CHILD LOSS & INFERTILITY Comparison And Secrets: Let’s Be Honest About Baby Loss FeelingsSomeone will always rank my loss in their minds, deciding for themselves if I have suffered more or less than the woman standing next to me. What Grief Does To Us. Grief. It had me knock, push, slam down every door, hoping it wasn't the end. THE GRIEF FOG THAT COMES WITH LOSS Stress is the biggie here. Grief causes enormous stress which in turn floods our body with cortisol. Research shows that the same parts of the brain are affected by emotional loss as by physical pain. It’s known that emotional traumatic brain ‘injury’ following the death of a child or loved one will most often lead to serious changes in 15 SIMPLE WAYS TO HELP GRIEVING FAMILIES FOLLOWING Here are fifteen simple ways to help grieving families following stillbirth: 1. The most important thing you can do to help someone after they experience this kind of loss is simply to show up. Be there. Call, email, text, facebook message – reach out THE CEREMONY AND HEALING OF 'CLOSING THE BONES' A tradition stemming from Ecuador and Mexico, but practiced in many countries, Closing the Bones is a postpartum closing ceremony to assist in a woman’s recovery after childbirth. It provides a safe and supportive space where healing can take place physically, mentally, and spiritually and a moment in time where our experiences

can be

FINDING JOY AFTER THE PAIN OF LOSS Joy vs. Shame. But then one day as I was driving, a few months after the loss, I found myself listening to the radio. I was just mindlessly hearing the song’s lyrics in my head and thoughtlessly making my way down the road. I started blurting out some sugary pop tune at the top of my lungs. I was at center-stage in the driver’s seat of my car. 40 SPECIAL WAYS TO HONOR YOUR CHILD Here are 40 special ways to honor your child: Sponsor a child in need who shares your child’s birthday. Make a memory Shadow Box. Write for us. Take memorial pictures at cemetery or cremation site or with urn. Set up prayer and remembrance flags. HOW YOU CAN SUPPORT SOMEONE GRIEVING A SUBSTANCE-USE LOSS Margaret is the Mother of two sons in heaven. She has written for Drugfree.org and is in the process of getting a book published. Margaret lost her younger son, Michael, 11 years ago in 2008 when he was in an accident. Margaret lost her older son, Edward, when he relapsed and overdosed on a mix of Fentynal and heroin. MY SON DIED, BUT HE IS STILL HERE Emily Graham. Emily is a wife and mother to 3 children – 2 girls here 1 son in heaven. Late Christmas Eve (2015) life was sent on a new, unexpected trajectory. Her oldest child, Cameron (forever 7), unexpectedly got sick. Within 24-hours they were making the hardest

decision of

DON'T LET ANYONE TELL YOU HOW TO GRIEVE Don’t Let Anyone Tell You How to Grieve. In my nearly five years of missing my daughter, I’ve gotten a ton of advice about how to grieve. Of course I’ve heard the cliche things from people who have no idea what they’re talking about. The things that we have heard of being said to other loss moms that makes our eyes roll.

DIVORCE RATES

The remaining 28 percent included 16 percent in which one spouse had died, and only 12 percent of marriages had ended in divorce.”. We still feel that the original article holds excellent information about coping with the loss of a child alongside your partner, and hope anyone who found us looking for the statistic on divorce rates after

loss

CHILD LOSS & INFERTILITY Comparison And Secrets: Let’s Be Honest About Baby Loss FeelingsSomeone will always rank my loss in their minds, deciding for themselves if I have suffered more or less than the woman standing next to me. What Grief Does To Us. Grief. It had me knock, push, slam down every door, hoping it wasn't the end. THE GRIEF FOG THAT COMES WITH LOSS Stress is the biggie here. Grief causes enormous stress which in turn floods our body with cortisol. Research shows that the same parts of the brain are affected by emotional loss as by physical pain. It’s known that emotional traumatic brain ‘injury’ following the death of a child or loved one will most often lead to serious changes in 15 SIMPLE WAYS TO HELP GRIEVING FAMILIES FOLLOWING Here are fifteen simple ways to help grieving families following stillbirth: 1. The most important thing you can do to help someone after they experience this kind of loss is simply to show up. Be there. Call, email, text, facebook message – reach out THE CEREMONY AND HEALING OF 'CLOSING THE BONES' A tradition stemming from Ecuador and Mexico, but practiced in many countries, Closing the Bones is a postpartum closing ceremony to assist in a woman’s recovery after childbirth. It provides a safe and supportive space where healing can take place physically, mentally, and spiritually and a moment in time where our experiences

