Harper met her second husband through a Facebook group called “Young, Widowed, and Dating.” The two connected through their shared grief—she’d lost her first husband in a car accident, and he’d lost his first wife to brain cancer. Now Harper is helping to raise her new husband’s five year-old daughter, and is struggling with the sense that she is an imposter in this family. Harper is afraid that she will always be overshadowed by the memory of the woman who died, and worries that her daughter will never see her as a real mom.

CREDITS

Motherhood Sessions is a production of Gimlet and Spotify. It’s produced by Kimmie Regler and Peter Bresnan. Our editors are Devon Taylor and Nazanin Rafsanjani. Music and mixing by Emma Munger.

This podcast should not be used as a substitute for medical treatment. If you or someone you know is experiencing depression or anxiety during pregnancy, or in the postpartum period, contact Postpartum Support International at (800) 944-4773. If you or a family member are worried about safety, get help right away by calling the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255, or dialing 911.