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Things I Wish I Knew Before My Mom Died: Coping with Loss Every Day

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“I wish I had read this before I lost my mom a few years ago and a dear friend soon after…" – Nina Lesowitz , author of Living Life as a Thank You #1 Best Seller in Grief & Bereavement, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, and Self-Esteem The grieving process.  Ty Alexander of  Gorgeous in Grey  is one of the top bloggers today with a wonderful personal connection with her readers. This is never more apparent than when she speaks about her mother. The pain of loss for mourners is universal. Yet, we all grieve differently. For Alexander, the grieving process is one that she lives with day-to-day. Learning from her pain, she connects with her readers on a deeply emotional level in her book,  Things I Wish I Knew Before My Mom Died: Coping with Loss Every Day . From grief counseling to sharing insightful true stories, Alexander offers comfort, reassurance, and hope in the face of sorrow. Coping with loss.  In her early 20’s reality smacked Ty in the face. She was ill equipped to deal with the emotional and intellectual rollercoaster of dealing with her mom’s illness. Through her own trial and error, she found a way to be a caregiver, patient advocate, researcher, and a grieving daughter. She wrote  Things I Wish I Knew Before My Mom Died to help others find the “best” way to cope and move on, however one personally decides what that means. Mourning and remembrance.  In the chapters of this soul-touching book, mourners find meaning and wisdom in grieving and the love that always remains. Inside this comforting and insightful book find: If you have read grief and bereavement books such as Notes on Grief , Grief Day by Day , or Finding Meaning , you will want to read Things I Wish I Knew Before My Mom Died.

154 pages, Paperback

Published September 13, 2016

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Ty Alexander

6 books47 followers

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5 stars
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350 (25%)
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105 (7%)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 147 reviews
Profile Image for Ana  Lelis.
502 reviews212 followers
May 1, 2022
This is definitely a sensitive topic. I didn't lose my mom, but I thought I should read this so I could learn something that I could use with my mom while she is here, and, something that I could learn to comfort friends that have lost their moms, like my best friend.
I think it's an important book, we should talk more about that kind of subject. We need to learn that this is part of life.
As I said, I didn't lose my mom, but, I've had to deal with grief before and I've learned that it never goes away, you just need to learn how to live with it.
The book tries to talk about death in a real, simple way. But, at the same time, she is just narrating her life, but not really saying anything that could help people. I feel like she is still learning how to cope with her own loss and doesn't have many good tips.
But, maybe, that is what grief is all about. You're always learning and relearning how to deal with the pain. There is no right or wrong answer, just keep doing the best you can in the best way you know.
Profile Image for Eilonwy.
904 reviews224 followers
February 18, 2019
3-1/2 stars

Ty Alexander's mom died in 2013, when Ty was in her 30's. My mom died when I was 18, and by this time, I've lived longer without a mother than I did with one. But as an advice columnist (wish I could remember which one) once wrote, pretty much every day after your mom dies feels like your mom just died, because it's one of those holes that can't be filled.

This little book came out of Ty's blogging about her experience going through and continuing to go through grief. She found a lot of support online from friends and followers, so probably the biggest message of this book is, don't isolate yourself in your grief. Reach out, and let other people comfort you and be there for you. Admit you need them.

In some ways it can be a frustrating read, because Ty sometimes seems to contradict herself. But grief can be deeply contradictory, and what works for coping one day or one year doesn't always work the next time you try it, so I feel pretty forgiving of this.

While this is occasionally set up like a self-help book, it's not, really. It's one woman's raw, completely open and unflinching, look at the path she's been on since she lost the greatest constant and support in her life. I especially appreciate the chapter she has on how sometimes, even the rest of your (dysfunctional, fragmented) family can be of no help whatsoever, which makes your friends and community even more important.

