Jennifer's Mom's Near-Death Experience, ADHD Diagnosis & Cancer Battle

A Mother-Daughter Conversation Years in the MakingIn this deeply personal episode, Jennifer sits down with her mom, Judy Grossman, for an honest conversation about family, forgiveness, resilience, and the stories that shape us. Together they reflect on childhood, generational trauma, mental health, motherhood, creativity, and the power of choosing joy—even in life's darkest moments.Judy shares what it was like growing up as the daughter of Holocaust survivors, receiving an ADHD diagnosis later in life, navigating depression, and recently battling stage III colon cancer. She also opens up about her near-death experience at age ten, the lessons she's learned through suffering, and why she believes the best chapters of life can still be ahead.Along the way, mother and daughter laugh, cry, revisit old wounds, and celebrate the bond they've built through honesty, compassion, and unconditional love.In this episode, we discuss:Growing up as the daughter of Holocaust survivorsBreaking generational patterns and parenting with intentionMental health, ADHD, and receiving a diagnosis later in lifeWhy imperfect parents still raise resilient childrenJennifer's childhood independence and limitless mindsetJudy's battle with stage III colon cancer and finding hope during treatmentFamily, sisterhood, and the strength of unconditional loveA remarkable near-death experience at age tenWhy gratitude and joy can coexist with sufferingJudy's upcoming book and the wisdom she's gathered over a lifetimeTimestamps00:00 – Introducing Judy Grossman: mother, grandmother, cancer warrior, and daughter of Holocaust survivors02:28 – Growing up without choices and deciding to parent differently04:28 – Raising three daughters by paying attention to who they naturally were06:40 – Mental health struggles and looking back with compassion09:04 – Receiving an ADHD diagnosis later in life11:40 – Working at TV Guide and buying her first car at nineteen13:23 – Judy reflects on Jennifer's childhood and fearless personality16:48 – Why Jennifer never developed a limiting mindset19:49 – Therapy at age ten and learning to let children be themselves22:01 – Early signs of Jennifer's love for beauty, fashion, and entertaining24:21 – Emotional reflections on their evolving relationship25:22 – Judy's stage III colon cancer diagnosis and recovery journey29:15 – "Today is just ten minutes out of a whole day"31:11 – The unique roles each daughter played during treatment34:14 – Finding gratitude even in the emergency room35:15 – Why sisters become lifelong best friends38:21 – Judy's near-death experience at age ten41:32 – Returning with a sense of purpose42:14 – How her book nearly went unpublished45:05 – Dating again after divorce and the inspiration behind her bookSponsor Codes✨ Leaf & Flower Use code WHATSHES15 for 15% off✨ BodyBio Use code WHATSHESHAVING for 20% off ✨ Firefly Recovery Use code WhatShe'sHaving for15% OffCredits:  Hosts: Jennifer Cataldo & Britney Semler New episodes weekly of What She’s Having 🎙️🎙️ New episode drops Wednesday.