by orla blackburn | Jun 14, 2026 | blog, Grief support for children, Grief Support, Personal Stories
Last week I was sitting on a plane waiting to fly to Spain to host my widows retreat. Months of preparation had gone into it. A group of wonderful women were waiting for me, my suitcase was full of yoga leggings, and ahead of me was a long weekend of sunshine,...
by orla blackburn | Jan 18, 2026 | blog, Grief Support, Personal Stories
Another Year, Another Layer This week marks my eighth birthday without Andy. I was 48 when he died—just a couple of months shy of 49—and this year, I’ll turn 56. For eight birthdays now, there’s been no “Happy Birthday, Orls” from the other side of the bed. No card...
by orla blackburn | Dec 29, 2025 | blog, Grief Support, Personal Stories
I thought Christmas Day would be the hardest. So I planned. I filled the day. I made sure it was loud and bright and full of people. I threw myself into the performance of “everything’s fine” because I couldn’t bear the thought of my little boy missing out on the...
by orla blackburn | Jun 9, 2025 | blog
Father’s Day has quietly become a bit of a non-day in our house. Actually—Mother’s Day too. These days. These dates. Who even invented them? When everyone’s alive and well, they’re wonderful, sure. Full of joy and cards and little-kid scribbles that make you cry in...
by orla blackburn | May 9, 2025 | blog, Grief Suppost, Personal Stories
When my husband died, I thought I knew what grief felt like—I’d lost family before, been to funerals, experienced deep sadness. But this was different. This was grief that unraveled every part of my life. In this post, I’m sharing what really happened in the months...
