Confessions of a Mediocre Widow: Or, How I Lost My Husband and My Sanity

Enjoyable book and written from the heart.The author is one brave lady.

I'm an avid reader so when I lost my husband I read several books that were truly no help to me. However, this book was what I truly needed to read! It's amazing! There is no "you're doing it wrong" or "that's not what he would want" in this book at all. My most honest and raving compliment I can give about this book is that while reading it was the first time I felt that how I was grieving was ok. I'm not crazy and there is a light at the end of the tunnel. Definitely a should read if you're a new widow or the dear friend of one!

It may seem strange to describe a book about widowhood as delightful, but I can think of no other word that better fits Catherine Tidd’s Confessions of a Mediocre Widow. Finding herself widowed at the age of 31 with three small children to rear, she chronicles her struggles with the everyday craziness of grief and single parenting with the sort of heart-wrenching sorrow, refreshing candor, side-splitting humor and dogged determination that will appeal to young widows and widowers alike. Above all, Catherine Tidd is real and she tells it like it is. I absolutely loved this book and will recommend it highly to clients and colleagues alike.

I have to admit that based on the cover I didn’t know this book was non-fiction. It quickly became apparent to me that it was. This is an emotional read that left me with a tear-stained face several times. It’s one of the best memoirs I’ve read thus far.

Brad Tidd, thirty-four, could not have known when he left his house one morning in 2007 that a single decision would immediately change his life, and then end it. Catherine, his wife, thirty-one, and the mother of their three small children, would spend her eleventh wedding anniversary planning her husband’s funeral. She details the agony of that experience, along with the surreal feelings that followed her husband’s sudden death and the ways it affected her life. She chronicles the many stages of grief she experienced, and she does it candidly and in a poignant, yet inspiring way.

Tidd talks about many pertinent aspects relating to the grieving process, and gives excellent advice to widows, as well as to friends, relatives and associates of widows, emphasizing what to say, what to avoid saying, and how to help. I found her advice very practical and beneficial since I’ve had the awkward experience of feeling at a loss for words when speaking with newly widowed friends. She recites her journey through the beginning stages of widowhood, and shares her experiences and feelings about dating, her in-laws, counseling, anxiety, the widow stigma and much more.

This book had a profound effect on me. As I listened to the author recount the sudden loss of her husband it shook me to my core and made me uncomfortable. It forced me to think about what it might be like to lose my own husband, or for him to lose me, a thought I try to avoid. My heart went out to Catherine because she was so young when it happened to her, and it was totally unexpected. Having to plan a funeral, deal with feelings of intense loss, raise three children under the age of five, alone, and become the sole breadwinner after having been out of the workforce for several years would feel overwhelming to anyone. And yet, she eventually confronted her fears, got her life in order and triumphed.

Confessions of a mediocre widow was gripping, moving and memorable. If you’re a widow, young or old, this book will likely resonate with you and stir up many raw emotions. If you have not yet come to terms with your widowhood status, this book might be a bit difficult for you to get through, but I can say confidently that it will be informative and affirming as well. For the rest of us, especially those who are married, if you read this book you will look at your spouse in a very different way. I felt the need to make a conscious decision not to take any days that I share with my husband for granted.

After reading this book, as regards the title, Confessions of a Mediocre Widow, I’m convinced that the author is anything but.

Loved it. Havent read too many books since I became a widow but this was really a good read

Every widow should read this!! Very good book!

So funny! Really felt good to laugh again.

I lost my husband 7 mid ago. I read all the time. I want to know if what I am feeling is normal. This is the best book I've read so far. I highly recommend it.

It's just a great book, so relatable for us that have lost a spouse or significant other - you'll laugh, you'll cry, you'll know you're not alone.

My husband died just over a year ago. I got this book to see what her story was. Turns out that a lot of what I was and am dealing with was stuff that she dealt with. Dealing with the death of a loved one is difficult but dealing with one when it is totally unexpected is a different story.