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Looking Forward April 23, 2018 by Maddie Redding Posted in: Moving Forward – Just when I thought I was beginning to work past my grief of losing my mom, a strange thing started… …
Christmas January 8, 2018 by Maddie Redding Posted in: Moving Forward – I have always loved Christmas. The Christmas after my mom died, I was sure that would change. So many of… …
Holiday Traditions December 8, 2017 by Isabel Mishkin Posted in: Friends and Family – There are few conversations more ritualized for me than explaining my plans for the winter holidays. The unlikely receiver… …
Lean Into the Suck November 9, 2017 by Asher Liu Posted in: Books – Terrible chapter heading, right? Not sweet and syrupy and "Oh, let me hold your hand while you cry." You already… …
A Thank You Never Said November 4, 2017 by Maddie Redding Posted in: Uncategorized – I was so incredibly lucky with the wonderful group of people that supported me through the worst experience of my… …
First-Hand Thoughts October 23, 2017 by Dominy Gallo Posted in: Uncategorized – I recently came across an email I wrote to my eighth-grade homeroom teacher several days after my dad died. Retrospectively,… …
Grieving Your Way October 14, 2017 by Maddie Redding Posted in: Moving Forward – For me, grieving meant learning to live without my mom. It wasn’t about going to therapy or talking about how… …
Self Care: Easy, Until it’s Not October 8, 2017 by Isabel Mishkin Posted in: Moving Forward – Mental health is kinda my “thing.” Ask anyone who knows me- most of my free time is consumed with with… …
On Going Back to School September 30, 2017 by Dominy Gallo Posted in: Moving Forward – Everyone reacts differently to the prospect of returning to school after the loss of a parent. Unfortunately, many kids have… …
Lost and Gained September 25, 2017 by Amelie Liu Posted in: Moving Forward – Look at me. This is what I think you see. You see a girl who lost her dad. You see… …
New Beginnings September 15, 2017 by Maddie Redding Posted in: Moving Forward – My mom passed away 3 days before my sophomore year of high school started. That meant that in the time… …
Onward and Upwards: School Transitions September 8, 2017 by Isabel Mishkin Posted in: Moving Forward – Switching from one school to another is one of those universally dreaded teenage experiences. There will be more work, new… …
At Home
Holding Onto Your Memories March 4, 2015 by Kathy Merlo Posted in: At Home – Your parent is gone. You may or may not live in the same home that you did before he/she died. Does being in… …
When Your Parent Gets Married Again February 17, 2015 by Kathy Merlo Posted in: At Home – You’ve lost a parent and are dealing with the sadness and grief that comes with death. But what happens when your… …
Why You Should Get A Dog February 5, 2015 by Emily Kaufold Posted in: At Home – Considering buying a dog after the loss of a parent can be a good way to start to get through… …
How should one expect to feel around the holiday time? April 14, 2014 by Judy Posted in: At Home – How should one expect to feel around the holiday time? Is it appropriate to use rituals that you used to… …
Why are my younger siblings acting like nothing happened? March 3, 2014 by Judy Posted in: At Home – Whenever I’m with some of my younger siblings they act as if nothing has happened; it makes it seem like… …
How can I help my surviving parent while he or she mourn? February 24, 2014 by Judy Posted in: At Home – Sometimes I feel that I am just sitting and watching my surviving parent mourn; whenever I try to help he… …
Books
Lean Into the Suck November 9, 2017 by Asher Liu Posted in: Books – Terrible chapter heading, right? Not sweet and syrupy and "Oh, let me hold your hand while you cry." You already… …
A Time to Mourn, A Time to Comfort July 22, 2014 by Slapd User Posted in: Books – Bereavement – by Rachmiel Tobesman This nonfiction guide for children explains Jewish mourning rituals and customs. It also helps children understand their… …
A Matter of Time July 22, 2014 by Slapd User Posted in: Books – Illness – by R. Schotter A very moving, beautifully written book about a high school girl coping with her mother’s illness and… …
Just One Tear July 22, 2014 by Slapd User Posted in: Books – Literature/Poetry – by K. L. Mahon A novel in the form of the diary of a 13-year-old boy who witnesses the shooting… …
After Suicide: Living with the Questions July 22, 2014 by Slapd User Posted in: Books – Suicide – by Eileen Kuehn This book provides a definition of suicide and describes its effects on survivors and the stages of… …
