Grief & the Wounds We Carry Into Motherhood

Host, Malisa Hepner reflects on her first Mother's Day after the loss of her son Jake while also exploring the complicated emotional history she carried into motherhood long before this grief.

Malisa opens up about the layered pain of losing her grandmother and mother, the unresolved grief that shaped her relationship with Mother's Day, and how childhood wounds, insecurity, abandonment, and feelings of unworthiness quietly influenced her identity as a mom. She shares how grief can reactivate old narratives about love, value, belonging, and whether we are "enough," especially on emotionally charged days tied to family and attachment.

This conversation is not just about loss. It's about the intersection of grief, identity, nervous system wounds, motherhood, and the lifelong process of learning to hold yourself with compassion instead of shame. Through raw storytelling and honest reflection, Malisa explores what it means to break cycles, navigate complex grief, and redefine self-worth in the aftermath of profound pain.

Pay attention to the emotions that emotionally charged days bring to the surface. Often, the intensity is not only about the present moment, but also about older grief, unmet needs, or identity wounds asking to be acknowledged. Instead of judging your reaction, try asking yourself: What story about myself is this pain connected to? Awareness of the deeper wound is often where healing begins.

* Emotionally Unavailable is produced 100% in-house. No team, just me and my love for yapping and helping others. If this show has ever helped you in any way, here is your chance to help it keep going strong. Subscribe to the patreon, grab some merch or get a workbook! I appreciate you all.

Subscribe to Emotionally Unavailable's Patreon!

• $5 - Early Ad free episodes + Occasional other goodies!

• $10 - Benefits listed above and access to growing voice library support for spiraling/overthinking (along with workbooks and practices)

• $30 - Deeper work and group spaces

https://patreon.com/Emotionallyunavailablepodcast?utm_medium=unknown&utm_source=join_link&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=copyLink

Want to be a guest on Emotionally Unavailable? Send Malisa Hepner a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/1739504718415772259d92bc1

https://linktr.ee/Mdhepner