When my mother passed away unexpectedly in July 2025, my world stopped. As an only child who had been raised by a single mother, losing her was more than a personal tragedy—it was a turning point that reshaped everything I understood about life, love, and preparation.

In this intimate audio essay, I share the unexpected lessons my mother left behind—small acts of planning, quiet decisions, and thoughtful details that eased one of the hardest moments of my life. These are the things I never knew I would need… until the day came when I needed them more than anything.

In this audio essay, you’ll hear:

• 🌺 The simple wish list my mother created—and how it became a roadmap when my brain couldn’t process anything

• 🌿 The importance of having a surrogate when distance, grief, or shock makes immediate decisions overwhelming

• ⚖️ How burial insurance saved me from thousands in unexpected costs

• 🕊️ Why taking a moment to breathe before planning a funeral can give you clarity and space

• 🤝 The quiet network of people who appear when you’re grieving, often before you even know you need them

• 💛 The helpers whose only purpose is to make your life easier during the darkest days

This is not a guide about loss—it’s a guide about preparation, grace, and the small decisions that can protect the people you love when they’re at their most vulnerable.

Whether you still have your parents, are supporting someone who does, or are preparing for your own later years, this audio essay offers honest, heartfelt perspective from someone who lived it in real time.

🎧 What You Get

• A professionally recorded 7-8 minute audio essay

• Clean, intimate narration with soft intro/outro music

• A personal reflection designed to help you prepare, reflect, and support the people you love

💬 Why This Matters

We don’t talk enough about what it really takes to lay a parent to rest.

We don’t talk about the decisions that wait for us.

And we definitely don’t talk about how much easier it becomes when someone leaves us even a few breadcrumbs to follow.

This audio essay is my way of offering those breadcrumbs to you.

💛 Listen, reflect, and—more importantly—prepare.

Your future self (and your family) will thank you.