“I don’t want to stay in my grief. I know I’m going to carry it with me, but I don’t want to stay in the sadness.”

What does it look like to stay connected to someone you love after they die? And how do we make space for grief without losing ourselves inside it?

Today’s conversation is with children’s author Jenny Robinson Clark, whose book Are You Here? was born from the loss of her mother, the experience of raising young children while grieving, and the quiet moments that helped her feel connected again.

We talk about the complicated overlap of motherhood and loss, the fear and skepticism that can show up around signs and synchronicities, and the importance of curiosity in grief. Jenny shares honestly about feeling disconnected from her mother years after her death, how creativity became part of her healing, and why she chose to tell this story through a children’s book.

This episode is gentle, hopeful, and deeply honest about the non-linear nature of grief.

If you’ve ever wondered whether healing means letting go, whether comfort is something you’re “allowed” to receive, or how to stay open to beauty after loss, this conversation is for you.

In this episode, we talk about:

What it was like to lose a mother while raising very young children
The fear of death and grief that begins in childhood
Why grief can feel both heavy and strangely awakening
How signs and synchronicities can create comfort after loss
The role of curiosity in healing
Parenting while actively grieving
Why emotional honesty matters for children
The connection between creativity, nature, and grief work
Learning to notice beauty again after loss
Why grief is never linear

Links + Resources from this episode:

Jenny Robinson Clark - jennyrobinsonclark.com
Purchase "Are You Here?" at Bookshop.org
Connect with Jenny on IG - instagram.com/jennyrobinsonclark
Follow Mandy on IG - instagram.com/mandycapehart
Get the Workbook or become a Patron - patreon.com/mandycapehart