Just Get Up

Jul 17th, 2017 Death, Grief, Kids Grief, Loss, Running, Solo Parenting Staci Maher Ball

So for those of you who are suffering from a tremendous loss and also have kids, my number one piece of advice is: Just Get Up. Get out of bed. Run if you can. Walk if you can. Shower. Get Dressed. Be present for your kids. I know it’s not easy. I know you just want to shut the world out. Five years later, there are still days that I have to tell myself to just get up. But five years later I am just so damned proud of myself that I just got up. #grief #stayinbed #keeprunning #runningthroughgrief #widowwithkids #justgetup

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A Widow’s Lesson: Three Types of People

Jul 11th, 2017 Death, Grief, Kids Grief, Loss, Running Staci Maher Ball

Ultimately, here is the lesson that I have learned from being a young Widow. There are three types of people in life but there is just one simple math equation that matters. If the sum of Group One and Group Two is greater than the amount in Group Three….you are blessed. #running #grief #friends #kidsgrief #moveon #widowiwithkids

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Clone Me

Jun 26th, 2017 Death, Grief, Kids Grief, Running, Solo Parenting, Uncategorized Staci Maher Ball

Sometimes running helps turn my mood around. It allows me to shed my anger on the road like a snake sheds its skin. After those runs I can let go of whatever is bothering me, my body relaxes, and I feel literally lighter. But not today. I was even angrier after I got off that treadmill. Sometimes running through grief just does not work. Those days are some of my toughest days. #solomom #soloparenting #widowwithkids #competitive soccer #angrygrief #baseball #parenting

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The Night Before

Mar 30th, 2017 Death, Grief, Inspiration, Kids Grief, Life, Loss staciballconsultingllc@gmail.com

It seemed like such a typical night for our Family. Only it wasn’t. It was the last night for the family that I thought I would have the rest of my life. #ilovemyfamily, #lifeisprecious, #familytime, #lifeisunexpected, #running, #grief

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Vroom Vroom

Mar 19th, 2017 Death, Grief, Inspiration, Kids Grief, Life, Loss staciballconsultingllc@gmail.com

In late March, just weeks after Gordie died, I got my first taste of what it would be like to be a solo Mom of boys. Nathan was in a Cub Scouts den and his Pinewood Derby race was just a few weeks following Gordie’s death. We had purchased the car making kit over a month ago and it was sitting on Gordie’s desk. I had no idea how to build that thing. #cubscouts, #pinewoodderby, #momofboys, #soloparenting, #solomom

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Five Years Later

Mar 1st, 2017 Death, Grief, Inspiration, Kids Grief, Life, Loss, Running staciballconsultingllc@gmail.com

Five years later, I am surviving the death of my husband. My sons are surviving the loss of their Dad. But I am still running through grief. #running, #survivinggrief, #grief, #kidsgrief, #fiveyears, #movingforward, #lifegoeson

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Image courtesy of Google Images.

Pop Tarts and Starbursts

Feb 1st, 2017 Death, Grief, Inspiration, Kids Grief, Life, Loss, Running Staci Maher Ball

For the first several weeks after Gordie died, I left his beloved F-150 truck at the Estate. After a few weeks, I needed the truck to get some bigger items, like Nathan’s bike, from the Estate to my parents’ house. So, I had my Dad drive me to the Estate one afternoon after work so that I could get some stuff and the truck. What I didn’t expect was pop tarts and starbursts. #poptarts, #starbursts, #kidsgrief, #running, #grief, #Ford, #F150

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divers in the pool

Send in the Divers

Jan 26th, 2017 Death, Grief, Inspiration, Kids Grief, Life, Loss, Running Staci Maher Ball

One rainy day at the end of March, there was a message on my voicemail from the Sergeant in charge of the investigation into Gordie’s death. Suicide had been ruled out but there was otherwise no clue on how Gordie had fallen into the pool and died. He would like to send in the divers.

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