TIP 2496 – Grieving The Loss Of A Child

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The loss of a child is the most stressful and inconsolable of losses to deal with. It violates the natural order of things and it’s not fair for an innocent to see their dreams unfulfilled.

I watched as my husband`s parents grieved for the loss of their son, my husband`s only sibling.  I watched how my brother-in-law`s wife`s parents grieved for the loss of their daughter. Together they were killed by a drunk and drugged driver. Their pain was evident and their grieving styles so different, as was the responses of their family and friends.

Often, we don’t know what to say or do for grieving parents, so we do nothing.

Take One Action Today To Build Your #Resiliency! 

Here are today’s Tips For Building Resiliency Through Bereaved Parents Awareness Month:

Don`t avoid the parents. It is okay for you to not know what to say or how to help. A listening ear may be what they need the most. I love the sentiment that one parent received from a friend:  “Grieve well. One day you will cease to remember him with tears and instead remember him with smiles.”

Don`t avoid important dates such as birthdays and anniversaries, but provide an opportunity for the parent to grieve and remember and not feel like they must hold the grief under control.

Be aware and provide support for both the health of the bereaved parents and their relationships. According to research, bereaved mothers and fathers experience more physical and emotional issues than do non-bereaved parents, including severe depression. It is estimated that over 70% of marriages where a child has died, end in separation or divorce.

Be patient. Grieving parents may think, do, and say things that are very unlike who they really are and as their family and friends, our job is to be there for them and not judge their reactions as justified or unfair.

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