Carmel Breathnach Reflects on Losing Her Mom at Age 11

I had such a great discussion with Carmel Breathnach for this episode. Carmel is originally from Ireland and now lives in Portland, Oregon. She lost her mom at age 11, and writes primarily about early mother loss. She’s working on her memoir, “Briefly I Knew My Mother.” Some topics Carmel and I discussed include: Carmel reads from a letter she recently wrote to her 11-year-old self; Ways her dad supported her and her brother after her mom’s death; Challenges with school and teachers; What she’s learned by having to face grief as a young person; What brought her to the US; How her early experience with grief influenced her work as a teacher; and Her thoughts on Mother’s Day as a motherless daughter. I hope you enjoy my discussion with Carmel Breathnach.