March 16th, 2007 . by The Grief Blog
I was glad to see that Wayne Loder cited several studies done on behalf of Compassionate Friends showing that the divorce rate among bereaved parents is 12%-16%, far below the national average. Further, I agree with my mom (Dr. Gloria) that grieving parents, do not need to be told that their marriage cannot survive a profound loss. However, I also think it is important to present the other side of this discussion, and to say to those of you that are divorced or are in the process of getting divorced, that in most cases this will not destroy or ruin your child’s life. Many children today are growing up in families of divorce. These children have gone on to lead happy, healthy, productive lives. There are several things that you can do as parents to alleviate your children’s anxiety, and insure that they will fair well following a divorce. Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in Q&A, Blog, Men and Grief, Women and Grief, Grief and Marriage, Grief and Families | No Comments »
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March 8th, 2007 . by The Grief Blog
Dear Heidi and Dr. Gloria,
I wanted to send you these pictures. Krystal’s Bench is located in St. augustine, FL at the Mission of Nombre De Dios and La Leche Shrine. (About 7 miles from our house.) I am not Catholic, but chose this place because of its beauty and sacred atmosphere.
Jo Ann Webb, Krystal’s Mom
Posted in Q&A, Your Stories, Death of a Child, Dealing with Grief, Death and Dying, Blog, Women and Grief, Grief and Families | No Comments »
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February 27th, 2007 . by The Grief Blog
I feel like I am going into the pit again. As you know, the grief is with me everyday, but I was beginning to have moments of joy and even lightness of heart. But now the Pain is overtaking me again. I try to lean into the pain, relax, breath, go for walks on the beach every day, pray, sit in silence, read, but finally the pain overcomes me and I have to retreat to the guest room, close the door and let the pain engulf me.
I actually feel such physical pain that my chest feels like it has been ripped open and my heart is lying in my chest, bleeding, and in indescribable pain. Tear flow and flow and flow. Hu ge tears that feel thick and oily, not salty like “regular” tears. I pray for the strength to be with the pain and lean into it. I cry so much that I actually wear myself out, and usually fall asleep. I then get up, it usually has been about 2-3 hours since I went into the guest room, and go downstairs to spend time with Don. It has been 3 years since Krystal died, and I still feel so broken. Monday, March 5, is Krystal’s birthday, and I will be at Compassionate Friends on her birthday. I have thought of bringing a birthday Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in Q&A, Your Stories, Death of a Child, Dealing with Grief, Stages of Grief, Blog, Women and Grief, Grief and the Holidays, Grief and Families | 4 Comments »
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February 21st, 2007 . by The Grief Blog
At the end of a good day you bust out crying for no particular reason.
At the end of a bad day you burst out laughing for no particular reason.
At the end of everyday, you crawl into bed and sleep on His side.
You refuse to throw away His toothbrush, His razor, His bar of soap. Because you think He’ll need them. Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in Q&A, Death of a Spouse, Dealing with Grief, Blog, Women and Grief, Grief and Marriage, Grief and Families, For Widows | 7 Comments »
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February 15th, 2007 . by The Grief Blog
For the past few days I’ve been walking around feeling like there’s a big weight hanging over me ready to fall at any moment. Getting things done has been a chore. Making plans beyond the next day has taken all of my willpower. It feels as though my life is on hold and that I’m just waiting. Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in Q&A, Death of a Spouse, Dealing with Grief, Stages of Grief, Terminal Illness, Anticipatory Grief, Death and Dying, Blog, Men and Grief, Grief and Marriage, Hospice, Grief and Families | 2 Comments »
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February 11th, 2007 . by The Grief Blog
Chances are that you grew up in a two-parent family, a mom and a dad. Went to a local school, away to college, married, had children of your own. And then, tragedy struck and your mother passed away, leaving your father a widower. He has mourned his loss and, in time, while still embracing the memories of your mother, met someone new and fallen in love, ready once again to enjoy a full life, perhaps to even re-marry, and you find yourself exchanging parenting roles as you concerns are not unlike that of your parents when you dated, fell in love and Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in Q&A, Death of a Parent, Death of a Spouse, Dealing with Grief, Child & Teen Bereavement, Death and Dying, Blog, Men and Grief, Women and Grief, Grief and Marriage, Grief and Children, Grief and Families | No Comments »
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February 9th, 2007 . by The Grief Blog
This is from Holly Mutlu:
Wanted to email you and let you know that we will be hosting The Second Annual Mother’s Day Bereavement Ceremony Saturday, May 12th, 2007 at 11am. This will include an uplifting service, a balloon launch and a free luncheon. The whole service is free but we do ask that you register!
It is Saturday, May 12, at 11am at the Vandalia Christian Tabernacle in Vandalia, Ohio (located just off I-75)
The service is to honor both our children and the Mother’s on this special day. There is a video tribute during the service, a balloon launch and then immediately following a free luncheon. For more information or for free registration visit www.vctchurch.com and click on the Mother’s Day Bereavement Ceremony link. (When the website comes up, click anywhere on the screen and it will take you to the church’s page. Scroll down until you see “2nd Annual Mother’s Day Bereavement Ceremony.”)
Holly Mutlu
Director Women’s Ministries, VCT
and proud mom to Mia
I will put all of this information on the website.
Love from a fellow traveler,
Dinah
http://www.ucumberlands.edu/lamentations/
Posted in Q&A, Death of a Child, Blog, Women and Grief, Grief and Marriage, Grief and Children, Grief and Families, Death of an Infant, Death of a Grandchild | No Comments »
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February 7th, 2007 . by The Grief Blog
The unimaginable has happened; you are a widow or widower. Mourning your loss has been the focus of your life for the past year or two. Finally, as you begin to surface from your profound grief, with a deep breath and lot or a little trepidation you find yourself falling in love again. Is this new relationship fraught with landmines? You bet! Here are important stepping stones to help keep you afloat along the way, Do?s and Don?ts as it were for widows/widowers beginning a new, loving relationship. Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in Q&A, Death of a Spouse, Dealing with Grief, Blog, Men and Grief, Women and Grief, Grief and Marriage, Grief and Families | 1 Comment »
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January 24th, 2007 . by The Grief Blog
At this point, widowed for about 18 months, I met Hal the night I attended my last bereavement support group meeting. I was instantly attracted to his energy. We seemed to have a lot in common, both professionally and emotionally. I gave him my business card with the knowing feeling that he would call, but I had no idea if it would be in a week or a year. I hold a life’s philosophy that things happen when they should. Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in Q&A, Death of a Spouse, Dealing with Grief, Blog, Grief and Marriage, Grief and Families | No Comments »
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January 20th, 2007 . by The Grief Blog
Is it possible to mourn the loss of a beloved spouse and, while still grieving, to not only meet someone special, but fall in love and begin to build a new relationship
Is it possible to mourn the loss of a beloved spouse and, while still grieving, to not only meet someone special, but fall in love and begin to build a new relationship that includes a commitment to sharing your lives? Can we overlap our loving and our grieving? The answer is a Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in Q&A, Death of a Spouse, Dealing with Grief, Death and Dying, Blog, Men and Grief, Women and Grief, Grief and Marriage, Grief and Families, For Widows | 1 Comment »
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