Finding Hope After Loss: Jamie’s Guide to Grieving While Parenting
In this heart-forward episode of The Real Family Eats, host Reesa sits down with Jamie B, a mother and business owner, for a candid conversation on surviving unimaginable loss and how to find hope afterwards. Jamie opens up about her grief journey after losing her son, finding healing, and manifesting new beginnings with her children.
Navigating Grief, Motherhood, and Finding Joy at the Table
Hosted by: Reesa Morala, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist.
Welcome to a remarkable episode of The Real Family Eats, where host Reesa sits down with Jamie B - a mother, entrepreneur, and someone who has weathered unimaginable loss and shares how she found hope after that loss. Together, they explore the realities of parenting beyond the Instagram-perfect version, touching deeply on grief, resilience, self-care, and breaking through the expectations of what motherhood “should” look like. This episode is especially valuable for parents seeking authentic stories, homeschooling inspiration, entrepreneur moms, and anyone struggling with grief or a work-life balance.
If you’re a parent looking for honest conversation and practical wisdom, or someone curious about healing and growth through adversity, this blog post will break down the highlights, helpful insights, and actionable takeaways from Jamie’s journey as shared in this moving episode.
Honest Parenting After Loss: Beyond Perfect Instagram Moments
We live in a time where parenting content is everywhere, but real stories, especially those touching on grief and struggle, are often left out. Reesa, the host, sets the tone early: this episode is about authentic conversation, not curated perfection. Jamie joins and immediately opens up about her life, introducing herself as a “mother of two and a business owner of four” (yes, four businesses!). Her multitasking life instantly resonates with busy parents who constantly juggle work, home life, and personal well-being.
Jamie’s Story: Motherhood, Loss, and Perspective Shift
Jamie’s journey has not followed a simple path. At age 20, she was the embodiment of hustle culture - starting a dog grooming business while preparing to welcome her first child. Like many new moms, Jamie felt the pressure to keep up with work, returning to her business only four weeks after a cesarean section. Work was how she’d been raised, and how she was modeling her life, citing her own mother’s entrepreneurial spirit as a key influence.
But everything changed when Jamie tragically lost her infant son at five months old. Grief, shock, and pain became everyday realities, turning her world upside down. For weeks, Jamie describes simply “existing,” trying to keep going for the sake of her business and her future.
Key Questions Answered:
How does grief affect parenting?
What are ways to cope with unimaginable loss?
How can parents rebuild their lives after loss?
Jamie’s experience highlights how there is no “right” way to process grief. She tried support groups and therapy, but found that sometimes those spaces brought new discomfort and isolation. Instead, Jamie developed her own techniques for coping like allowing herself private moments to feel, cry, and reflect, then learning to “shut it off” when she needed to function publicly. This approach, though helpful, came with misunderstandings: others sometimes assumed she wasn’t truly grieving because she didn’t show sadness publicly. Jamie shares candidly about the hurtful comments and the burden of carrying her grief in silence.
Parenting the Second Time: Priorities and Homeschooling
After her loss, Jamie’s entire perspective on motherhood changed. When she became a mother again, she knew she needed a different approach … one that prioritized being present over being busy. She set a goal to “buy her time back,” eventually shaping a life where she could work from home and homeschool her two children.
Jamie explains her decision to homeschool stemmed from a clear feeling of discomfort and sadness every time she dropped her kids off at school. She wanted more time with them and the flexibility to create special moments together. She researched options and, even in the face of skepticism and zero support from family (many of whom were teachers), trusted her instincts and made the switch.
Homeschooling Search Queries Tackled:
How do I start homeschooling my child?
Homeschooling with little support
Alternatives to traditional homeschool programs
Jamie’s advice? Homeschooling need not mean parents must become full-time teachers. Many districts now offer hybrid programs (like Sage Oak, which Jamie uses) that blend online instruction with independent study and flexible schedules. This makes the experience manageable, even for parents who work or lack teaching experience. Jamie also recommends regular social outings, educational field trips, and park days to keep her kids engaged and physically active.
Self-Care, Healing, and Taking Back Joy
Throughout her story, Jamie brings up the importance of self-care in the healing journey. She highlights activities like Muay Thai, singing, and personal hobbies as ways she began to channel the energy of her grief into positive outlets. One of her favorite self-care rituals? Bacon-wrapped dates and a pickle olive martini, which she shares with Reesa and the audience in a live recipe segment. This treat makes her feel like she’s sitting in a “five-star resort” through a small way to reclaim moments of joy as a busy parent.