Why Me? Coping with Family Illness July 22, 2014 by Slapd User Posted in: Books – Illness – by Anna Kosof Ages 11 and up. A nonfiction work that explores, through firsthand stories, what it is like to… …
When a Parent is Very Sick July 22, 2014 by Slapd User Posted in: Books – Illness – by Eda LeShan Ages 8-18. Discusses typical feelings and incidents encountered by children when a parent is seriously ill or… …
Stick Up For Yourself: Every Kid’s Guide to Personal Power and Positive Self-Esteem July 22, 2014 by Slapd User Posted in: Books – Self-Help Strategies – by Gershen Kaufman, Ph.D. and Lev Raphael, Ph.D. Ages 8-12. Tells children how to stick up for themselves in positive… …
I Wasn’t Ready To Say Goodbye: Surviving, Coping, and Healing After the Sudden Death of a Loved One July 22, 2014 by Slapd User Posted in: Books – Bereavement – by Brook Nowl and Pamela D. Blair, PhD Each year about eight million Americans suffer the death of someone close… …
Coping When a Parent Has Cancer July 22, 2014 by Slapd User Posted in: Books – Illness – by Linda L. Strauss Ages 13 and up. Offers suggestions for teenagers who have a parent with cancer …
What Makes Me Feel This Way? Growing Up with Human Emotions July 22, 2014 by Slapd User Posted in: Books – Self-Help Strategies – by Eda LaShan Ages 8-18. A wise book about feelings—what they are and how they work —that may be difficult… …
Lost and Found: A Kid’s Book for Living Through Loss July 22, 2014 by Slapd User Posted in: Books – Bereavement – by Marc Gellman and Monsignor Thomas Hartman Ages 8 and up. The authors explain how loss, of all sorts, can… …
The Grieving Teen: A Guide for Teenagers and Their Friends July 22, 2014 by Slapd User Posted in: Books – Self-Help Strategies – by Helen Fitzgerald The author focuses on the special needs of adolescents, offering clear and concrete help for living with… …
The Journey Through Grief and Loss: Helping Yourself and Your Child When Grief is Shared July 22, 2014 by Slapd User Posted in: Books – For Adults – by Robert Zucker, M.A., L.C.S.W. When adults face a significant loss, they must grapple with their own profound grief, and… …
My Anxious Mind: A Teen’s Guide to Managing Anxiety and Panic July 22, 2014 by Slapd User Posted in: Books – Self-Help Strategies – by Michael A. Tompkins Can you spare 30 minutes to feel less anxious? Go ahead. Think about how your life… …
Never the Same: Coming to Terms with the Death of a Parent July 22, 2014 by Slapd User Posted in: Books – Self-Help Strategies – by Dona Schuurman Children and teens who experience the death of a parent are never the same. Only in the… …
You Are Not Alone July 22, 2014 by Slapd User Posted in: Books – Bereavement – by Lynne B. Hughes Words of reassurance and strategies for coping with the loss of a parent, by the director… …
The Burden of Light: Poems on Illness and Loss July 22, 2014 by Slapd User Posted in: Books – Literature/Poetry – by Tanya Chernov The Burden of Light: Poems on Illness and Loss by Tanya Chernov (2013) The first poetry anthology… …
A Real Emotional Girl: A Memoir of Love and Loss July 22, 2014 by Slapd User Posted in: Books – Bereavement – by Tanya Chernov A Real Emotional Girl tells the true story of young Tanya, growing up in the wonderland of… …
If Only July 22, 2014 by Slapd User Posted in: Books – Literature/Poetry – by Carole Geithner This coming-of-age novel shines a realistic light on bereavement in adolescents. This is a moving and sometimes… …
The First Year
Celebrating Mother’s Day Without a Mom May 8, 2015 by Kathy Merlo Posted in: The First Year – How do you celebrate Mother’s Day when you don’t have a mom? There are tears in my eyes as I… …
Getting Through the Anniversary of a Parent’s Death November 11, 2014 by Kathy Merlo Posted in: The First Year – This Sunday is the anniversary of my mom’s death. Although I’ve pretty much healed over the past 6 years, I… …
Peekaboo April 21, 2014 by Slapd User Posted in: The First Year – No matter where in the world you grew up or what your first language was, you can be pretty certain… …
Newly Acquired OCD March 28, 2014 by Slapd User Posted in: The First Year – From my personal experience, when my mother was sick, I became obsessive about a lot of things. After her death,… …
Family, Friends, and Psychologists March 26, 2014 by Slapd User Posted in: The First Year – When things are hard, we all need somebody with whom to talk. Death is hard; there’s no getting around it.… …
After a Month February 4, 2014 by Eliana Posted in: The First Year – It might seem really difficult to be a good friend at this point. Because of the delicate situation, you don’t… …