can be

FINDING JOY AFTER THE PAIN OF LOSS Joy vs. Shame. But then one day as I was driving, a few months after the loss, I found myself listening to the radio. I was just mindlessly hearing the song’s lyrics in my head and thoughtlessly making my way down the road. I started blurting out some sugary pop tune at the top of my lungs. I was at center-stage in the driver’s seat of my car. 40 SPECIAL WAYS TO HONOR YOUR CHILD Here are 40 special ways to honor your child: Sponsor a child in need who shares your child’s birthday. Make a memory Shadow Box. Write for us. Take memorial pictures at cemetery or cremation site or with urn. Set up prayer and remembrance flags. HOW YOU CAN SUPPORT SOMEONE GRIEVING A SUBSTANCE-USE LOSS Margaret is the Mother of two sons in heaven. She has written for Drugfree.org and is in the process of getting a book published. Margaret lost her younger son, Michael, 11 years ago in 2008 when he was in an accident. Margaret lost her older son, Edward, when he relapsed and overdosed on a mix of Fentynal and heroin. MY SON DIED, BUT HE IS STILL HERE Emily Graham. Emily is a wife and mother to 3 children – 2 girls here 1 son in heaven. Late Christmas Eve (2015) life was sent on a new, unexpected trajectory. Her oldest child, Cameron (forever 7), unexpectedly got sick. Within 24-hours they were making the hardest

decision of

DON'T LET ANYONE TELL YOU HOW TO GRIEVE Don’t Let Anyone Tell You How to Grieve. In my nearly five years of missing my daughter, I’ve gotten a ton of advice about how to grieve. Of course I’ve heard the cliche things from people who have no idea what they’re talking about. The things that we have heard of being said to other loss moms that makes our eyes roll.

DIVORCE RATES

The remaining 28 percent included 16 percent in which one spouse had died, and only 12 percent of marriages had ended in divorce.”. We still feel that the original article holds excellent information about coping with the loss of a child alongside your partner, and hope anyone who found us looking for the statistic on divorce rates after

loss

3 STRATEGIES TO SURVIVING THE HOLIDAYS AFTER CHILD LOSS Morgan McLaverty, a world traveler that has taken roots in southern New Jersey where her husband Sean was born and raised. Now, a stay at home mother, she cares for her three living boys; Gavin Cole (5), Rowan Grey (3) and Holden Nash (1). She also is a mother to Lennon Rhys. Lennon was born still at thirty one weeks and five days. AN INTANGIBLE LOSS: GRIEVING THE CHILD WHO DID NOT DIE Grieving The Child Who Did Not Die. Rachel Lewis. I gazed at my thin contorted body through the mirrors surrounding me. The face looking back seemed dazed, eyes empty and unfocused. My hair and makeup were given barely a moment’s notice that morning, and it showed. 6 THINGS I LEARNED FROM THE FIRST MOTHER'S DAY WITHOUT MY 6 Things I Learned From The First Mother’s Day Without My Child. . by Caroline Jefferson. “On Mother’s Day, I can’t think of anyone more deserving than the one who had to give her child back to God.” -Erma Bombeck. A few years ago, my therapist asked me what the hardest part of losing my son was, and my answer was simple: 6 SECULAR CHILDREN'S BOOKS ON DEATH Below is a list of books that we found helpful in explaining death from a secular perspective: I Miss You : This colorful, illustrated book takes a multi-cultural look at death. It presents the emotions a child might feel when a loved one dies. These range from sadness and anger to guilt and isolation. It also addresses cultural differences

in

FIVE THINGS I’VE LEARNED IN FIVE YEARS OF GRIEF Last month, my little girl would have turned 5. I’ve lived 60 months without her, 261 weeks, 1825 days. The journey from our goodbye to today has been along a treacherous path. I have stumbled often, I have become lost in the dark, but I have also seen more light and witnessed more beauty than I ever could've imagined. DON'T LET ANYONE TELL YOU HOW TO GRIEVE Don’t Let Anyone Tell You How to Grieve. In my nearly five years of missing my daughter, I’ve gotten a ton of advice about how to grieve. Of course I’ve heard the cliche things from people who have no idea what they’re talking about. The things that we have heard of being said to other loss moms that makes our eyes roll. 35 JOURNAL PROMPTS FOR FINDING YOUR LIGHT AFTER LOSS In the early days I didn’t know how I was ever going to go on. The plans for my life, our life together were shattered and just like that ::poof:: all those hopes and dreams were lost. It took lots of soul searching, introspection, honesty, creativity, and vulnerability to come out of the depression and Read More about 35 Journal Prompts For Finding Your Light After Loss 6 TIPS FOR TALKING WITH PARENTS WHO HAVE LOST A CHILD Post by Andy Gillette. Talking to parents who lost a child isn’t easy for friends and family. Here are 6 tips for talking with parents that we’ve learned through many hard, great conversations with some amazing (amazing) friends after our son was stillborn a few days before his due date. WHEN MY DAUGHTER IS DEAD, AND IT'S HER BIRTHDAY It was an end, and a beginning. I carry her with me still, her memory and my love for her. It is impossible for me to do otherwise. This is not a choice. It simply is. Some days it is beautiful to be a mother to a daughter who died, and some days it is an eternal, devouring aching. Today is one of those days. I don’t know what to say.

