After almost a year away from this blog, I’m returning with a topic that’s deeply personal and incredibly important to me: healing from parental loss and learning how to re-parent my inner child.

In my latest YouTube video, I open up about my father, who passed away when I was young. His birthday recently came around, and with it came a wave of reflection—about grief, memory, and the impact his absence (and his struggle with alcoholism) has had on my life.

If you’ve ever lost a parent, especially one you had a complicated relationship with, you might understand how grief can resurface in quiet but powerful ways. In the video, I talk about how I’ve carried that loss, how it shows up in my adult life, and how I’ve been working to heal through the practice of re-parenting.

What is re-parenting the inner child?
It’s a form of self-care and emotional healing that involves nurturing the younger parts of yourself—especially the ones that didn’t get the support, protection, or love they needed growing up. For me, it’s become a core part of how I’m learning to feel safe in the world again, to be gentle with myself, and to process grief in an intentional way.

This video is one of the most vulnerable things I’ve shared, but I believe in showing up honestly. If you’re navigating your own grief, healing from childhood trauma, or exploring how to reconnect with your inner child, I hope it resonates with you.

📺 Watch the video here: YouTube | Ashley Litsey
📌 Topics covered in the video:

• Coping with the death of a parent
• Grieving an alcoholic parent
• Healing through re-parenting
• Emotional self-care and inner child work
• Navigating grief anniversaries

Trigger Warning: This video includes mentions of alcoholism and the death of a parent. Please prioritize your wellbeing as you watch.

Thank you for being here. Whether you’ve been following my journey or just found this post through a search, I hope it offers something gentle and real.