News

By Kelly Farleyhttps://grievingdads.com   This is for the dads out there on Father’s Day who have ever had the unfortunate task of burying a child. I see all of you and your pain because I am one of you. I am a member of this brotherhood of guys just trying to survive the loss of our child. Some of you will experience Father’s Day without your child for the first time and others know this day all too well. It’s...

by Emma Heirendthttp://emmanoproblema.com It’s been a little over a year since my mom passed away unexpectedly. Recently, a young woman reached out to me and asked, ‘Does it get easier?’ I told her, Yes, it does get easier. Or maybe you just get stronger. She had come across one of my blog posts as she grieved the unexpected loss of her mom. She was at her lowest point in grief, desperate for someone to say that the hardest days would soon be behind...

And why I now hate Palisade, Colorado. by Emma Heirendthttp://emmanoproblema.com If you’ve ever received bad news, through a phone call, a text, or even in person, you probably still have a vivid recollection of it. You can remember what you were doing, how you were feeling, the exact spot you were standing in. You may even remember what you were eating, drinking and the smells in the room. One of the most common examples of this is recalling where you were...

by Victoria Noe For some reason, a song made popular by both the Supremes and Phil Collins popped into my head: “You Can’t Hurry Love”.I remember mama said, "you can't hurry loveNo, you'll just have to wait"She said, "love don't come easyBut it's a game of give and take"You can't hurry loveNo, you'll just have to waitJust trust in a good timeNo matter how long it takes. It felt pretty obvious that the same thing applies to grief.We grieve over many...

by Nancy Berns A Good Friday tenebrae service is one of my favorite times in church. In Latin “tenebrae” means shadows or darkness in Latin.   In a tenebrae service, there is a gradual extinguishing of candles while reflecting on the death of Jesus. For Christians, the Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Easter services are holy and foundational to their faith. In addition, the space for grief is another reason I love the tenebrae service. The songs and scripture reflect grieving...

by Kally Farley   I work about 3 miles from where I live, which is unheard of here in the western suburbs of Chicago.  However, the route I take to work is the same route that many people take to catch the commuter train into the City to work.  The road travels through a corporate park that is lined with large canopied trees.  I am not typically in a hurry to rush to the office so I actually try to...

by Nancy Bernshttp://www.nancyberns.com On February 2, my family and I remembered our son Zachariah who was stillborn thirteen years ago. The notes, flowers, and words of comfort we continue to receive from friends and family are precious. Thank you. When people are reminded of how long it has been, often they say, “Oh, he would have been a teenager.” Painful words of what is not to be. It is hard to grasp his absence, so I try to find comfort...

by Maria Kubitzhttps://www.aliveinmemory.org In a little over a month, it will be the “would have been” 16th birthday of my daughter, Margareta. In other words, it would have been her “Sweet Sixteen”, a milestone birthday to mark the beginning of her transition into womanhood. Except that it is anything but “sweet”. It is a bitter reminder that I’ll never get to experience seeing my daughter as a woman. Or as a mother herself. It’s not like we would have thrown...

by Sheila @ Pennies of Timehttps://penniesoftime.com One of the most insightful experiences I’ve had was bringing my son to a funeral. He was a fun and caring five year old at the time. His Sunday School’s teacher’s father had passed away . . . my son didn’t even know the deceased. I hesitated to bring him but thought I would give it a try, and I was glad I did. His teacher was so touched to see Big Brother walk...

By Jamie Glidewell, LICSW, LCSW-C, LCSW, APHSW-Chttps://www.hope-wellness.com “It isn’t what happens to us that causes us to suffer; it’s what we say to ourselves about what happens” ~Pema Chodron We will all weather the different storms that grief brings to us across our lifetime.  Grief is certain and inevitable and it can be an intense, emotional, scary and difficult experience and it can bring a multitude of emotions and a host of physiological symptoms and side effects as well. To...

by Bianca Neumannwww.sueryder.org Show that you care  When your friend is grieving, you might find it helpful to try and put yourself in their shoes. That’s what empathy is all about. It allows you to expect what they may need, whether that’s a squeeze of their hand that says ‘tell me more about how you’re feeling right now’, or a phone call after a particularly tough day.  During this difficult time, they need you to reach out and show them that...

by Lisa K. Boehm  The New Year represents hope, new beginnings, and change. I think that's why it hurts so much. When you've lost a child celebrations can feel all wrong. Holidays like the New Year are meant to be celebrated with friends and family, but there is a gaping hole in your family. Who can possible think of celebrating when your child is missing? Major holidays like this also mark the passing of time. You may feel more alone at...