Hi, I’m Jeanine – Digital creative, writer, veteran, mother, & A widow that needs coffee! 

In 2023, I was officially diagnosed with ADHD at the age of 42. Like many women in my generation, this diagnosis came to light after my seven-year-old started facing challenges that affected his education and daily life.

As I worked to help him, I realized that the struggles he faced were the same ones I had dealt with my whole life. Understanding his challenges felt all to familiar. 

I’ve had my own share of difficult experinces, including PTSD/MST as a veteran, becoming a young WIDOW, and raising a child with special needs, so trauma isn’t new to me. You might think that another diagnosis would have debilitated me, but suprisingly, it didn’t. Although I was in a state of shock in the begining, I also felt a sense of relief because I finally understood why I’ve always felt extreamly different from the rest of my peers. It answered so many questions I’ve had for years especially about balancing my creative thinking with the expectations of others.  

As a widowed mother, it’s difficult to see my son go through the same struggles I did, but with the support I now have, I’ve gained a better understanding of what it means to be true to ourselves, especially in the wacky world of becomeing a young widow. My goal is to help my son and others to embrace our uniqueness and feel empowered to live our best lives. I believe there’s a lot we can learn from each other whether in school, healthcare, or everyday life.

Thanks to the support, education, and a fresh perspective on adversity, I’ve been able to dive deeper into the personal projects that matter most to me.

Loosing my husband at 33 was a massive wake-up-call, grief cracked me open! But in the pain, I found purpose. Healing became not just something I pursued for myself, but something I wanted to offer to others. That’s why I leaned into learning: grief coaching, becoming a dealth doula, and exploring the “Death Positive Movement.” 

And that journey led me right here – to create This Widow Needs Coffee. What more can an ADHD Widow Need?