Grieving, Growing, and Holding Hope

When a child goes no contact there are two possible reactions — acceptance or denial.  Nothing prepares you for the silence of your own child. When my son and I went no contact, it wasn’t an argument. It wasn’t a moment. It was a slow and aching unraveling—one I tried to stop, then one I had no choice but to accept.

I always wanted to be an amazing mother. I had years when I was. I can name the birthdays, the bedtime stories, the hugs that still live in my bones. But I also have to tell the truth. Somewhere along the way, I let other voices drown out my own. I let people decide how I should parent, how I should live, how I should be.

I handed over my authority, thinking it was love. Thinking it was survival.

Failure is a Bitter Pill

What followed was a depression so thick I didn’t know who I was without guilt shadowing me. The shame of letting go of myself—not just as a mother, but as a woman—was unbearable. I went silent in places I used to speak boldly. My intuition hidden behind fear. I disconnected from Spirit, because how could I ask for guidance when I felt I had failed?

But I wasn’t done. Spirit wasn’t done with me.

One morning, I sat quietly and asked, “Who am I now?” That became the seed. I started returning to the practices I teach—journaling, prayer, meditation, connecting with the unseen world that had never abandoned me. Prayers were asked for forgiveness. I learned to forgive myself. And I made changes. Not performative ones. Soul-deep ones.

I stopped trying to earn love through self-sacrifice. Choosing myself—not out of anger, but from a place of healing. I began to rebuild a life rooted in truth, not people-pleasing.

The ball is in his court now — I don’t know if my son will reach out. I hope he does. I’ve left the door open—not wide, not begging, but open. And in the meantime, I mother myself. I tend to my spirit. I walk forward without pretending this wound doesn’t exist.

If you are here, grieving a child who has gone silent, I see you. You are not alone.

Reflection Questions

  • What part of me did I silence to keep the peace?
  • When did I start doubting my own intuition?
  • What would I say to my child if they knocked on my door tomorrow?
  • How do I define love now—without the need for approval?
  • What patterns am I finally breaking in my family line?
  • Where in my life have I given away my voice?
  • What part of me is asking to be mothered right now?
  • Can I hold grief and growth at the same time?
  • What does unconditional love look like when it has no audience?
  • How do I stay open, without staying stuck?

Unanswered Prayers

Healing doesn’t mean forgetting. It doesn’t mean pretending. It means living fully, even with unanswered prayers.

And if reconciliation comes, I will be here—with a steadier heart, a clearer soul, and a love that knows its own worth.

Image of Rev. Colleen Irwin sitting at a table with a selection of metaphsyical tools on the table.

Work With Colleen Irwin

Whether you are seeking clarity, validation, healing, or deeper spiritual growth, I offer readings, mentoring, and transformative experiences designed to help you move forward with confidence. Explore private sessions, upcoming classes, and events created to support your journey.

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Image of Rev. Colleen Irwin sitting at a table with a selection of metaphsyical tools on the table.

Work With Colleen Irwin

Whether you are seeking clarity, validation, healing, or deeper spiritual growth, I offer readings, mentoring, and transformative experiences designed to help you move forward with confidence. Explore private sessions, upcoming classes, and events created to support your journey.

Image of Guided by Spirit Book by Rev. Colleen Irwin.

Guided by Spirit

  • Build Psychic & Mediumship Skills
  • Workbook for Students & Facilitators
  • How to create your own circle