We understand "GRIEF HAS NO EXPIRATION DATE".  We provide a "FREE and FUN" place for widowed parents to come together with other widowed parents so they can be inspired to learn, share and grow beyond their personal grief journey in all stages and ages of their life.

Unfortunately, there are very few support groups for those of us who are Widowed Parents and who still have dependent children in our care.   A single parent in general has their own set of challenges when raising children, especially when it comes to finding affordable and reliable childcare.  Being a single Widowed Parent, has an additional set of challenges when parenting.   We have found that Widowed Parents want and need to be in contact with other adults who "REALLY GET IT" and know what we are going through.

A group of "Wise" Widowed Parents saw value in coming together to share and learn from one another.  Unfortunately, having children in our care 24/7 made it difficult to get away and have "grown up" time with other Widowed Parents.  Eventually, it seemed like a "Wise" idea to set up a teleconference room where Widowed Parents could all call into one phone number and chat.  The majority of our "Meet Ups" will be through a teleconference phone line.  We will, however, be meeting up for various family activities that strengthen family ties and help build self esteem.  Our main focus and energy will be planning and attending weekend retreats or "camp outs"  for families interested in coming together to learn, laugh and grow beyond grief.  We also encourage members to seek out other widowed families to "meet up" with one another and to participate in various outside activities, sports, and events  throughout the year.

Widowed Parents "meeting up" on a group teleconference call will experience many benefits.   We do not have to find childcare, we do not have to spend time and gas to get from one place to another, we can participate in these calls in the privacy of our own home, we don't have to worry about what we look like or if we are going to cry, we can just listen and not talk, and we will always know what the "Topic Chat" will be ahead of time.   We decide on which "Topic Chats" we want to participate  in.  Specific "Topic Chats" are prescheduled with guest speakers who have personal knowledge and/or experience in specific areas of the grief journey.   Our main focus is to move forward with an open heart and mind while seeking out positive SOLUTIONS for ourselves and for our children.

Wise Widowed Parents is a vision and creation of its founder, Natalie Ryan-Ramirez.   After her best friend and husband of 21 years lost his body to a 7 month cancer battle, she was left with the many daunting challenges of being not only a mid-life widow, but also a single widowed parent of a 4 and 6 year old.   Natalie and her husband, Willie, were finally blessed to start their family after 15 years of marriage.  It was their joint mission to grow old together and enjoy the many years of blessings while being parents and life-long mentors for their growing children.  Unfortunately, that was not their story book ending.

Now being a single widowed parent, and a woman of faith, Natalie was determined not to let earthly death, grief, or depression rob her and her young children of a "happily ever-after".   She was determined to continue to provide a loving and fun family home environment Willie and she worked so hard to provide before Willie was diagnosed with cancer.  She continued to embrace Willie's lasting love and drew comfort and strength in his last request and blessing to go on and move forward in pursuing LOVE and HAPPINESS after his death.

With the gift of Willie's blessings safely stored in Natalie's heart pocket, and armed with God's word and promises, Natalie soon began to step out in faith and take a "proactive" approach with her own grieving process.   She started to research a variety of resources and support groups to help her and her children navigate through the unpredictable and turbulent sea of "grief."   After attending four family grief camps in three different states, one national symposium for grieving children (NAGC) and personally attending over 200 support groups relating to grief, she quickly discovered there were very few support groups and resources that provided ongoing support and ideas for grieving parents with young children still in their care.   Most available grief resources were depressing and lacked the support in CREATING and MAINTAINING a healthy, fun, loving, and balanced home environment for all family members left behind after the death of a parent.

Natalie also discovered that a lot of "WISE" and helpful tips, hints, and information naturally came from the lips of other Widowed Parents when given the opportunity to share and focus on the positive things that were working in their family's every day life.   Thus, a group of "Wise Widowed Parents" soon evolved.   Wise Widowed Parents is a group of peers you can embrace as extended family members.   This group is for YOU and your family if you are a Widowed Parent who is single, dating or remarried and with dependent children still in your care.   All we ask from you is a commitment to LEARN, SHARE and GROW with a desire to want to LIVE and ENJOY life again with your children.

Please Note :  This meetup group is not intended to take the place of therapy and it is strongly recommended that you seek out professional help for any disturbing grief concerns you or your children may be experiencing.  This group will be facilitated by widowed parents for widowed parents.