Recipe & Ritual:
Recipe for bacon-wrapped dates stuffed with goat or cream cheese, wrapped in precooked bacon, baked, and served with a pickle olive martini.
Advice: Find small, accessible rituals that make you feel pampered without the need for a vacation.
Key Takeaways from Jamie’s Parenting Journey
1. There’s No “Right Way” to Grieve Grief is personal and doesn’t fit a mold. Supporting someone through loss means giving practical help and space, not advice or judgment.
2. Redefining Parenting and Work Jamie’s story is a powerful example of changing priorities after trauma. If you don’t like your work-life balance, it’s okay to make radical changes. Pursue flexibility, remote work, or business management solutions that reunite you with your family.
3. Homeschooling Can Be Accessible Modern homeschooling includes hybrid options and support systems. Skepticism from others shouldn’t stop you. Trust your instincts for your family.
4. Self-Care is Non-Negotiable - Even for Busy Moms Whether it’s a recipe ritual, exercise, singing, or a quiet moment alone, find ways to nurture joy and healing.
5. Silence Can Be Powerful Support If someone you love is grieving, show up, cook a meal, and listen. Words aren’t always necessary.
6. Take Back Time Jamie’s shift to homeschooling and remote work gave her family more meaningful hours together. Parents often have more options than they realize for restructuring life after adversity.
7. Inspiration for Entrepreneurial Moms Managing multiple businesses can be compatible with motherhood, especially if you empower others, delegate tasks, and prioritize time with your children.
The Recipe: Treating Yourself Well is Crucial to Finding Hope After Loss
The instinct to shut down and punish yourself after such a loss can be very potent. Jamie’s recipe reminds us that we deserve to take care of ourselves. With the whirlwind of parenting and trying to navigate grief and moving forward, it’s easy to get lost. Here’s Jamie’s recipe that will have you feeling luxury in the quiet of your home:
Pickle & Olive Martini ("The Dirty Dirty")
Ingredients:
2 oz gin or vodka (your choice)
0.5 oz dry vermouth
0.5 oz pickle juice
0.5 oz olive brine
1-2 pickle slices (for garnish)
2 green olives (for garnish)
Optional: a splash of lemon juice for brightness
Instructions:
Fill a shaker with ice.
Add the gin/vodka, vermouth, pickle juice, and olive brine.
Shake well until chilled.
Strain into a chilled martini glass.
Garnish with a skewer of olives and a pickle slice (or get fancy with a mini dill wrapped around the olive).
Salty, tangy, and totally unfiltered—just like your podcast episode.
Bacon-Wrapped Dates (Stuffed or Not)
Ingredients:
12 Medjool dates (pitted)
6 slices of thin bacon (cut in half)
Optional stuffing:
Soft goat cheese
Blue cheese
Almonds
Instructions:
Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
If stuffing: slice the date open (but not all the way through) and add a teaspoon of cheese or one almond inside. Close it up.
Wrap each date with half a bacon slice and secure with a toothpick.
Place on a baking sheet lined with parchment or foil.
Bake for 18–22 minutes, flipping halfway, until the bacon is crispy.
Let cool slightly and drizzle with honey or balsamic glaze if you’re feeling boujee.
Sweet, salty, smoky—like a mic drop wrapped in bacon.
Connect with Jamie B
Jamie concludes with practical ways to connect: She owns four Southern California dog grooming salons (Doggy Spa in Corona, Temecula Pet Salon, Temecula Fallbrook Pet Parlor, and Buena Park Dog Wash), and is always open to connecting on Instagram or Facebook for business, support, and parenting inspiration.
Jamie’s episode of The Real Family Eats reaches beyond grief and motherhood. It’s about taking control, finding balance, and rewriting your story, regardless of what others expect. Whether you’re navigating loss, thinking about homeschooling, or simply juggling work and parenthood, Jamie’s experiences provide reassurance, practical advice, and inspiring perspective.
If this episode resonated with you, share it with anyone who’s struggling, searching for new paths, or just needs the reminder: there’s always hope, and you deserve a seat at the table.
If you are a parent ready to share your real-life parenting struggle and dish up a recipe with Reesa, apply here!
