In her first 5-part podcast series titled “The Mourning Room,” Jan is committed to making grief a topic of discussion in all aspects. JAN editor-in-chief, host, and expert Josephine Kay speaks with special guests in this engaging miniseries, searching for appreciation, recognition, and comfort. In the first episode, Josephine talks to grief coach Elvira Ampt about the loss of her great love, Magali, and the importance of statutory bereavement leave.
JAN Podcast with Elvira Ampt
What do you do if your partner dies and you have young children? This happened to Elvira Ampt, who was widowed at the age of 35 by her wife, Magali, with whom she had lived for fourteen years. Their daughter was only three months old at the time. Although her employer showed a great deal of understanding, Elvira also noticed that there was still a taboo on mourning. To make the subject open to discussion was her greatest wish.
While still in the middle of the process, Elvira decided to train as a grief coach. She now supports others who have lost a loved one and guides them to a life where they can be enjoyed again. The way you do this varies depending on the situation. Her own experience and work have taught her that every grieving process is unique. But thinking about it, according to Elvira, is always the first step in learning how to deal with it. “Sadness doesn't go away unless you look it straight in the eye.”
JAN Podcast with Elvira Ampt
In the first episode of the JAN Ruimte voor Rouw podcast, Josephine Kay and Elvira Ampt also talk about statutory bereavement leave. “You get paternity leave when you give birth, but when someone dies — which also has a huge impact on your life — you're actually expected to resume your normal life after the funeral,” says Elvira. “And for some people, this is actually very helpful; what works for me may not work at all for someone else,” she adds. How does Elvira ideally envision a bereavement leave? And how do you tell your daughter that her mother died when she was three months old? You can listen to the JAN with Elvira podcast above.
“Coffee buff. Twitter fanatic. Tv practitioner. Social media advocate. Pop culture ninja.”
More Stories
Scientists produce huge amounts of carbon dioxide emissions through their trips to international conferences
A unique image of atoms behaving like quantum waves
Dutch IT Channel – IT systems will provide ‘tax authorities’ with more room for changes from 2027′