If you're in this crappy club of humans whose mothers have died, this is a book worth considering.
Profile Image for Tammy.
38 reviews
January 1, 2018
Not applicable

I thought the author was more self absorbed in her own path to help others. Most of the book did not apply to my journey after the loss of my Mom. I lost my Mom at 55.
Profile Image for Joyreader.
372 reviews5 followers
March 22, 2018
I really appreciated the honesty of the author in her descriptions of her journey of grief. She truly bared her soul for her readers.

I don’t know if I’m the best person to review this book since my own mother lost her mom at only 27 and has given me her own soul-baring description of grief. So for me personally, I didn’t find anything revelatory in here.

I did find the author’s advice about acceptance of a new reality to be helpful.

Unfortunately, this book was full of typos. This isn’t something I’d normally comment on, but there were so many in this edition, it was truly distracting. Which is not what you want when you’re reading such serious and vulnerable writing.

I guess I was expecting the book to follow the title more. I haven’t lost my parents yet, but their health is failing and my dad especially. I’d hoped for some thoughts on what to do *before* you lose a parent. In fact, the book is more a description of coping mechanisms for after the fact. That’s fantastic, but the title was misleading.

For anyone grieving, I think they’ll find this book a refreshingly real look at grief and find comfort in not being alone in the process.
Profile Image for Staci Bishop.
193 reviews4 followers
July 24, 2018
Admittedly did not make it past chapter 3 which is rare for me. If I start a book, I will finish it. Could not get past the language. I read all genres and do not mind language but it was so excessive that it was a major turn off. The audiobook voice is filled with hate and the story is filled with family drama and bitterness. I hope the author finds peace in the end but this was a journey I couldn’t take with her.
Profile Image for Julia.
176 reviews9 followers
January 15, 2019
While searching for books dealing with grief, I was looking for something specific. I wanted something current, with a fresh, relatable voice. I wanted something that didn't feel like a textbook or a boring medical journal. Ty Alexander is a young, intelligent, black woman that lost her mother to cancer and tells the story of how she dealt with that loss and the grieving process. Part memoir and self help book, Ty speaks from the perspective of a daughter. However, I found that her tips were universal regardless of the relationship dynamics. I could relate as I lost my mother as well but a couple of years ago my brother died unexpectedly and that loss has been world shattering for me. I found this book to be a great help especially because I can relate to the author. It's okay to let out my "thug tears", it's okay to be human and vulnerable but remember to be grateful. Grateful for the good times, the memories and the love shared. "Grief is not a sign of weakness, nor a lack of faith...it's the price of love." --Unknown (pg.82)
Profile Image for kristy.
149 reviews1 follower
April 7, 2024
3.5⭐️ A lot of this book was helpful for me. I appreciate the authors honesty about her journey through grief and I found her points on accepting your new reality to be valuable. However, Ty lost her mother to cancer and was able to prepare for the loss. I lost my mom suddenly and unexpectedly so I wasn’t able to connect on all parts of the book.

Ty touches on writing letters to her mom and how that helps her. I have written a letter to my mom every single day in the 7 weeks that she’s been gone and I do think this exercise has been helpful for me.

I would recommend this book for anyone who has lost their mom💜
Profile Image for Mac Rizzuto.
200 reviews3 followers
September 22, 2019
The writing style of the author is so difficult to read. There were so many “absolutes” of “never should you,” when you write, that I questioned who published this piece of work. “Ain’t, quittin, dat, fittin’,” and just the straight up “f-word,” if those words aren’t going to drive you insane when you read then perhaps you will be fine with this book. Even the use of “and” at the beginning of a sentence: “And it sucks when shit breaks.” I mean, wow, how is that a published sentence? Published. As in people (or libraries-thank you, Libby) actually paid money for that sentence. And it sucks when books are shit.
There were some references I had no idea what they meant “I pulled a Kanye,” went completely over my head. Then, the use of “thug,” as an adjective (what exactly is a thug-tear?), not just once, but SEVERAL times.
The author isn’t self-aware enough to be writing any sort of self-help book. She states early on that she doesn’t talk to her moms family-which I can relate to her as I haven’t talked to my mom’s family since her death either. But she seemed absolutely innocent in her behavior until she mentioned she screamed at her aunt for offering her sick mom fried chicken. Perhaps the self-identified bratty little girl really didn’t ever grow up?
I have a similar story to this young woman. My mom was diagnosed with brain cancer in February and was dead by the following February. I wanted to love this book. I always resonate with other woman who lost their moms too early. We have something in common, so of course, I wanted to love this book, be encouraged, be reminded, grieve (even 18 years later)....and yet, I rolled my eyes. It was terrible and I wouldn’t recommend this book to anyone.
And if all that isnt enough, the format is off for the kindle edition. The chapter titles and pretty pink quotes are too big to fit on the page so the letters overlap and I couldn’t read most of them.
Profile Image for Danah.
23 reviews4 followers
April 5, 2021
Call me traditional, but I found the cursing distasteful, especially in the context of this topic. I read this as an audio-book, so the cursing was upfront.

