Comfort Company Blog / Comforting a loved one

Mother’s Day can be difficult for many, but it can be excruciating for those who are have experienced a miscarriage. Many people who are trying to grow their family but have been through pregnancy loss experience this holiday as a harsh reminder of that loss. Unfortunately, Mother’s Day can feel particularly isolating, especially if the person doesn’t yet have other children. 

Have you ever thought about how horrible it would be to lose an aging parent or a long-time pet and felt your breath catch in your throat? Or maybe you look at your young, healthy spouse and become deeply sad thinking about losing them one day.

Sometimes it can feel like we're grieving for loved ones before we've actually lost them, whether it's a loss that we know is coming (as in the case of terminal illness and you're working through the five stages of grief) or it's just one that we fear. 

Deciding when to send a sympathy gift after a friend or family member has lost a loved one can be an uncertain situation to navigate. You want to offer comfort to your loved one and let them know you’re there for them, but the question of timing is not always easy to answer.

When someone we love loses someone they love, it's natural to want to do something to offer support. It can be difficult to determine what's the most helpful and appropriate way to offer sympathy to the bereaved.

As a result, many find themselves asking "Should I send a sympathy gift?" 

Loss of a parent alters our lives forever, and when it’s time to observe a holiday honoring parents, such as Mother’s Day, that loss is felt more keenly. Giving remembrance gifts for loss of mothers is one way to honor the mothers in our lives who have passed away.

When someone you love is grieving, it can feel difficult to know what to say or do for them. Grief must run its course, but you can be a much-needed source of support during this time. There are many ways to show love and support through the grieving process, and prayer is one of the most prominent. 

Losing a child is most parents' biggest fear. There's nothing that can prepare you for it, and it's undeniably one of the hardest things that a parent could face.

And if you're reading this, it likely means that you or someone close to you has lost a child in their lives. We're so sorry. 

While nothing can magically solve or end the grieving process, there are things that you can do to help comfort parents who have lost a child.

Many people who are blessed enough to not have experienced grief personally often have absolutely no idea of what to say to someone who has recently gone through a loss. 

Unfortunately, it's not uncommon that in an attempt to say something comforting, we often fall back on cliches that we've heard before. In some cases, however, these cliches can actually hurt more than they help. 

When someone you care about loses someone they love, it can be shocking and devastating. Your first instinct would likely be to reach out and hug them or hold their hand, to offer to make them dinner or watch the kids.

These are all great. But what happens when you're not close enough to do any of those things?

When your friend loses someone they love, we don't always know the right things to say or do. We can feel at a loss, and it can be isolating on both sides when you aren't sure how to try to help someone because sometimes we instinctively withdraw instead. 

If you're feeling confused or unsure about how you can help your friend after they've lost someone they love, the good news is that there are some major things you can offer to do that can offer them comfort and practical support.