DIVORCE RATES

The remaining 28 percent included 16 percent in which one spouse had died, and only 12 percent of marriages had ended in divorce.”. We still feel that the original article holds excellent information about coping with the loss of a child alongside your partner, and hope anyone who found us looking for the statistic on divorce rates after

loss

CHILD LOSS & INFERTILITY Comparison And Secrets: Let’s Be Honest About Baby Loss FeelingsSomeone will always rank my loss in their minds, deciding for themselves if I have suffered more or less than the woman standing next to me. What Grief Does To Us. Grief. It had me knock, push, slam down every door, hoping it wasn't the end. THE GRIEF FOG THAT COMES WITH LOSS Stress is the biggie here. Grief causes enormous stress which in turn floods our body with cortisol. Research shows that the same parts of the brain are affected by emotional loss as by physical pain. It’s known that emotional traumatic brain ‘injury’ following the death of a child or loved one will most often lead to serious changes in 15 SIMPLE WAYS TO HELP GRIEVING FAMILIES FOLLOWING Here are fifteen simple ways to help grieving families following stillbirth: 1. The most important thing you can do to help someone after they experience this kind of loss is simply to show up. Be there. Call, email, text, facebook message – reach out 6 THINGS I LEARNED FROM THE FIRST MOTHER'S DAY WITHOUT MY 6 Things I Learned From The First Mother’s Day Without My Child. . by Caroline Jefferson. “On Mother’s Day, I can’t think of anyone more deserving than the one who had to give her child back to God.” -Erma Bombeck. A few years ago, my therapist asked me what the hardest part of losing my son was, and my answer was simple: 40 SPECIAL WAYS TO HONOR YOUR CHILD Here are 40 special ways to honor your child: Sponsor a child in need who shares your child’s birthday. Make a memory Shadow Box. Write for us. Take memorial pictures at cemetery or cremation site or with urn. Set up prayer and remembrance flags. FINDING JOY AFTER THE PAIN OF LOSS Joy vs. Shame. But then one day as I was driving, a few months after the loss, I found myself listening to the radio. I was just mindlessly hearing the song’s lyrics in my head and thoughtlessly making my way down the road. I started blurting out some sugary pop tune at the top of my lungs. I was at center-stage in the driver’s seat of my car. HOW YOU CAN SUPPORT SOMEONE GRIEVING A SUBSTANCE-USE LOSSGRIEVING THE DEATH OF ADDICTIONDEATH OF CHILD SUPPORT GROUPSURVIVORS OF HOMICIDE SUPPORT GROUPDEATH GRIEF LOSSHOW TO HANDLE GRIEF DEATHGRIEF SUPPORT

FOR ADULTS

Margaret is the Mother of two sons in heaven. She has written for Drugfree.org and is in the process of getting a book published. Margaret lost her younger son, Michael, 11 years ago in 2008 when he was in an accident. Margaret lost her older son, Edward, when he relapsed and overdosed on a mix of Fentynal and heroin. MY SON DIED, BUT HE IS STILL HERE Emily Graham. Emily is a wife and mother to 3 children – 2 girls here 1 son in heaven. Late Christmas Eve (2015) life was sent on a new, unexpected trajectory. Her oldest child, Cameron (forever 7), unexpectedly got sick. Within 24-hours they were making the hardest

decision of

AN INTANGIBLE LOSS: GRIEVING THE CHILD WHO DID NOT DIE Grieving The Child Who Did Not Die. Rachel Lewis. I gazed at my thin contorted body through the mirrors surrounding me. The face looking back seemed dazed, eyes empty and unfocused. My hair and makeup were given barely a moment’s notice that morning, and it showed. WHEN ANGER IS A PART OF YOUR GRIEF There is expectation with grief. People allow for a certain amount of sorrow and weeping. But when grief struck me like a freight train with the stillbirth of my son, I was disconcerted to find that along with sadness and emptiness and tears, there was a shocking amount of anger. Not at first, when it Read More about When Anger Is A Part Of Your

