July 5, 2025 • 45 mins
What do you do when your world shatters, but your children still need bedtime stories and packed lunches?
Megan Daley is an award-winning teacher librarian, author, podcaster, and mother who shares the layered grief of losing her brother, her aunt, and then her husband Dan.
She takes us inside those early days of parenting through heartbreak, how stories helped her daughters process loss, and why she believes books hold a unique power in navigating the unimaginable.
This is an episode about blending families after loss, and what it means to hold space for grief while still leaning into joy and rebuilding a joyful life.
Together, Caroline and Megan chat about:
Quote that resonates with Megan “Moving on as a concept is for stupid people, because any sensible person knows grief is a long-term project. I refuse to rush. The pain that is thrust upon us, let no man slow or speed or fix”
Links
Megan’s blog on grief, widowhood and books: megandaley.com.au/grief-widowhood-and-books Megan on Instagram: @childrensbooksdaily
Megan’s books: Raising Readers and Teacher, Teacher
About The Widow Diaries
A podcast that holds space for the often-unspoken stories of grief, love, and life after loss - especially for those widowed young. Hosted by journalist and widow Caroline Winter and brought to you by First Light Widowed Support.
This is The Widow Diaries: Where no story is the same – and every story matters.
Links
Megan Daley is an award-winning teacher librarian, author, podcaster, and mother who shares the layered grief of losing her brother, her aunt, and then her husband Dan.
She takes us inside those early days of parenting through heartbreak, how stories helped her daughters process loss, and why she believes books hold a unique power in navigating the unimaginable.
This is an episode about blending families after loss, and what it means to hold space for grief while still leaning into joy and rebuilding a joyful life.
Together, Caroline and Megan chat about:
- Parenting through the early days
- Compounding grief and carrying the weight of others
- The role of language, love and story
- The power of children’s books in the grief space
- Meeting someone new and blending families
- Rebuilding a joyful life
Quote that resonates with Megan “Moving on as a concept is for stupid people, because any sensible person knows grief is a long-term project. I refuse to rush. The pain that is thrust upon us, let no man slow or speed or fix”
Links
Megan’s blog on grief, widowhood and books: megandaley.com.au/grief-widowhood-and-books Megan on Instagram: @childrensbooksdaily
Megan’s books: Raising Readers and Teacher, Teacher
About The Widow Diaries
A podcast that holds space for the often-unspoken stories of grief, love, and life after loss - especially for those widowed young. Hosted by journalist and widow Caroline Winter and brought to you by First Light Widowed Support.
This is The Widow Diaries: Where no story is the same – and every story matters.
Links
- Learn more about First Light Widowed Support
- Follow First Light on Instagram
- Like First Light on Facebook
- Connect with First Light on LinkedIn
- Connect with Caroline Winter on LinkedIn
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