November 29, 2016
Children, Grief, You and the Holidays
A young mother whose son was killed in a fire started by outdoor Christmas lights expressed her fear of the upcoming first Christmas following his death. She did not have the energy to carry on as usual, and she was getting messages from the family that they expected her to do just that. Through grief […]
August 29, 2016
How to Help a Grieving Child
Understanding the basic concepts of grief can prepare us to help a child who has experienced a death of a family member or friend. A child in Massachusetts went to school one day and told her teacher that her mother had died. The teacher’s response was, “You shouldn’t say things like that.” The child took […]
August 9, 2016
The Purpose and Meaning of Ritual in the Life of a Bereaved Child
By Vicki Straughan, LMSW Donna Schuurman, in her book Never the Same: Coming to Terms with the Death of a Parent, states that rituals are ceremonies that help us mark significant events. Rituals of remembrance give meaning to the life that was, as well as the lives that are. Pausing to mourn and remember a […]
