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Mother’s Day Brings Sorrow — and Joy

Posted on May 6, 2010 - by Diana Doyle

Every year on the morning of Mother’s Day, I cry. On this special day, I’m greeted with a huge dimpled smile from our daughter Dempsey, who sneaks into our room, usually with a present she has made for me, hidden behind her back. The moment tugs at my heart strings, and I cry. I cry at how lucky I am to have her in my life, and I cry that our other daughter, Savannah, who would be ten years old, isn’t with her sister, giving me a huge hug too and climbing into bed beside us. If I go to […]

Mother’s Death Means ‘Losing Our World’

Posted on May 5, 2010 - by Norman Fried

As Mother’s Day approaches, we find ourselves thinking about the relationship that started it all, and about our need to honor the woman who helped to make the world a better place. Indeed, perhaps the greatest partnership of all, and one that aids most in the replenishment of a holier, more “Divine” world, is the relationship between woman and God. For woman, who becomes mother (whether she is a biological or a psychological mother), is the progenitor of life, transmitter of covenantal law, and leader of the family. As mother, she lives not only for herself, but for “the multitude” […]

Coping With Mother’s Day When Your Mom Has Passed On

Posted on May 4, 2010 - by Gemini Adams

Mother’s Day has to be one of the worst days of the year if you have already lost, or are in the midst of losing, your mom. Wherever you go, there are reminders that your mom isn’t here or soon won’t be, ads for what gifts you should buy her, reminders to get her cards and flowers, discounts on the hottest restaurants. There are radio promotions, TV commercials; even your friends are talking about what they’re doing or what their kids plan to do for them! For those without the presence of their real mom (and that includes adopted kids), […]

Mother Describes Contact With Deceased Son

Posted on May 3, 2010 - by Sheri Perl

I have reason to believe that our prayers help our loved ones who have passed. Children have come through mediums to me and clearly expressed that our prayers are felt and appreciated. In fact, I have received this message from my son Daniel on three occasions, twice in a session with the medium Glenn Dove and once in session with the medium Roland Comtois! The first time I heard this message was in a reading with Dove on July 8, 2008, one week after Danny had passed. Dove said this: “I don’t know if somebody contacted a group that […]

Mother’s Day: A Chance to Make Son Proud

Posted on May 2, 2010 - by Amy C. Maddocks

With Mother’s Day quickly approaching (in the U.S.), my thoughts become more focused on my son, Connor, and all children who have died too soon. Of course, Conner is always on my mind, but during this time of year, everything is so focused on motherhood that I can’t help but think of him even more. While traveling around giving presentations on child loss, and while promoting my book about child loss, I have had many mothers ask me the same question, “Am I still a mother if my child died?” My answer is always an emphatic, “YES!” Regardless of whether you […]

Anticipatory Grief: When Someone You Love is Dying

Posted on May 1, 2010 - by Leila Summers

Anticipating the loss of someone you love is a terrifying and traumatic time. The person may have a life threatening or terminal illness. You are torn in two: one side is full of hope and trust that the person will survive, the other full of fear and dread that he or she may not. Anticipatory grief is a terrible place of limbo between knowing and not knowing. The time between knowing and not knowing is a silent grief that you often choose not to talk about. If you keep it to yourself, you believe that in some way, you won’t bring about the […]

After a Child-Loss, Be Gentle With Yourself

Posted on April 29, 2010 - by Louise Lagerman

Child-loss is so very devastating. In the beginning, you can find little or no joy. But after several months, I was able to feel some comfort. So I tried to zero in on that and do things that would relive my stress and bring me some comfort. I know my beloved daughter would want that for me. Today, I had a total Me Day, which I have really needed. I went to have a spa pedicure and manicure. I have always had regular pedicures, but never a spa pedicure. My daughter’s best friend recommended a salon for me. So I woke up today and […]

Dealing With Loss in the Workplace

Posted on April 28, 2010 - by Ligia Houben

Losses are part of life. A colleague lost his wife in a car accident. A fellow employee lost her home. Your supervisor is going through a divorce. All these transitions are losses experienced by people every day, but do we acknowledge them at the workplace? Unfortunately it doesn’t happen on a regular basis. Grief is the natural response to loss and it can have a huge effect on how we experience life. It can be manifested at various levels and in different dimensions, such as the physical, social, emotional and spiritual. How can you respond as a manager, supervisor or […]

Loss in the Season of Giving

Posted on April 27, 2010 - by Laura Slap-Shelton

How hard it is to be bereaved during the winter holiday season. The demands of the season for cheerfulness, socializing, and giving are intense even for those who are not in the midst of mourning. How is it possible to join in the spirit of these holidays? Your emotional reality is that you are sad, angry, possibly depressed, maybe anxious. Your social reality is that you’ve lost someone who is extremely important to you, possibly the key person in your interpersonal sphere, and basically, you would rather be alone, or maybe with just one person whom you trust. In terms […]

Despite Spring Thaw, Bereaved Dad Feels the Cold

Posted on April 27, 2010 - by John French

The wheel of time can spin sunshine into a frozen shroud, making the heart cold and weary and the eyes reluctant to look upon the day. As the spring begins to unfold, I can see how degraded the fabric of my life has become. It is unbelievably frayed; in fact, it is completely unraveled. I still have the yarns that attest to how amazing it used to be. Although they are just tiny fragments of a continuous strand, each vivid memory is a testament to life’s former grandeur, the grandeur that preceded my son’s death last summer. Today, I can barely […]