Confessions of a Mediocre Widow
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8.What do you feel has been one of your bravest moments? Was it a career change? A parenting moment? A time when you stepped out of your comfort zone to try something new or change your life in some way?
9.Catherine talks a little bit about being confused by her faith after Brad died—that she had a hard time going back to church for years. When you go through trying times, do you cling to your faith or do you find yourself questioning it?
10.Throughout the book, Catherine experienced moments when people made comments that they thought were helpful but were really not. Have you ever had that happen? Did you say something to the other person, or did you let it go?
11.Have you ever done any retail therapy? What did you buy?
12.Catherine was somewhat surprised at the things others did that she found helpful and things that some people did that she didn’t like. What is something you like to do for people you know to support them? What have others done for you that you appreciated?
13.Catherine found a lot of humor in her dating experience. Have you ever had a date that was so bad it was funny?
14.Catherine and her mom had a huge blowup right after Brad died. As she said, “That fight over nothing important allowed me to let go, get angry, and finally yell at someone, someone safe, because deep down I knew that I would never lose my mother.” Have you ever lashed out at anyone because you knew they were your “someone safe”?
15.Throughout the book, there were many moments when Catherine reacted the way she did because she felt like that’s what people were expecting of her—she hesitated to let her true feelings show. Have you ever behaved a certain way just to make others feel better?
16.Do you believe that overall happiness is a choice?
Acknowledgments
There is no way I could have done this without my family.
To my children: Haley, your talent, spark, and enthusiasm inspire me every day and I’m so proud that we have put this book together with your amazing sketches. I’ll never forget our first “business meeting” when you were nine years old and I said, “Hey. Can you draw an urn for me?”
Michael. You are the best of your dad and me because you were blessed with his brains as well as compassion for others that’s way beyond your years. I just can’t believe that I am lucky enough to be your mom and I can’t wait to see the man you will become.
Sarah…where do I begin? I could write a book a day with the material you give me. You light up a room when you walk into it and make me laugh harder than anyone I’ve ever met. The world will be yours someday, sweetie. Take it.
To my parents and my sister: What you have done for me cannot be put into words. You have taught me the meaning of the word support and have always been there for me even before I asked. I love you and I thank the heavens above for you every day.
To my friends who let me cry on their shoulders, drink their wine, and provided me with a laugh when I thought I’d forgotten how…you made it possible to move from one day to the next.
To Mike. Thank you for being a part of my story.
To the team who made my dream of publishing a book a reality: Erin Cox, my agent and the friend who now has to deal with me because we have a contract—I love you and I have no doubt that I hit the jackpot, both professionally and personally, the day you accepted this manuscript. And to Shana Drehs with Sourcebooks—you have been nothing short of fabulous to work with. Thank you.
To Caroline Leavitt who helped me find the story within my story. And to Julianna Baggott who was so generous with her resources at the beginning of this process. You have both shown me how important it is to “pay it forward” in this business.
And to all of the members of the club no one wants to join—theWiddahood.com. There have been days when your support and friendship were the only reason I was able to get out of bed in the morning. You have shown me that the byproduct of loss is kindness and generosity of spirit and that we all have important stories to tell.
Hugs.
About the Author
Catherine Tidd is a writer, mother, and founder of www.theWiddahood.com. She received a degree in English from Rollins College in 1998 and has since worked as a writer, editor, marketing manager, and event planner. Originally from Louisiana, Ms. Tidd currently lives in Colorado.
Since the death of her husband in 2007, Ms. Tidd has become a source of support for other widows through her own blog (http://widowchick.blogspot.com) and Facebook support page (under the name Widow Chick). Ms. Tidd is a motivational speaker who focuses on “finding joy in an unexpected life” and thriving after loss. She is also a volunteer speaker for the Donor Alliance of Colorado and Wyoming.
Ms. Tidd is a contributing author to the Thin Threads anthology focusing on grief and renewal (www.thinthreads.com), Open to Hope: Inspirational Stories of Healing after Loss, and Open to Hope: Inspirational Stories for Handling the Holidays after Loss. She is a writer for the Denver Post’s Mile High Mamas and her writing can also be found in the upcoming publication The Widow’s Handbook.