Grief

CHILD LOSS & INFERTILITY Comparison And Secrets: Let’s Be Honest About Baby Loss FeelingsSomeone will always rank my loss in their minds, deciding for themselves if I have suffered more or less than the woman standing next to me. What Grief Does To Us. Grief. It had me knock, push, slam down every door, hoping it wasn't the end. THE GRIEF FOG THAT COMES WITH LOSS Stress is the biggie here. Grief causes enormous stress which in turn floods our body with cortisol. Research shows that the same parts of the brain are affected by emotional loss as by physical pain. It’s known that emotional traumatic brain ‘injury’ following the death of a child or loved one will most often lead to serious changes in 15 SIMPLE WAYS TO HELP GRIEVING FAMILIES FOLLOWING Here are fifteen simple ways to help grieving families following stillbirth: 1. The most important thing you can do to help someone after they experience this kind of loss is simply to show up. Be there. Call, email, text, facebook message – reach out 6 THINGS I LEARNED FROM THE FIRST MOTHER'S DAY WITHOUT MY 6 Things I Learned From The First Mother’s Day Without My Child. . by Caroline Jefferson. “On Mother’s Day, I can’t think of anyone more deserving than the one who had to give her child back to God.” -Erma Bombeck. A few years ago, my therapist asked me what the hardest part of losing my son was, and my answer was simple: 40 SPECIAL WAYS TO HONOR YOUR CHILD Here are 40 special ways to honor your child: Sponsor a child in need who shares your child’s birthday. Make a memory Shadow Box. Write for us. Take memorial pictures at cemetery or cremation site or with urn. Set up prayer and remembrance flags. FINDING JOY AFTER THE PAIN OF LOSS Joy vs. Shame. But then one day as I was driving, a few months after the loss, I found myself listening to the radio. I was just mindlessly hearing the song’s lyrics in my head and thoughtlessly making my way down the road. I started blurting out some sugary pop tune at the top of my lungs. I was at center-stage in the driver’s seat of my car. HOW YOU CAN SUPPORT SOMEONE GRIEVING A SUBSTANCE-USE LOSSGRIEVING THE DEATH OF ADDICTIONDEATH OF CHILD SUPPORT GROUPSURVIVORS OF HOMICIDE SUPPORT GROUPDEATH GRIEF LOSSHOW TO HANDLE GRIEF DEATHGRIEF SUPPORT

FOR ADULTS

Margaret is the Mother of two sons in heaven. She has written for Drugfree.org and is in the process of getting a book published. Margaret lost her younger son, Michael, 11 years ago in 2008 when he was in an accident. Margaret lost her older son, Edward, when he relapsed and overdosed on a mix of Fentynal and heroin. MY SON DIED, BUT HE IS STILL HERE Emily Graham. Emily is a wife and mother to 3 children – 2 girls here 1 son in heaven. Late Christmas Eve (2015) life was sent on a new, unexpected trajectory. Her oldest child, Cameron (forever 7), unexpectedly got sick. Within 24-hours they were making the hardest

decision of

AN INTANGIBLE LOSS: GRIEVING THE CHILD WHO DID NOT DIE Grieving The Child Who Did Not Die. Rachel Lewis. I gazed at my thin contorted body through the mirrors surrounding me. The face looking back seemed dazed, eyes empty and unfocused. My hair and makeup were given barely a moment’s notice that morning, and it showed. WHEN ANGER IS A PART OF YOUR GRIEF There is expectation with grief. People allow for a certain amount of sorrow and weeping. But when grief struck me like a freight train with the stillbirth of my son, I was disconcerted to find that along with sadness and emptiness and tears, there was a shocking amount of anger. Not at first, when it Read More about When Anger Is A Part Of Your

