Navigating Parenthood and Funeral Directing: The Modern Funeral Director's Dilemma, the story of Little Miss Funeral

In this episode of The Glam Reaper Podcast, Jennifer welcomes Lauren Leroy, a Licensed Funeral Director and the creative mind behind the blog and YouTube channel "Little Miss Funeral." Lauren opens up about the inspiration behind her online platform and how it became a safe space for sharing her journey in the funeral industry.Lauren talked about her decision to prioritize her role as a parent over her career as she explored the delicate balance between family obligations and professional pursuits.Don't miss out on this episode as Jennifer and Lauren discuss prioritizing family over career obligations and the impact that can have on your career and your mental health within the death space. Tune in now!Key Topics:-Fulfilment and Challenges of Balancing Motherhood and Funeral Directing-Coping Mechanisms and Gratitude in Funeral Directing-Mental Health & Self-Care in the Funeral Industry-The Influence of Social Media on Death Care-Emotional Toll of Funeral Directing during COVID-19Quotes From The Episode: I just think that it's very difficult to be a devoted funeral director and a present parent at the same time.- Lauren LeroyI can sleep at night knowing I gave that family all that I could in whatever way I could. - Jennifer MuldowneyTimestamp:[00:00] Podcast Intro[00:55] Lauren discusses the origins of her blog and YouTube channel, "Little Miss Funeral.”[07:12] Lauren deliberated her personal experiences of dealing with pregnancy and then motherhood as a funeral director.[08:53] Jennifer reflects on the profound shifts in life trajectories, particularly for women.[11:27] Lauren on her decision to prioritize her role as a parent over her career as a funeral director.[13:38] Jennifer talks about prioritizing family over career obligations, and reflects on the finite nature of life.[15:55] Lauren explored her initial expectation of returning to work soon after having children due to her love for her profession as a funeral director.[18:23] Jennifer analyzed the need for a shift in perspective within the funeral industry towards part-time work arrangements[22:39] Lauren emphasised the personal growth gained from experiencing loss themselves.[27:24] Jennifer acknowledged the role of funeral professionals as informal therapists due to their empathetic nature[28:51] Lauren talked about the evolution of the funeral industry in the age of social media.[34:47] Jennifer and Lauren conversed about the coping mechanisms used in dealing with traumatic situations in the funeral industry.[38:14] OutroConnect with Lauren Leroy:LinkedIn - linkedin.com/in/lauren-k-leroy-1679a3179https://twitter.com/lttlemissfunerl?lang=enhttps://littlemissfuneral.wordpress.com/https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCYb7bNwEw59Gew3w0S5Connect with Jennifer/The Glam Reaper: Facebook Page - Muldowney Memorials: https://www.facebook.com/MuldowneyMemorials/Facebook Page - Rainbow Bridge Memorials: https://www.facebook.com/rainbowbridgememorialsdotcomInstagram - @muldowneymemorials &