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How to Support a Friend Who is Grieving a Miscarriage or Infant Death

Posted on February 16, 2009 - by Monica Novak

By Chellie Bonebrake – The death of an infant or a miscarriage is so sad. Many times it’s difficult to know what to say, how to say it, and of course you may be wondering what not to say. Often those worries keep people from reaching out to support friends and loved ones who are experiencing this loss. Receiving support and condolences is very important to the grief process. This article is written to assist you in supporting a grieving parent. FIRST OF ALL, WHAT HELPS: 1. I’m sorry. This simple sentence conveys so much. It means you care, you […]

“Motherland”: Six Women United by Loss

Posted on February 16, 2009 - by admin

The movie “Motherland” will have its world premiere next month at the South by Southwest Film Festival in Austin, Texas. “Motherland” is a film about six women from diverse backgrounds who come together to take a unique trip: a 17-day intensive pilgrimage to volunteer in rural South Africa. Prior to the journey, the women did not know each other. However they had one thing in common: they had all suffered the death of a child. With grief in their hearts and the willingness to make a difference, this group of women traveled half way around the world to live with […]

Learning to Cope with Unmet Longings

Posted on February 16, 2009 - by Pamela Prime

By Pamela Prime — Children are the most beautiful gifts and provide the most extraordinary challenges to us. I often say to parents who are in pain that no one can hurt us as parents like our children can. They can hurt us with words and actions, with their choices or lack of choices, and with their criticisms and impatience. And no one can bring the kind of joy that comes from one’s children when they express their love and appreciation of us. Children are amazing teachers for us. I think this is because we love them so much that […]

Little Token, Big Meaning

Posted on February 15, 2009 - by Eric Tomei

You know sometimes in life the littlest thing can make the biggest difference. It can be the words you have been longing to hear, the smile from that special person you have been waiting for, or a token of someone’s gratitude for a job well done. This past Thursday I gave a mini presentation to a local Jaycee group about my mission to raise $1 million for Habitat for Humanity through the sale of my book I Miss My Dad… First, the Jaycees are a nationwide organization who’s sole purpose is to help people in need. They help […]

Journaling My Grief Experience

Posted on February 15, 2009 - by Beverly Chantalle McManus

By Beverly Chantalle McManus My birthday took place a week after Steve died. Although I did not feel like celebrating, my family members thoughtfully brought some gifts over, one of which was a journal. At the time, I gave it little thought. I was so consumed with grief, shock and pain, and the idea of sitting down to write couldn’t have been further from my mind. However, a few months later, as I began to settle into my new life without Steve, I started panicking at times, because given how my entire memory bank now seemed to be completely fragmented, […]

‘Weaving the Arts’ Grief Conference Set in Colorado

Posted on February 13, 2009 - by admin

Below you will find information on an upcoming, experiential learning conference focusing on the use of creative therapies to address issues of grief and loss. This conference is being hosted by Pathways Hospice: Programs for Grief & Loss (formerly known as The Hospice of Larimer County). Early registration?is now open until March 1, 2009. The conference dates are May 15-17, 2009. Go to http://www.hlchospice.org/Grief_Programs/Weaving-the-Arts.php for more information and online registration. Combining creative art therapies with grief theory is a powerful way to address grief and loss. This conference offers a way to expand awareness of the effectiveness of integrating the […]

Friends Keep Pushing to “Get Over” the Loss

Posted on February 13, 2009 - by Norman Fried

From Mary: We lost our most precious son Nov 14, 2006. He was 27, a firefighter, preparing for his wedding, had just bought a house on five acres, was so enjoying his life. He lived with us till a year before. We talked to him every day and saw him almost every day. He was my baby and my pride and joy. I miss him so badly, I cannot function. I am so tired of people telling me to move on! My life is over, my future is over, why can’t they understand this? What can I say to people […]

Time Doesn’t Heal, But it Softens the Blow

Posted on February 13, 2009 - by Sandy Fox

By Sandy Fox When a person talks about an important year in his/her life, or a news show on TV asks what you were doing on a particular date, I always think of my daughter, Marcy. The year 1966, when she was born, is the most important. What was happening in the world then? Vietnam War. President Johnson. The Beatles. Twenty-five cent hamburgers. I associate every year between 1966 and 1994 with Marcy and what she was about then. If the year is before 1966, it is “before Marcy was born.” If I’m told to think of the year 1984, […]

What’s Really Important

Posted on February 12, 2009 - by Eric Tomei

Many times in life we don’t realize who is in our lives, and the important role they play in our lives, until they are no longer there. It is so easy to go by day after day and go through the same routine, with no conscious thought as to how others in your life might be doing or what they are going through. No matter what you are going through at any time in your life, always know there probably is someone going through tougher times in their life. Do not take these people for granted, because […]

Grief Rituals Can Help on Valentine’s Day

Posted on February 12, 2009 - by Marty Tousley

We’ve barely made it through the holidays of December and January, and now the stores are filled with hearts and flowers and candy, all of it in celebration of the gift of love. But February 14 can be a difficult day for those of us who are grieving, and for some it will be the first Valentine’s Day since our precious Valentine died. For us there is no celebration; there is only grief. Sometimes, for fear of “letting go,” we may find ourselves “holding on” to our pain as a way of remembering those we love. Letting go of what […]