With the death of my mom, I lost my last parent. Being 32 and parentless is a punch to the gut, one that knocks you to the ground and leaves you bloodied to face the world ahead. It makes you face yourself in ways you weren’t prepared for; it forces you to look in the mirror and see who you are, maybe even for the first time.
grief
How to Avoid Losing Sleep When You Lose a Loved One
The loss of a loved one can have a multitude of negative effects on your life. If the loss of a loved one is keeping you up at night, take a look at this list of ideas for improving your sleep. Hopefully at least one will offer some respite.
Tips for Helping Kids Transition Back to School after a Death Has Occurred
This post originally appeared on August 22, 2018. We've updated dates for our child and teen grief offerings found at the end of this post. It’s typical for parents and caregivers to feel apprehension about kids heading back to school after they’ve experienced the death of someone they love. After all, the lazy days of...
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The Group
This post originally appeared on February 14, 2018. We're reposting now in honor of all the fathers who have made a similar journey. None of us wanted to go. It was approximately six months after our wives had died, and we were all still stunned. We were ripe with grief; shocked; stunned with the mess...
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Paying Homage to My Dad on Father’s Day
I was 10 when Dances with Wolves came out. I thought it was a beautiful film, but all my family took from it was the humor in nicknaming people after their traits. My father called me "Talks-A-Lot" until I asked him to stop as a 12th birthday present. He wasn’t a coddler. Anything that could be...
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Let Me Tell You Who I Am Now
I am still a person like you, with a life like yours, yet not. I am still a mother like you, yet not at all like you, all at the same time. I wish there was some way you could understand me, without becoming who I am now. You see, there’s a pain I carry,...
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Managing Sleep While Grieving
Losing a loved one can take a large toll on your emotional well-being. It’s very common to experience many challenges going through daily life activities while you’re in a period of bereavement. While some of the challenges you face may be expected and something you can prepare for, there are others which may not be...
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Reuse, Repair, Reimagine, Reclaim
While on a recent vacation, I walked past a thrift store with the words, “Reuse, Repair, Reimagine, Reclaim It!” emblazoned across the outer walls of the building. I was so struck by these words I paused to take a photo. Although the thrift store’s slogan likely referred to material goods, my grief counselor brain saw...
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Grandma
A few months ago, my spouse and I sat around a table with my entire family and announced a new member soon to arrive. The energy in the room was palpable: hugs, congratulations, and laughter. I felt so much excitement in sharing this news with my family, yet my mind wandered to the person not...
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“Give me the words, and show me what I need to do.”
On the day Avery Neill died, Shelly Wenzel helped Emily Neill wrap the girl in a blanket. She held Avery and Emily for a long time. "I want you to turn around and go right to Andy’s arms, OK?" she finally told her. "Hold on to each other. I’ve got her. "I’ve got her." Every...
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