Shipwrecked A Memoir of Widowed Parenting and Life After Loss

When you find that your family's life as you planned it has been wrecked, how do you move forward? How do you help children grieve the loss of a parent when you are also heartbroken by the loss of your spouse?

Shipwrecked: A Memoir of Widowed Parenting and Life After Loss details Jeanette Koncikowski's personal experience of being widowed at age 36 with two young children, and what her family had to overcome as they navigated those uncharted waters. Anchored by Koncikowski's impactful story— compellingly told with humor, humility, and grace— the book is interwoven with practical tips and strategies for newly widowed parents on surviving and then thriving as a family.

Shipwrecked explores themes common to newly widowed parents including:
- talking with your children about the death of their parent, in the immediate aftermath of the loss and over time
- involving your children in memorials and meaning-making
- seeking closure in your marriage and dating again
- coping with secondary losses and milestones
- handling the challenges of solo parenting
- staying connected to your deceased loved one
- dealing with children's changing grief over time
- building a life you love
- honoring your beloved's legacy as you create your own

A must-read for all widowed parents and anyone seeking to understand how families can cope and adapt to life after trauma and loss, Shipwrecked throws its readers a life preserver, offering an important account of family love, healing, and resilience.

Jeanette Koncikowski has dedicated her career to helping survivors of trauma to heal and thrive, while teaching others how to best support them. With a background in psychology, education, and community development, and working now as a consultant and life coach, Koncikowski's expertise has empowered countless people. She is the founder of Widowed Parent Project, an online resource for widowed parents and has written and spoken extensively on widowed parenting, family bereavement, and recovery from trauma.