Grief

6 THINGS I LEARNED FROM THE FIRST MOTHER'S DAY WITHOUT MY 6 Things I Learned From The First Mother’s Day Without My Child. . by Caroline Jefferson. “On Mother’s Day, I can’t think of anyone more deserving than the one who had to give her child back to God.” -Erma Bombeck. A few years ago, my therapist asked me what the hardest part of losing my son was, and my answer was simple: I'LL NEVER BE THAT KIND OF HAPPY AGAIN As the hot water washed my tears away, it hit me. The variations of happy. I will never be that kind of happy ever again. Never. The kind of happy, where no one is missing. The kind of happy where you feel whole, complete. The kind of happy where there is no, “if only.”. I have been happy, joyous even since Marik left us. THE CEREMONY AND HEALING OF 'CLOSING THE BONES' A tradition stemming from Ecuador and Mexico, but practiced in many countries, Closing the Bones is a postpartum closing ceremony to assist in a woman’s recovery after childbirth. It provides a safe and supportive space where healing can take place physically, mentally, and spiritually and a moment in time where our experiences

can be

THE CLOAK OF SHAME

The moment the nurse answered my whimper of aching arms with a cold vase placed abruptly on my lap, wheeling me passed the nursery full of crying babies, I learned. I felt the first weight of it draped across my young shoulders. The cloak of shame, whispering, Don’t you dare be an inconvenience. Cover this. No one wants to see your broken. AN INTANGIBLE LOSS: GRIEVING THE CHILD WHO DID NOT DIE Grieving The Child Who Did Not Die. Rachel Lewis. I gazed at my thin contorted body through the mirrors surrounding me. The face looking back seemed dazed, eyes empty and unfocused. My hair and makeup were given barely a moment’s notice that morning, and it showed. 35 JOURNAL PROMPTS FOR FINDING YOUR LIGHT AFTER LOSS In the early days I didn’t know how I was ever going to go on. The plans for my life, our life together were shattered and just like that ::poof:: all those hopes and dreams were lost. It took lots of soul searching, introspection, honesty, creativity, and vulnerability to come out of the depression and Read More about 35 Journal Prompts For Finding Your Light After Loss 10 WAYS TO HONOR YOUR MISCARRIED BABY ON THEIR DUE DATE Liz is the proud mother of six precious children: one son in her arms and an extra five babies carried in her heart. Liz writes about motherhood, faith, and life after loss on her blog MommyMannegren.You can follow along on Facebook or Instagram for more of this messy, grief-filled but ever beautiful story. FIVE THINGS I’VE LEARNED IN FIVE YEARS OF GRIEF Last month, my little girl would have turned 5. I’ve lived 60 months without her, 261 weeks, 1825 days. The journey from our goodbye to today has been along a treacherous path. I have stumbled often, I have become lost in the dark, but I have also seen more light and witnessed more beauty than I ever could've imagined. WHEN YOUR CHILD'S BABY DIES: SUPPORT FOR GRIEVING Allow them an opportunity to process their grief for the child they lost as well as the grief they’re feeling for the loss of their grandchild, and the pain their child is feeling. 4. Include Grandparents. Feeling helpless as your child is hurting and grieving is crippling. If you are a parent, caregiver, support person, or even

a family

DON'T LET ANYONE TELL YOU HOW TO GRIEVE Don’t Let Anyone Tell You How to Grieve. In my nearly five years of missing my daughter, I’ve gotten a ton of advice about how to grieve. Of course I’ve heard the cliche things from people who have no idea what they’re talking about. The things that we have heard of being said to other loss moms that makes our eyes roll. CHILD LOSS & INFERTILITY Comparison And Secrets: Let’s Be Honest About Baby Loss FeelingsSomeone will always rank my loss in their minds, deciding for themselves if I have suffered more or less than the woman standing next to me. What Grief Does To Us. Grief. It had me knock, push, slam down every door, hoping it wasn't the end. THE GRIEF FOG THAT COMES WITH LOSS Stress is the biggie here. Grief causes enormous stress which in turn floods our body with cortisol. Research shows that the same parts of the brain are affected by emotional loss as by physical pain. It’s known that emotional traumatic brain ‘injury’ following the death of a child or loved one will most often lead to serious changes in 15 SIMPLE WAYS TO HELP GRIEVING FAMILIES FOLLOWING Here are fifteen simple ways to help grieving families following stillbirth: 1. The most important thing you can do to help someone after they experience this kind of loss is simply to show up. Be there. Call, email, text, facebook message – reach out 6 THINGS I LEARNED FROM THE FIRST MOTHER'S DAY WITHOUT MY 6 Things I Learned From The First Mother’s Day Without My Child. . by Caroline Jefferson. “On Mother’s Day, I can’t think of anyone more deserving than the one who had to give her child back to God.” -Erma Bombeck. A few years ago, my therapist asked me what the hardest part of losing my son was, and my answer was simple: 40 SPECIAL WAYS TO HONOR YOUR CHILD Here are 40 special ways to honor your child: Sponsor a child in need who shares your child’s birthday. Make a memory Shadow Box. Write for us. Take memorial pictures at cemetery or cremation site or with urn. Set up prayer and remembrance flags. FINDING JOY AFTER THE PAIN OF LOSS Joy vs. Shame. But then one day as I was driving, a few months after the loss, I found myself listening to the radio. I was just mindlessly hearing the song’s lyrics in my head and thoughtlessly making my way down the road. I started blurting out some sugary pop tune at the top of my lungs. I was at center-stage in the driver’s seat of my car. HOW YOU CAN SUPPORT SOMEONE GRIEVING A SUBSTANCE-USE LOSSGRIEVING THE DEATH OF ADDICTIONDEATH OF CHILD SUPPORT GROUPSURVIVORS OF HOMICIDE SUPPORT GROUPDEATH GRIEF LOSSHOW TO HANDLE GRIEF DEATHGRIEF SUPPORT

