Losing a parent is something almost everyone will experience at some point in their lives, and it's devastating no matter circumstances the happen under.
If the person was close to parent, they've lost a friend. Even if there was a strained relationship (including a full-on estrangement), the passing of a mother or father can be shocking and devastating; now there's no longer the chance to potentially repair the relationship, and the weight of that strain can feel heavy regardless of the justification for it.
Reaching out to offer love, support, and sympathy gifts to someone you care about following a loss of their parent can play an important role in their healing. In this post, we're going to take a look at what to give someone who lost a parent, including sympathy gifts specific to the loss of a mother, loss of a father, and loss of a young parent of a child.
Give Them Time
Physical, tangible gifts aside (don't worry, we'll get to those in a minute!), the best thing you can give to someone who has lost a parent is time. Time from you, and time they can take for themselves to heal.
Losing a parent hits many people harder than they expect, so give them time however they need it. They may not be up for coming to the Christmas party that they had helped you plan or to your monthly lunch date. This is a time when people need to focus on getting themselves through in any way they can, and patience from those around them is key.
Give Them Support
The loss of a parent is a major life change, even if that parent lived on the other side of the country from an adult child. Your friend may need support. They might want to talk through things to heal or to be distracted to find a sense of normalcy. This may change depending on the day.
Offer support. Show up how and where you can, even if it's virtually or over the phone due to COVID-19 precautions. You can also drop off dinner, offer to watch their kids, or even help with planning the funeral if needed. You don't need to give more than you can afford to, but lending support where you can will be appreciated.
Give Them Sympathy Gifts that Are Intended for the Loss of a Parent
In addition to being there for someone who has recently lost a parent, sympathy gifts can also be very much appreciated. They show that you're thinking of them and that they're loved while acknowledging the loss.
Common sympathy gifts may include condolence cards and flowers, though there are several other options to consider. Some of our most popular sympathy gifts for those who have lost parents include the following:
- Memorial candles for loss of a family member
- Memorial wind chimes for loss of a mother or father
- Sympathy blankets (including sympathy blankets for men!)
- Memorial trees (though you want to make sure they're up for planting this first!)
Sympathy Gifts for Children Who Have Lost Parents
What you give an adult friend who has lost a parent will likely be very different from what you'd give a child in your life who has lost a parent. Children who are grieving the loss of a parent, however, shouldn't be forgotten, as their whole world has turned upside down and a thoughtful gift can mean the world.
We recommend the following, depending on the age of the child:
- Here to Hug Remembrance Bear
- A memorial necklace for children old enough to wear one
- A weighted pillow (which is also great for adults, too!)
Final Thoughts
Be patient with your friends while they're struggling to recover from the passing, especially since the loss of a parent often includes an enormous amount of ongoing work that might include closing out bank and credit card accounts, selling property, and arranging funerals.
The grief that comes with losing a parent can be overwhelming as a tidal wave, but the only way to heal from the grief is to move through it, and having a strong support system is crucial.
Looking for ideas for a sympathy gift for someone who has lost a parent? You can browse for sympathy gifts for loss of mothers here, and Loss of fathers here.