Also, I understand that loss and grief are processed differently to different people, and I’m sure we don’t know the whole story, but at times I felt the author was being mean talking about her family just to be mean. They must’ve been grieving, as she was, in their own way. They might still be grieving today as they read this book. It just didn’t sit well with me. The author could’ve been straight about their family issues, but didn’t have to be mean. It was also contradictory that a few chapters after bashing almost everyone in her family, the author proceeds to talk about how “everyone is on their own journey” and “love them even if they don’t love you”..

There was also so much misplaced blame. Blame is a coping mechanism sometimes, I get it. But when misplaced, it should be consciously acknowledged and dealt with properly. Misplaced blame is not equivalent to “being real” or “telling it as it is”, and it’s definitely not an indicator of self-growth..

The middle chapters were better. I liked the parts that were about the author’s mother; her personality and antics.

I wish the author true healing.

Overall, it wasn’t as extraordinary as I heard it was gonna be.
Profile Image for Steph.
438 reviews6 followers
January 14, 2019
I related HARD to this book. The author and I lost our mothers in a similar way and there were many experiences that reflected my own even though all grief experiences are different. After listening I realized I have to be more mindful about saying “I know how you feel” and making comparisons. Anyway, I’m probably very biased yet I feel like I would recommend this book to anyone who has lost their mother and/or had to deal with the horror show that is cancer.

The author does swear a lot (and rightfully so imo) so if that sort of thing bothers you, this may not be the book for you. For me, I am glad and grateful I bought this audiobook. Will certainly be giving a second read/listen to in the future.
Profile Image for Valarie.
256 reviews33 followers
April 2, 2019
This is a beautiful book, and clearly a labor of love, but the title is a bit misleading. It’s less about things to do to prepare you for the loss of your mother (or things to do to treasure your mother) and more about ways to cope after the fact. It’s a lesson in grieving. I hope if the author sees this review that she takes it a complement that I wish I hadn’t read this book. It was so raw and honest that my heart can’t handle it.
Profile Image for Maria.
47 reviews4 followers
October 17, 2019
The book was just OK. I skimmed through a lot. My main thought was that no one taught the author “kill your darlings”. She’ll say the same thing three different ways in three sentences, as if there were no editor to pick one. Then I found out Ms. Alexander is a blogger and it all made sense. There are some bloggers that either don’t or shouldn’t write books, and there are some who know they need to tailor their writing for a different medium.
Profile Image for Erin.
484 reviews
March 27, 2022
This a short read, essential for anyone who has a pulse. There are dozens of boiled-down lessons on how to live a peaceful, loving, and rich life.

I wasn’t even halfway through the introduction and I’d already made a list of 6 people I need to send a copy to. By the end of the book, I have 13 names. I hope there is a bulk discount available.

