“How many children do you have?”

It’s a question that comes up easily in conversation, often asked with good intentions and without much thought.

But for those of us who have experienced the loss of a child, it can bring a wave of emotion.

It touches a tender part of us, stirring grief, love, and the quiet reality of what could have been.

In this episode, I explore the emotional weight this question can carry. I speak honestly about the pause that comes before answering, and the personal journey of navigating between truth and emotional safety.

I share my own experience with this question, and offer reflections on how we can hold space, for ourselves and for others when loss is part of the story.

This episode is for anyone who carries grief quietly, who continues to love a child no longer here, and who wishes their experience could be acknowledged without needing to explain.

In this episode, I reflect on:

The emotional impact behind a seemingly simple question

What it’s like to parent a child who is no longer living

Why grief often lives in the things left unsaid

How to honour our children while protecting our own emotional boundaries

The unique challenges of invisible motherhood or fatherhood

Connect with Louise Bates: https://linktr.ee/louisebates

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