FOR ADULTS

Margaret is the Mother of two sons in heaven. She has written for Drugfree.org and is in the process of getting a book published. Margaret lost her younger son, Michael, 11 years ago in 2008 when he was in an accident. Margaret lost her older son, Edward, when he relapsed and overdosed on a mix of Fentynal and heroin. MY SON DIED, BUT HE IS STILL HERE Emily Graham. Emily is a wife and mother to 3 children – 2 girls here 1 son in heaven. Late Christmas Eve (2015) life was sent on a new, unexpected trajectory. Her oldest child, Cameron (forever 7), unexpectedly got sick. Within 24-hours they were making the hardest

decision of

AN INTANGIBLE LOSS: GRIEVING THE CHILD WHO DID NOT DIE Grieving The Child Who Did Not Die. Rachel Lewis. I gazed at my thin contorted body through the mirrors surrounding me. The face looking back seemed dazed, eyes empty and unfocused. My hair and makeup were given barely a moment’s notice that morning, and it showed. WHEN ANGER IS A PART OF YOUR GRIEF There is expectation with grief. People allow for a certain amount of sorrow and weeping. But when grief struck me like a freight train with the stillbirth of my son, I was disconcerted to find that along with sadness and emptiness and tears, there was a shocking amount of anger. Not at first, when it Read More about When Anger Is A Part Of Your

Grief

CHILD LOSS & INFERTILITY Comparison And Secrets: Let’s Be Honest About Baby Loss FeelingsSomeone will always rank my loss in their minds, deciding for themselves if I have suffered more or less than the woman standing next to me. What Grief Does To Us. Grief. It had me knock, push, slam down every door, hoping it wasn't the end. THE GRIEF FOG THAT COMES WITH LOSS Stress is the biggie here. Grief causes enormous stress which in turn floods our body with cortisol. Research shows that the same parts of the brain are affected by emotional loss as by physical pain. It’s known that emotional traumatic brain ‘injury’ following the death of a child or loved one will most often lead to serious changes in 15 SIMPLE WAYS TO HELP GRIEVING FAMILIES FOLLOWING Here are fifteen simple ways to help grieving families following stillbirth: 1. The most important thing you can do to help someone after they experience this kind of loss is simply to show up. Be there. Call, email, text, facebook message – reach out 6 THINGS I LEARNED FROM THE FIRST MOTHER'S DAY WITHOUT MY 6 Things I Learned From The First Mother’s Day Without My Child. . by Caroline Jefferson. “On Mother’s Day, I can’t think of anyone more deserving than the one who had to give her child back to God.” -Erma Bombeck. A few years ago, my therapist asked me what the hardest part of losing my son was, and my answer was simple: 40 SPECIAL WAYS TO HONOR YOUR CHILD Here are 40 special ways to honor your child: Sponsor a child in need who shares your child’s birthday. Make a memory Shadow Box. Write for us. Take memorial pictures at cemetery or cremation site or with urn. Set up prayer and remembrance flags. FINDING JOY AFTER THE PAIN OF LOSS Joy vs. Shame. But then one day as I was driving, a few months after the loss, I found myself listening to the radio. I was just mindlessly hearing the song’s lyrics in my head and thoughtlessly making my way down the road. I started blurting out some sugary pop tune at the top of my lungs. I was at center-stage in the driver’s seat of my car. HOW YOU CAN SUPPORT SOMEONE GRIEVING A SUBSTANCE-USE LOSSGRIEVING THE DEATH OF ADDICTIONDEATH OF CHILD SUPPORT GROUPSURVIVORS OF HOMICIDE SUPPORT GROUPDEATH GRIEF LOSSHOW TO HANDLE GRIEF DEATHGRIEF SUPPORT

