#009: Learning to Live in the Life I Didn't Expect

#012 Part 01: A Daughter's Perspective: Growing up with Loss

Episode 12, Part 1: A Daughter's Perspective-Growing up with Loss After a brief break to recover from pneumonia, I'm grateful to be back with what has become one of the most meaningful conversations on this podcast. Over the past several episodes, you've heard my perspective on losing my husband, Chad, in 2011. But grief impacts every member of a family differently. In this special two-part series, my daughter, Caitlin, joins me to share her story. In Part One, Caitlin reflects on her memories of her dad, what it was like losing him as a child, and the challenges of growing up while navigating grief. Together, we discuss the early years after loss, the moments that shaped her journey, and the lasting impact of a father's love. We also revisit a deeply emotional milestone—opening a childhood time capsule that contained a letter her dad had written years before his death. This conversation is honest, heartfelt, and a reminder that grief is not a single event—it is a journey that evolves as we grow. Join us for Part One of this special mother-daughter conversation. The KALM Before the Chaos is a podcast about grief, healing, resilience, and finding hope while carrying the people we love forward.

#011: The Children in the Story

Episode 12: The Children in the Story In this episode, I step back from my own story… and look at what it meant for my children to live through it. Grief doesn’t look the same through a child’s eyes. It isn’t always spoken. It isn’t always understood. And sometimes… it shows up in ways we don’t recognize until much later. I share the moments that shaped my understanding as a parent—the differences between how I processed loss and how my children did, the quiet ways they held onto their dad, and the turning point that changed how I saw everything. This episode is also for those walking through divorce, separation, or any life change that shifts a child’s world. Because no matter how you arrive there, the question is often the same: How do we lead them through something we’re still trying to understand ourselves? This is a reflection on parenting through the hardest seasons… and the quiet strength children carry within them.   Music from #Uppbeat https://uppbeat.io/t/the-dunwells/best-part-of-me

#010: Rituals That Rebuild Us

In this milestone 10th episode of The KALM Before the Chaos, Lynnette reflects on what it truly means to begin living again. After grief, after survival… what comes next? This episode explores the quiet power of rituals—small, intentional moments that bring calm, create space, and help rebuild life one step at a time. Through personal reflection and a glimpse into her daughter’s perspective, Lynnette shares how healing happens not all at once—but in the pauses, the breath, and the moments we choose to come back to ourselves. You are not alone. This moment… right here… it counts.   Music from #Uppbeat https://uppbeat.io/t/the-dunwells/best-part-of-me

#009: Learning to Live in the Life I Didn't Expect

In Episode 9 of The KALM Before the Chaos, Lynnette shares what it looks like to begin living again after loss. This deeply personal episode explores the shift from survival to rebuilding, the weight of grief, and the quiet strength it takes to move forward. Through stories of perseverance, motherhood, faith, and trust, she reflects on how life can grow in unexpected ways—even when it doesn’t look the way we planned.   Music from #Uppbeat https://uppbeat.io/t/the-dunwells/best-part-of-me

#008: Bonus Episode: A Moment of KALM — Reset Before the Next Chapter

This one is just for you. Sometimes… before we move forward, we need a moment to pause. This bonus episode is an invitation to step out of the noise and into stillness. Through a guided moment of KALM, we walk through four simple steps: K-Keep Still. A-Acknowledge. L-Let Go. M-Move Forward. Wherever you are in your journey, this space is for you to breathe, reflect, and reset—one moment at a time.   Music from #Uppbeat https://uppbeat.io/t/the-dunwells/best-part-of-me