you'd like to share ❤️. Thank you again for your lovely words 😊 x

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