My only criticism is more of a concern, but it’s sizable: the brief mentions of suicide should either have been excluded or laid out with more care and professional review. The author’s explanation of “suicidal ideation” at the end of the book is inaccurate at worst and misleading at best. Future editions should be appropriately edited, as I think it would be irresponsible to leave it as is.
5 reviews
June 28, 2020
The title is terribly misleading. The author is grieving. That is clear. But the selfish and immature approach to her grieving is more of a how to not grieve. An example, she can’t stand to see other children in her family enjoy opening Christmas presents with their parents because it makes her sad so she takes an extravagant vacation each year. Part of grieving is making new memories and finding new joys.

If you want to read “thug tears” and “bubble snot cry” about three hundred times, this is a great book. About halfway through I wanted to stop reading. But, I won’t write a review without finishing it no matter how miserable a book. I’d recommend a hard pass on this one.
407 reviews2 followers
June 26, 2022
This book is a difficult one to review.
Everyone has their own grief. There is no right or wrong way to grieve. We feel what we feel.
So Ty Alexander’s view of grief and losing her mother at her own.
I saw similarities between how her loss made her feel and how I felt/ feel my own. This book doesn’t claim to make you feel better, it doesn’t actually claim to do anything other than the title states. But what it does do is shows how loss is felt by the author. It gives us things to consider. It’s not really the kind of book that to be enjoyed as such, but I’m glad I read it. We learn from others.
Profile Image for Diamond Forbes.
1 review
November 5, 2022
This book was AMAZING! Reading Ty Alexander’s book made me feel like I was telling my own story lol. She made me feel good about grieving about my parents and what to expect going forward. I would definitely recommend this book to any of my friends and my siblings to read it if they’re still struggling with how to cope with our parents.
Profile Image for U. (Maps).
309 reviews47 followers
January 5, 2023
I read this out of curiosity and it was sad. This is the story of the author's journey of grief.
Her story made me reflect on how important is to spend time with the people you love and be there with them in the hard times, and let them know how much you love them and value what do or have done for you.
Profile Image for Chris Claypole.
72 reviews
April 24, 2024
Great read! The personal journey was moving and insightful. I am lacking the words, at the moment, to describe this any better so go read it for yourself.
Profile Image for steffy.
223 reviews13 followers
January 7, 2021
Pros: Since my mom passed away 10 years ago of cancer, I found some of the experiences in the book to be relatable. It was easy to read, comfortable, like talking to a friend who has gone through the same shit you have.
Cons: OK, so a little too comfortable. The spelling errors made me cringe. As did the over use of the terms "bubble snot tears" and "baby thug tears." I also thought it would share more generalized advice, but instead I received a straight up story with a sprinkling of relatable ideas.
I'm not sure I would recommend this to anyone who has experienced the loss of their mother. There are far better written books for grief and loss out there. But if you are looking for something simplistic and just want to read this writer's story, then it might be a good choice.
Profile Image for Tory Lindberg.
247 reviews7 followers
October 20, 2021
The message of this book was good but the writing felt very repetitive. It made me emotional thinking of the day I’ll lose my mom but I also struggled to listen to it because of said repetitiveness. If you’ve recently lost your mom, it may be difficult to read. But it did have good points. 6.7/10.
Profile Image for Itsbarbiesbooks.
67 reviews13 followers
February 1, 2022
This book was beautiful. It truly touched my heart. I don’t have a good relationship with my mother, and the relationship between author Ty Alexander and her mother, was just so beautiful and heart warming. The love they both had for one another touched me. The encouragement and support her mother gave her was amazing. The grief experienced in this book touched my heart. I absolutely loved this book. My book club was reading about the topic of grief this time around and I’m so glad I was able to finish this one to share with them.
Profile Image for Zachary Bridges.
6 reviews1 follower
January 18, 2022
Grief is a very weird thing. This book helped me realize that grief is extremely personal, but follows a pattern.
Profile Image for Mindi.
5 reviews25 followers
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December 15, 2025
How many times can you say BUBBLE SNOT CRYING in such a short read.
Profile Image for Marsha Dommel.
267 reviews1 follower
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February 25, 2020
My favorite line
'I always knew that no one would love and protect me like my mom did.'
This speaks volumes to me!
Profile Image for Reika.
29 reviews
November 29, 2018
Probably one of my most favorite and relatable books. If you’ve lost a mother or parent (or grandparent) you’ll probably relate to every emotion and phase discussed in this book. Ty did a great job of providing a sense of belonging. It confirms that you’re not in your grieving process alone and validated that it never truly ends. I recommend to book to anyone. Whether or not you’ve experience a similar loss, I think you’ll relate to some degree. Her words and experience were very engaging. I hope to see more projects by her.
Profile Image for Andreas.
489 reviews8 followers
November 11, 2021
I respect the work of every person who decides to publish thoughts and ideas to the world. The Internet has shown us the flights that the power of spoken and written words can take. As for this book, I decided to read it because I found the synopsis intriguing since, besides losing my dear mother last month, I also lost my father and two uncles earlier this year.
In Chapter 2, in a way, it was comforting to know how other people dealt with losing a loved one. Even though all my recent losses, it was impossible to compare the pain I felt with the author's pain. Do you know why? Because empathy is a limited exercise by essence.
Those who look for emotional similarities in Chapter 3 could be frustrated because the author's experience may not fit into their grief. Grief is grief, even if it is an announced death, and there is no rule or formula. Everyone will experience grief differently.
The author showed how she reacted after her mother's death in Chapter 5. Unfortunately, It was noticeable a constant state of flight that she did not admit. Another annoyance was her free (and exaggerated) writing style and the recurrent use of swear words to demonstrate spontaneity. Well, the technique didn't work for me.
Chapter 6 was all devoted to a narcissistic appeal and tips on labeling positivity, and it sounded like an overly simple self-help guide. Finally, there was no substantial-conclusion in Chapter 7 than clichés and the idea that only time can (or cannot) ease the pains of loss.
Profile Image for Stephanie ((Strazzybooks)).
1,432 reviews114 followers
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June 10, 2018
“Change what death means and feels like to you.”

