In a more personal episode of The Words We’ve Heard, host Marbree Sullivan sits down with Kris, who shares her story with remarkable honesty, insight, and heart. From growing up in a small town in upstate New York to becoming a single mother at 19, through finding a career as an adult, fifty years of marriage and unthinkable loss, Kris’s journey is filled with pivotal moments, some painful, some joyful, and all transformative.

Kris shares the challenges of being a young mother in a judgmental era, the decision that changed everything, how she built her life with resilience, the support of family and friends, and the importance of respect. She speaks candidly about her marriage of over 50 years, raising a daughter as a teenager, her career path, and the enduring grief of losing a child.

This conversation explores generational expectations, the cost of shame, the power of community, and the unexpected paths we take to become the people we were always meant to be.

Key Moments in the Episode:

• [00:00:12] – Childhood Memories, Family Dynamics, and Walking to School
  
• [00:06:40] – Becoming a Single Mother at 19 After a Family Rift
  
• [00:10:57] – Facing Shame, Choosing to Keep Her Daughter, and Finding Support
  
• [00:19:00] – Building a Life: Work, Resilience, and Finding Her Voice
  
• [00:23:00] – Meeting Bill, Marriage, and 50 Years of Learning Together
  
• [00:30:23] – Going Back to School and Earning a Master’s Degree at 39
  
• [00:33:00] – Social Work, Purpose, and the Lessons of Working in Pediatrics
  
• [00:43:16] – Reflecting on Regrets, Parenting, and the Loss of Her Daughter
  
• [00:57:20] – Words to the World: Kindness, Friendship, and Living Fully

If this episode resonated with you:

• Leave a review on your favorite podcast platform
• Share this story with someone who needs to hear it
• Take a moment to reach out to a friend or family member, you never know the difference it might make