Bereaved parents need to be busy

Bereaved Parents need to be busy
By Jackie Wesley

At times we bereaved parents need to stay busy, whether it’s making memorials for our children or spreading the news of our Compassionate Friends support group.
The natural events after loosing our loved one is to do nothing, we may feel stifled and can not think very efficiently or sometimes we just don’t care. But soon we need to join back into the world of living, maybe by going back to work or just doing the everyday chores. It is easy to cave in to depression if we allow it.

I feel that sharing our child’s memories with anyone who will listen and care, such as at a Compassionate Friends Support meeting or any other bereavement meeting and even with family and friends can help us progress though our grief a little bit faster.

Many have journeyed through writing and shares that it has helped them. Looking back at your journals, several months later will certainly show how the “telling the story” in writing has helped you.

Others share that they receive comfort from choosing a symbol that may remind them of their child: such as: in my daughters case I have butterflies, angels and also several black cats which Teresa had collected before her death as her symbols.
Others have chosen certain cars, rainbows, feathers, birds, even food items,, these symbols; that when seen gives the parents a good feeling and also brings that child to mind. Friends often help with the collection of these symbols at times. I guess it’s their way of saying I want to help.

Many parents or siblings report that they find comfort in wearing their deceased loved ones clothing or colognes, ect.. Whatever gives you comfort is certainly what you SHOULD DO!!
I would love to hear from others, about the different ways they have found comfort after loosing a loved one.