This book is very personal and chronicles Ty Alexander’s life and grief’s place in it. She discusses her family relationships, times spent with her mother, and how it felt to be her mother’s caretaker as she watched her die from cancer.

Alexander’s (I did not know she was a blogger until I got the book) humor, frankness, and personality shine through and I felt as if I was talking to a friend. Though her experiences are uniquely hers and I could not relate to *everything* (but I feel her on those Maryland crab cakes), this book does have beautiful moments of universal wisdom/comfort/guidance for people who are going through the loss of a mother or have already experienced it.

Also, this book was visually appealing - bright and colorful with clear font - which helped to digest the heavier subject matter.
Profile Image for Christie P.
58 reviews9 followers
September 15, 2016
I've read a few other books about losing a mother and this is one of the most concise books on loss and grief that I've read. My mama died 14 years ago and as Ty stated several times throughout, the grief never really leaves it just changes form. Somehow Ty managed to capture all of my exact thoughts and feelings as I continue to create a "new normal" in the absence of my mother. I appreciate her willingness to open her heart to share her experience. I've found myself having to offer suggestions on grief to a lot of friends and this is a book I'll be buying for others. Lastly, while she speaks about losing her mom, this book can apply to any loss because I found myself sometimes writing in my grandparents names in various places.
Profile Image for Kelly Conrad.
218 reviews1 follower
March 21, 2024
This book wasn’t fantastic. I don’t even know why I was compelled to read it. Maybe because I have a deep-seeded fear that my mom with leave and I’ll be full of regrets for not knowing her better, unasked questions, not listening enough, not knowing what made her happy.

Anyway, the writing is solid as well as the advice. I am sure anyone who has lost their mom would find this book a good companion. There is a lot of repetition, but being this such an emotionally fraught topic for the writer, it’s just evidence that certain feelings will always stay with you no matter how you have processed your grief. The author herself does sheen cool as shit though…someone I could and would want to hang with.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 147 reviews

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