The KALM before the Chaos Podcast

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 #Uppbeathttps://uppbeat.io/t/the-dunwells/best-part-of-me

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 #Uppbeathttps://uppbeat.io/t/the-dunwells/best-part-of-me

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.

Episode 12 – Part 2: A Daughter's Perspective – Moving Forward
In Part 2 of this heartfelt conversation, Lynnette continues her discussion with her daughter, Caitlin, about growing up after losing her father at just 10 years old.
Together, they explore how grief evolves over time—from childhood into adulthood—and how it shows up during life's biggest milestones, including graduation, relationships, marriage, and the dreams of starting a family.
Caitlin shares the lessons she has learned through loss, what helped her move forward, the importance of family and friendships, and what it was like watching her mom navigate grief while raising two young children. She also offers encouragement for anyone grieving the loss of a parent or someone they deeply love.
This episode is an honest conversation about resilience, hope, healing, and choosing to keep living—even when life changes forever.
If you've ever wondered how children experience grief or how loss continues to shape us throughout life, this episode offers a perspective you won't soon forget.
Topics discussed:• Growing up after losing a parent• Grief through childhood and adulthood• Milestones after loss• Healing and resilience• Family, friendship, and support• Learning to move forward with love
If this episode resonates with you, please consider following the podcast, leaving a rating or review, and sharing it with someone who may need this conversation today.

Episode 13: What My Daughter Taught Me About Grief
As parents, we often believe we're the ones teaching our children. But sometimes, if we're paying attention, they become our greatest teachers.
In this deeply personal episode, I reflect on the lessons I've learned from watching my daughter, Caitlin, navigate the loss of her dad over the past fifteen years. From childhood milestones to her wedding day, I've witnessed grief evolve in ways I never expected—and in the process, she's shown me what resilience, love, and moving forward really look like.
I also share how our family is now walking through anticipatory grief as Caitlin and Cody love their golden retriever, Huxley, through his lymphoma diagnosis, reminding us that grief often begins long before goodbye.
If you've ever wondered how grief changes over time—or what we can learn from those we love most—this conversation is for you.
The KALM Before the Chaos is a podcast about grief, resilience, quiet faith, and finding peace before life gets loud.
 
Music from #Uppbeathttps://uppbeat.io/t/the-dunwells/best-part-of-me