FOR ADULTS

Margaret is the Mother of two sons in heaven. She has written for Drugfree.org and is in the process of getting a book published. Margaret lost her younger son, Michael, 11 years ago in 2008 when he was in an accident. Margaret lost her older son, Edward, when he relapsed and overdosed on a mix of Fentynal and heroin. MY SON DIED, BUT HE IS STILL HERE Emily Graham. Emily is a wife and mother to 3 children – 2 girls here 1 son in heaven. Late Christmas Eve (2015) life was sent on a new, unexpected trajectory. Her oldest child, Cameron (forever 7), unexpectedly got sick. Within 24-hours they were making the hardest

decision of

AN INTANGIBLE LOSS: GRIEVING THE CHILD WHO DID NOT DIE Grieving The Child Who Did Not Die. Rachel Lewis. I gazed at my thin contorted body through the mirrors surrounding me. The face looking back seemed dazed, eyes empty and unfocused. My hair and makeup were given barely a moment’s notice that morning, and it showed. WHEN ANGER IS A PART OF YOUR GRIEF There is expectation with grief. People allow for a certain amount of sorrow and weeping. But when grief struck me like a freight train with the stillbirth of my son, I was disconcerted to find that along with sadness and emptiness and tears, there was a shocking amount of anger. Not at first, when it Read More about When Anger Is A Part Of Your

Grief

6 THINGS I LEARNED FROM THE FIRST MOTHER'S DAY WITHOUT MY 6 Things I Learned From The First Mother’s Day Without My Child. . by Caroline Jefferson. “On Mother’s Day, I can’t think of anyone more deserving than the one who had to give her child back to God.” -Erma Bombeck. A few years ago, my therapist asked me what the hardest part of losing my son was, and my answer was simple: I'LL NEVER BE THAT KIND OF HAPPY AGAIN As the hot water washed my tears away, it hit me. The variations of happy. I will never be that kind of happy ever again. Never. The kind of happy, where no one is missing. The kind of happy where you feel whole, complete. The kind of happy where there is no, “if only.”. I have been happy, joyous even since Marik left us. THE CEREMONY AND HEALING OF 'CLOSING THE BONES' A tradition stemming from Ecuador and Mexico, but practiced in many countries, Closing the Bones is a postpartum closing ceremony to assist in a woman’s recovery after childbirth. It provides a safe and supportive space where healing can take place physically, mentally, and spiritually and a moment in time where our experiences

can be

THE CLOAK OF SHAME

The moment the nurse answered my whimper of aching arms with a cold vase placed abruptly on my lap, wheeling me passed the nursery full of crying babies, I learned. I felt the first weight of it draped across my young shoulders. The cloak of shame, whispering, Don’t you dare be an inconvenience. Cover this. No one wants to see your broken. AN INTANGIBLE LOSS: GRIEVING THE CHILD WHO DID NOT DIE Grieving The Child Who Did Not Die. Rachel Lewis. I gazed at my thin contorted body through the mirrors surrounding me. The face looking back seemed dazed, eyes empty and unfocused. My hair and makeup were given barely a moment’s notice that morning, and it showed. 35 JOURNAL PROMPTS FOR FINDING YOUR LIGHT AFTER LOSS In the early days I didn’t know how I was ever going to go on. The plans for my life, our life together were shattered and just like that ::poof:: all those hopes and dreams were lost. It took lots of soul searching, introspection, honesty, creativity, and vulnerability to come out of the depression and Read More about 35 Journal Prompts For Finding Your Light After Loss 10 WAYS TO HONOR YOUR MISCARRIED BABY ON THEIR DUE DATE Liz is the proud mother of six precious children: one son in her arms and an extra five babies carried in her heart. Liz writes about motherhood, faith, and life after loss on her blog MommyMannegren.You can follow along on Facebook or Instagram for more of this messy, grief-filled but ever beautiful story. FIVE THINGS I’VE LEARNED IN FIVE YEARS OF GRIEF Last month, my little girl would have turned 5. I’ve lived 60 months without her, 261 weeks, 1825 days. The journey from our goodbye to today has been along a treacherous path. I have stumbled often, I have become lost in the dark, but I have also seen more light and witnessed more beauty than I ever could've imagined. WHEN YOUR CHILD'S BABY DIES: SUPPORT FOR GRIEVING Allow them an opportunity to process their grief for the child they lost as well as the grief they’re feeling for the loss of their grandchild, and the pain their child is feeling. 4. Include Grandparents. Feeling helpless as your child is hurting and grieving is crippling. If you are a parent, caregiver, support person, or even

a family

DON'T LET ANYONE TELL YOU HOW TO GRIEVE Don’t Let Anyone Tell You How to Grieve. In my nearly five years of missing my daughter, I’ve gotten a ton of advice about how to grieve. Of course I’ve heard the cliche things from people who have no idea what they’re talking about. The things that we have heard of being said to other loss moms that makes our eyes roll. Still Standing Magazine

