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.
When you've recently lost someone that you love, planning a funeral may be the very last thing that you want to do.
There's a lot involved, and it can be a daunting responsibility. It becomes more manageable when you break the planning down into core steps.
Social isolation isn't uncommon when grieving, whether it's caused by well-meaning friends who want to give space or it's self-inflicted by the bereaved.
During periods of grief and especially following significant loss of a spouse, some may worry about attending big events or parties.
Nothing can heal the hurt left over after someone you love passes, but finding something symbolic that can honor the person lost can bring comfort.
Memorial benches are one of the most popular choices when it comes to commemorating a death and remembering the person you loved. They come in all different shapes and sizes, allowing you to find what works best for you.
When a friend or family member loses someone they love, flowers can be the go-to sympathy gift.
Flowers are beautiful, accessible, and relatively affordable. You can place an order with a local florist or an online service and they can be to the recipient within 24 hours or less.
Flowers aren't always the best option for a sympathy gift, however. At least not for everyone.
Here in the United States, the process of mourning following a death typically involves sending a sympathy gift and attending a funeral. People often bring food and send flowers or donations to charities supporting research for medical conditions that led to the passing of the individual.
Cultures all over the world grieve a loss and honor lost loved ones in a number of different ways, however.
Anyone who has experienced a loss knows that the anniversary of the passing of a loved one can be extremely painful. This is always true, though the first anniversary may be particularly challenging to face.
The realization that it's been a whole year and having all the memories (both good and bad) can be almost traumatic to our systems as the loss.
Even if several years or even decades have passed, the anniversary of death is never easy.
When we think of the holiday season, we're supposed to be flooded with those warm, fuzzy feelings that you typically experience growing up. You think about the glittering of Christmas lights, crispy latkes, or even just a warm glass of cider after Thanksgiving dinner.
A time that's so centered around family and togetherness, however, can be particularly painful for those who are coping with grief and a loss. This is particularly true if it's your first holiday season missing a loved one.
