In my book Grieving Parents: Surviving Loss as a Couple I wrote about ‘The Art of Presence’: “Be there, not merely in the moment of crisis. Walk alongside me in the months and years to come. Allow me my process of healing. Sit with me in the moments of painful emotions and the darkness of depression.”
Four Ways You Can Support Someone After Loss Read More »
I know you care for me and am so glad you’re reading this. I know that you can’t fully comprehend, nor would you want to, what it means to be a bereaved parent. Honestly, I’m still finding out for myself.
Dear Non-Bereaved Parent Read More »
Setting intentions for the New Year ’s intentions are all around at this time of the year. For many of us, bereaved parents, the holidays and New Year’s celebration with its ‘merry’ and ‘happy’ wishes can lead us to slide down and get lost in another grief rabbit-hole. We are left with the sentiment that nothing that the New Year brings can make the feelings of loss any better.
New Year New Grief Read More »
Exactly 5 years ago I conceived you and your sister. I remember it so clearly because I reread the journal entries from that time, describing every day in January. Given our journey to bring you into this world hadn’t happened through natural conception, we started assisted conception in the beginning of January and I decided to document our adventure. But this is a story to be told another time.
Learning To Live Without You Read More »
“You’ve got to be strong now…” I heard my Dad’s voice as if through fog, my sister and her daughter standing behind him as they all looked at me through the computer screen, connected via FaceTime. Before he would say anymore, I knew exactly what had happened.
You Have Got To Be Strong Now Read More »
Yes, you. You change the world. Being who you are. Sharing what you feel. Being honest about your experience. Forging the way Just the other day I shared an image of myself from 15 years ago. This was way before my date with grief and loss at its core. I had my share of relationship
Sharing Your Story: You Change The World Read More »
When I held my daughter in my arms as she drew her last breath I knew it.When I learned that my mother had just died through suicide I knew it. I speak boldly when I say that society largely misunderstands grief. Even as a trained psychotherapist specialising in grief and relationship, I misunderstood grief. I thought
The Misunderstanding About Grief And Death Read More »
After the death of my daughter six and a half years ago I wrote: “I will never get over this.” This still holds true to some extent. However, I’m no longer in the despair that led me to make over-generalized statements about healing and sentences that implied I had the power of premonition. Healing – no way!
Healing After Child Loss? Possible Or Impossible? Read More »
How long will I be grieving the death of my child? How long will my grief last? When will I feel better? Is there a time to grieve? Is it true that I need to ‘move on’ or ‘get over it’? What does ‘moving on’ look like?
Time To Grieve – How Long Will My Grief Last? Read More »
Comparing grief is something we all have done at some point. “But you’ve only had a miscarriage.”“I experienced the same when my grandpa died.”“My stillbirth was … in comparison to my miscarriages.”“I cannot imagine losing a teenager.” All these are comparisons: a miscarriage versus a stillbirth or neonatal death, the experience of the death of
Comparing Grief – Can It Be Helpful? Read More »
