ResponseABLE Parenting Podcast
“Grief is not linear, and it can come in so many different ways and forms when you least expect it. But it healed me in so many ways too... I would be doing a disservice to humanity if I didn’t at least try and get it out to see if maybe [the song “Are You Here”] could help somebody else in their healing journey.”
Our latest podcast episode just dropped!
Travis and I had a beautiful and heartfelt conversation on the ResponseABLE Parenting Podcast, where we explored our approach to intentional parenting and fostering connections with those we love, even long after they are gone.
Our chat felt honest, tender, and deeply aligned with so many of the conversations we’ve been having as the book launch approaches. I shared all the ways this book started to come to life during a season of grief, as my mom battled cancer for 10 years. When we learned that the cancer had metastasized, Travis and I were living in California. We decided to move back to Florida, and I was pregnant with our first child.
“I moved to California with all these dreams in my heart of what I wanted to do and be, and then I had to make this hard decision. And it was like the best decision that I ever made. I have no regrets and it's led me to where I am now. But it was really hard to see my mom declining in her health.” — Jenny Robinson Clark
My grief really began before she passed. There were so many emotions, including anger, disappointment, and frustration leading up to her passing. After she passed, I felt this weight lifted off my shoulders, and I could see colors I’d never seen before. I knew that she was finally free.
It may be hard to believe now, because of how openly we talk about it, but for a long time I was afraid of death and the unknown. It wasn’t until my grandmother passed, when I was an adult living in California, that I truly understood what it meant to lose someone close.
Instead of avoiding death, I began to face it. First at her funeral, then the passing of my aunt, my mom’s best friend, and eventually my mother. Each time, we were visited by a random gust of wind we couldn’t explain but connected each loss in a beautiful way. Along the way, something began to slowly shift in me towards gratitude. Are You Here? came from a place of grieving, but also from such a deep connection to meaning, faith, and God.
In this episode, we talk about things we can’t fully explain, but I know in my heart are real. Becky opens up about the signs she sees too from her son Jackson. We talk about moments that feel like more than coincidence. For her, it’s lemons, rings, and rainbows. For us, it’s ladybugs, butterflies, and owls. We’ve both had powerful dreams, and we share how we encourage the natural openness our children have with this.
Travis shared how, as parents, we appreciate that our parents did their best. We hope to provide our children with the tools to process grief by being open to their questions, curiosity, imagination, and feelings.
“When people pass, they’re not gone, they’re not lost. They’re here with us just in different ways. And kids, more than adults, they're still curious and still innocent, and they're still able to have these concepts without the pragmatic, logical thing of coming up. I love that. And I think as parents and guardians, I think that's the way to foster your kids into understanding.” — Travis Clark
We discussed grief, parenthood, how to talk to kids about death, healing, and connection.
Becky and I also talk about our mutual love of Laura Lynne Jackson’s book Signsand Joe Dispenza’s work. Both were inspirations behind Are You Here?, along with Kobi Yamada’s Maybe, a book a woman gave me at a Joe Dispenza retreat when I was pregnant with my fourth child. I came home and tried to read it to my girls, but they weren’t interested, so I started reading it to myself and landed on a page with a beautiful barred owl.
I had just asked my mom for a sign. A barred owl.
“This book was meant for me. It's not meant for my kids. And I just start bawling my eyes out.” — Jenny Robinson Clark
And I just started bawling my eyes out.
If you’re navigating grief, the chaos of parenting, or simply in a season of loss or longing, we hope this episode meets you right where you are.
You can listen here:
You know I love to share some good resources:
If this conversation resonates, you should check out her free trainingand book a call with Becky. She also has wonderful resources for parents like a VALUES DECK OF CARDS and simple CHEAT CODESfor weaving regulation practices into your day. She’s also looking for other parents as guests looking to be coached in realtime. Click HERE to submit your application.
Please give this episode a listen and let me know what you think. I’d love to hear from you. Your messages truly mean so much to me.
With love,
Jenny Robinson Clark
Are You Here? is out TOMORROW so get your copy from our gift shop, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Books-A-Million,or Bookshop.org. I think there’s also still a few signed copies available on TalkShopLive.
