Grief, Relief, and the Complexity of Losing a Parent

⚠️ Trigger Warning: This episode contains discussions of attempted suicide, verbal abuse, and non-consensual labor. Please listen with care.In this deeply somber and storytelling episode of The Partnership Podcast, Trey opens up about the recent death of his mother and the complicated emotions that have surfaced in its wake. He shares raw stories of his childhood—verbal abuse, forced labor, and the endurance it took to survive—and how those patterns shaped his adulthood.For the first time, Trey reflects openly on the relief he feels with his mother’s passing, and the heavy mix of grief, pain, and even freedom that comes with the loss of someone who caused harm. He tells the full story of how their relationship unraveled, the anger and resentment he felt during their reconnections, and why they hadn’t spoken in years.Midway through the episode, Trey recounts a difficult memory of his mother’s attempted suicide and the service he was forced to provide as a child in its aftermath. This story is shared with tenderness but may be activating for some listeners.Lauren reflects on how the children inside all of us are still longing for parents to do their own healing work and offer unconditional love. Together, Trey and Lauren explore the messy, contradictory realities of grief: sadness, anger, longing, and relief.This is not an easy episode, but it’s an honest one.If you’d like support in navigating your partner’s grief, or if you are carrying grief of your own, you can request a free 15-minute consult with Lauren at: www.sexedforyou.com/freeconsult.If this episode resonates with you, please like, subscribe, and share with someone who may need to hear these words.About Us: Lauren and Trey are partners living in Central Virginia where Lauren owns and operates, SEX ED FOR YOU. She provides comprehensive sexuality education and embodied coaching to individuals, partners, and parents.Through a biopsychosocial approach, Sex Ed for You works to restore positive and respectful approaches to sexuality and sexual relationships, as well as increase the possibility of having pleasurable and safe sexual experiences, free of coercion, discrimination and violence. (WHO)Sexual health is fundamental to the overall health and well-being of individuals, couples and families, and to the social and economic development of communities and countries. (WHO) When individuals are blocked from sexual health they are stunted from developing a sense of sensual play and enjoyment. • Learn more about Sex Ed for You at ⁠⁠https://www.sexedforyou.com⁠⁠• Schedule a FREE CONSULT with Lauren today: ⁠⁠https://www.sexedforyou.com/freeconsult⁠⁠• Learn more about partnered communication best practices on Sex Ed For You’s Instagram Page: ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/sex_ed_for_you/⁠⁠• Subscribe to our YouTube channel for more videos about sex, partnership, communication, and love: ⁠⁠https://youtube.com/@thepartnershippodcast⁠⁠Reminders: This is not a "how to" podcast, but rather a "how they" podcast. Please listen to our opinions and then come to your own! Learn from our mistakes or give our techniques a try! It’s all up to you. Lauren is NOT a therapist. She is a Certified Holistic Sexuality Educator and Embodied Intimacy and Relationship Coach.