Coping with Loss Together: Strategies for Grieving as a Couple
Ever notice how loss can drop a marriage into two wildly different time-zones? One spouse wants to talk it out while the other goes radio-silent. In this week’s episode of Master Your Marriage, we sit down with grief coach and children’s-book author Jennifer Morris to unpack how couples can stay yoked when death, empty nests, or any major life change rattles the compass. From Sharla’s raw reflections on losing her dad last weekend to Jennifer's story of losing her mother to suicide, we explore the complexities of grief within marriage.
You can connect with Jennifer through her website at https://loveconnectsus.com/ or via instagram at https://www.instagram.com/jennifer_s_morris/
Key Takeaways
- Co-Regulation > Lone-Wolfing: Borrow each other’s nervous systems—sometimes your partner’s steady breath is the best grief coach in the room.
- Internal vs. External Processors: One of you journals for days; the other needs to verbal-vomit now. Neither is “doing it wrong.”
- Safe-Person Contract: Identify (and literally ask) a friend to be your non-judgmental vent line when your spouse’s bucket is already full.
- Therapy Is a Life Coach for Your Brain: A “checkup from the neck up” isn’t weakness; it’s the Super Bowl with a playbook.
- Stay Curious, Not Furious: Swap “You’re not sad enough!” for “How are you really feeling today—1 to 10?”
- Micro-Self-Care Moves Mountains: Garden for 30 minutes, swing a golf club, hug the bunny—anything that restores a flicker of joy.
- Create to Heal: Writing a poem, planting a memorial tree, or starting a tiny foundation signals you’re moving from grief to growth.
Dive Deeper
- “I Will Be With You Always” & “I Will Remember You Always” by Jennifer Morris – kid-friendly stories that comfort adults, too.
- Nonviolent Communication by Marshall B. Rosenberg – the art of presence over platitudes.
Connect with Us
- Email: masteryourmarriage@gmail.com – Reach out for coaching, share wins, or pitch episode ideas.
- Instagram: @masteryourmarriage – Daily tips, behind-the-scenes reels, and a healthy dose of Snow-family humor.
- Reviews Matter! If this episode sparked an aha moment, drop a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify and send it to a friend who could use a vision upgrade.
- Feedback Corner: Thought of a topic we haven’t covered? Hit reply—your ideas shape future shows.
Parting Words
Grief will visit every long-haul marriage; let it bind, not blind you. This week pick one toward-vision action—schedule a sunset walk, text your safe person, or try Jennifer’s 1-to-10 check-in. Remember: it's the small things done often! Until next Wednesday, keep turning toward each other.