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For Medical Professionals Caring For Parents Who Have Lost A Child In A Multiple Pregnancy

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The Acknowledgement Of The Few

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How Covid-19 Restrictions Impact Newly Bereaved Parents

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Playschool – another missed milestone

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I Did Not Get To Say Goodbye

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Never Alone; Grief In Isolation

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What Does The Life Of A Bereaved Parent Look Like?

EARLY LOSS

DEAR MEGHAN

COMPARISON AND SECRETS: LET’S BE HONEST ABOUT BABY LOSS FEELINGS SOMEONE WILL ALWAYS RANK MY LOSS IN THEIR MINDS, DECIDING FOR THEMSELVES IF I HAVE SUFFERED MORE OR LESS THAN THE WOMAN STANDING

NEXT TO ME

WHAT GRIEF DOES TO US GRIEF. IT HAD ME KNOCK, PUSH, SLAM DOWN EVERY DOOR, HOPING IT WASN'T

THE END

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DEATH OF AN ADULT CHILD NEVER A GRANDPARENT: LOSING YOUR ONLY CHILD ALSO MEANS LOSING YOUR

LEGACY

WE NOT ONLY LOST A SON, WE LOST OUR LEGACY - A CONTINUATION OF WHO WE

ARE

SIGNS FROM MY SON: IS IT REALLY YOU? ON THOSE RUMORS: WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT THE SON WHO WAS MINE

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GRIEF AND MENTAL HEALTH YOU PROMISED ME, DADDY WE COULDN’T LIVE THERE ANYMORE 3 REASONS: WHAT GETS ME THROUGH

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HARD CHOICES

THE FACE THAT I DON’T LIKE TO SHOW GRIEVING – ON THE EDGES OF EVERYWHERE IF I KNEW YOU’D DIE, WOULD I STILL CARRY YOU?

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ON GRIEVING

7 THINGS I’VE LEARNED SINCE THE LOSS OF MY CHILD 6 THINGS I WISH PEOPLE KNEW ABOUT GRIEVING THE LOSS OF A CHILD 6 THINGS TO NEVER SAY TO A BEREAVED PARENT

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RECENT LOSS

DEAR NEWLY BEREAVED PARENT MOTHERING A DEAD BABY AT THE HOSPITAL POSTPARTUM AFTER LOSS: NO ONE TOLD MY BODY

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PARENTING AFTER LOSS

GOODNIGHT MOON

PARENTING AFTER LOSS JUST BENEATH THE SURFACE.

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ADVOCACY

PROJECT BENJAMIN: #THEYMATTERTOO THIS “SICKNESS” CALLED GRIEF A FOUR-PART ARTICLE ON HOMICIDE LOSS

More...

SUPPORTING A FRIEND AFTER LOSS WHAT DOES THE LIFE OF A BEREAVED PARENT LOOK LIKE? TRIGGERS: THIS IS MY LIFE NOW THAT'S THE THING WITH GRIEF. THERE ARE NO STAGES.

OH, MAMA. I KNOW.

More...

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W E L C O M E

FOUNDED IN 2012, STILL STANDING MAGAZINE, LLC, SHARES STORIES FROM AROUND THE WORLD OF WRITERS SURVIVING THE AFTERMATH OF LOSS

, INFERTILITY

- AND INCLUDES

INFORMATION ON HOW OTHERS CAN HELP

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THIS IS A PAGE FOR ALL GRIEVING PARENTS. IF YOU GRIEVE THE LOSS OF YOUR CHILD, _NO MATTER THE CIRCUMSTANCES_, YOU ARE WELCOME HERE. Subscribe To Our New Posts

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RECENTLY POSTED

* Dear Meghan

* October: What Lighting A Candle Means To Me * For Medical Professionals Caring For Parents Who Have Lost A Child In A Multiple Pregnancy * The Acknowledgement Of The Few * How Covid-19 Restrictions Impact Newly Bereaved Parents Copyright © 2020 · Still Standing Magazine, LLC Exclusive Member of Mediavine Family

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