About this episode

This episode features a conversation with Ashley about the complexities of grieving a parent with mental illness and addiction during COVID-19.

In this emotional and deeply honest episode, we sit down with Ashley to discuss the complexities of grieving a parent who struggled with mental illness and addiction. This conversation explores the challenges of holding space for love while navigating difficult family boundaries, the unique pain of losing a loved one during the isolation of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the path to finding true peace after a complicated relationship ends. Key Takeaways Navigating Complex Family Dynamics: Understanding the difficult balance between loving a parent, setting firm boundaries, and protecting your own family from cycles of addiction and toxicity. Grief During Isolation: Insights into the emotional hurdles of saying goodbye to a parent under the restrictive and often lonely conditions of COVID-19 hospital protocols. The "Relief" of Loss: Addressing the often-taboo feeling of relief that can accompany the death of a challenging parent and how to process the guilt that comes with it. Finding Peace: How Ashley transitioned from trying to "fix" her father to accepting his journey, leading to personal growth, deeper self-reflection, and identity discovery. The Power of…

More episodes of Can't Call Your Mom with Nicole Weston

• 20. Fatherless Fathers Day with Colleen Mckay, Grieving a Parent, Building a Business: Navigating Complex Loss as an Entrepreneur · June 25, 2026 · 57 min
• 18. Motherless Mothers: Navigating Complex Mother-Daughter Relationships and Grief · June 17, 2026 · 34 min

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