When Rebecca Woolf's husband, Hal, died just a few months after his cancer diagnosis, at age 44, Rebecca's community rallied around her. But what most on the outside didn’t know was that their marriage had always been complicated and was drawing to an end when he was diagnosed, and that Hal’s diagnosis and death put Rebecca in the complicated position of supporting him and their family through his death and being publicly a grieving widow, while also finding relief in the ending of a relationship that had been unhealthy and unraveling for a long time. In this episode, Rebecca shares the story of that marriage, Hal’s illness and death, and how Rebecca has grappled with and ultimately embraced her young widowhood even when her experiences haven't fit the expected narrative. Sponsor Spotlight: Elevate your shoe game with cute styles + amazing comfort. Check out the Malibu Sneaker, an easy-breezy slip-on that fits anyone’s summer on-the-go lifestyle. Try it on yourself with Vionic’s 30 Day Wear Test – return any purchase within 30 days for a full refund, even if it’s been worn outside. Get free shipping when you use code MOR at vionicshoes.com. About Rebecca Woolf Rebecca Woolf has worked as a writer since her teens, contributing to numerous publications, websites and anthologies, most notably her own award-winning personal blog, Girl’s Gone Child, which attracted millions of unique visitors worldwide. As well as launching her own successful blog and writing weekly columns for Babble.com, Mom.me and Quiet Revolution, Woolf’s essays have appeared on Refinery29, Huffington Post, Parenting and more. She currently authors the bi-weekly column Sex & the Single Mom on Romper.com. She is also the author of Rockabye: From Wild to Child (Seal Press, 2008) and the forthcoming memoir, ALL OF THIS: a memoir of death and desire (Harper One) which hits shelves August 16th. She lives in Los Angeles with her son and three daughters. Episode Links: Instagram- Rebecca Woolf (@rebeccawooolf) • Instagram photos and videos Twitter- Rebecca Woolf (@GirlsGoneChild) / Twitter Website- Rebecca Woolf Preorder Book- Preorder the Book | All of This: A Memoir of Death and Desire — Rebecca Woolf Other Links: Follow Meagan on Instagram: @meaganfrancis and @motherofreinventionshow Check out some of Meagan’s favorite products at MORFaves!Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/mother-of-reinvention-with-meagan-francis/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy