Does it feel like time is fragile with your loved one? We do too. The truth is, none of us know how much or little time we have left with one another. For our Season 1 finale, we don’t just go deep, we go to THERAPY with our friend, Stephanie March. (We highly encourage you to take a read through her popular substack, Pickle.) 

Stephanie shares her story - and her personal journey - of saying goodbye to her mother Brigitte, who we all called Oma, who was diagnosed with a terminal illness and given six months to live. This is not an episode of fear or despair, but rather of light, love, the little things - and being brave enough to truly celebrate the time we have! We also touch on leading our children through the loss of a loved one and why we are all a part of ‘The long goodbye’. 

Grab your Kleenex and come laugh and cry with us through this episode! It’s a journey you won’t forget!

Takeaways:

Whether we are caregiving for aging parents or facing a terminal illness, how can we celebrate the time we have?

It’s the small things in life that matter the most in the end.

How can we practice staying present and having connection through aging or a terminal diagnosis?

Death merch is a very cool thing. 

Death nesting is also a very real part of the process. 

Are we all in ‘The Long Goodbye?’

Legacy is about carrying forward the stories and values of those we love.

How do we raise our kids to learn about death and loss when we’re sandwiched?

Continuing the celebration at a memorial - in a fun way.

Links + Resources:

Subscribe to Pickle by Stephanie March on Substack. 

Chapters

00:00 Season Finale Intro

02:40 The Story of Brigitte von Haken and her final gift

08:19 Facing Terminal Illness with Grace

13:35 Death Merch

15:50 Carrying out your loved one's wishes - even when they're not your own

16:21 Navigating Death and DNR Conversations

18:38 Honoring a Mother's Legacy

23:01 Celebrating the time we have - What matters most?

31:45 Guiding our children through aging and death when we're in The Sandwich Generation

42:42 The long goodbye to the final goodbye 

57:25 Let the Celebration continue - Planning the Memorial in a *cool* way

01:03:20 The After-Party Crash of Death Burnout for Caregivers

01:06:13 Change + Living Life to the fullest - because we are ALL in The Long Goodbye

01:09:50 The Gift of Being Yourself

01:10:23 Rapid Fire Questions with Stephanie March

01:13:05 Cheers to Season 1 and Oma: Simplex Munditiis! 

01:13:46 Reflections on the Journey and Future Aspirations

01:14:58 Outro