Birthdays, Anniversaries and Parent Days January 15, 2014 by Slapd User Posted in: The First Year – These can be rough. Just when we think we are finally stable, we find ourselves having a fierce desire to… …
First Birthday Without January 6, 2014 by Slapd User Posted in: The First Year – I am writing this with a full, but very personal and idiosyncratic understanding of this subject, because today is my… …
Friends and Family
Holiday Traditions December 8, 2017 by Isabel Mishkin Posted in: Friends and Family – There are few conversations more ritualized for me than explaining my plans for the winter holidays. The unlikely receiver… …
Remembering who Remains September 1, 2017 by Dominy Gallo Posted in: Friends and Family – In the face of the earth-shattering event that is the loss of a parent, often the… …
How to Help a Grieving Friend August 9, 2017 by Dominy Gallo Posted in: Friends and Family – So someone close to you has lost a loved one, and you feel that you owe it to them to… …
Talking to Someone Who’s Lost a Parent July 10, 2015 by Kathy Merlo Posted in: Friends and Family – It isn’t easy to talk to someone who has lost a parent, even when you’ve been through it yourself. …
How To Help Someone Who Is Sad December 1, 2014 by Emily Kaufold Posted in: Friends and Family – When a friend or loved one is feeling down, what do you do? …
The First Conversation July 29, 2014 by Emily Kaufold Posted in: Friends and Family – This is quite possibly the hardest and most awkward thing a friend of someone who has suffered a considerable loss… …
How to Listen June 2, 2014 by Slapd User Posted in: Friends and Family – During such a hard life experience, reliable and trustworthy friends are one of the most important things a teen who… …
Yelling into Pillows March 25, 2014 by Heather Stanke Posted in: Friends and Family – When you have an especially bad day, sometimes all you want to do is scream. But, if you scream at… …
Stay Brave (What It’s like Having a Friend Who Lost A Parent) March 5, 2014 by Emily Kaufold Posted in: Friends and Family – I have started and restarted this brief paragraph, looking for the right words to express my experiences and thoughts. But… …
Dealing with You First January 29, 2014 by Eliana Posted in: Friends and Family – Supporting your friend immediately after the loss of their parent can be very difficult, especially when you have a personal… …
Tips & Tricks
Top Ten Inspiring Quotes March 29, 2015 by Emily Kaufold Posted in: Tips & Tricks – These are some motivational quotes that give me the extra boost of strength when I need it. I hope they… …
Coping Strategies October 25, 2014 by Emily Kaufold Posted in: Tips & Tricks – These are the way to go when you are dealing with any kind of anxiety or sadness and you don’t… …
What can I do that might help with feeling depressed? October 20, 2014 by Judy Posted in: Tips & Tricks – It has been a little over six months since my mom suddenly passed away after 7 years of being sick… …
Corn Chowder Recipe September 23, 2014 by Emily Kaufold Posted in: Tips & Tricks – Whenever times get hard, I find my mood considerably lifted when I get a nice, warm, homemade meal. This is… …
Tips on Lasagnas (Commonly Brought to Homes in Mourning) June 9, 2014 by Genevieve Posted in: Tips & Tricks – 1. They are sometimes disgusting. Taste the lasagna before you commit to eating a large piece. Better yet, get a… …
How do you tell the school about parent loss? February 17, 2014 by Judy Posted in: Tips & Tricks – How do you recommend telling the school about parent loss? How do you recommend acting once everyone already knows? If… …
Triggers February 12, 2014 by Genevieve Posted in: Tips & Tricks – There are going to be conversation topics, movies, words, songs, scents, items, and places that bring you back to the… …
How am I supposed to calm down, quiet my mind, and focus? February 3, 2014 by Judy Posted in: Tips & Tricks – Losing a parent is a very traumatizing situation; afterwards many children begin to form new and different fears, which can… …
Annoying Relatives January 31, 2014 by Genevieve Posted in: Tips & Tricks – If you’ve recently lost a parent or both of your parents, you may be encountering the “swarm.” That’s the family… …
How To Get Lipstick off Your Face January 8, 2014 by Genevieve Posted in: Tips & Tricks – At your parent’s memorial service or times that follow, there will most likely be a fair amount of strange old… …
We've Been There
Moving Forward
Looking Forward April 23, 2018 by Maddie Redding Posted in: Moving Forward – Just when I thought I was beginning to work past my grief of losing my mom, a strange thing started… …
Christmas January 8, 2018 by Maddie Redding Posted in: Moving Forward – I have always loved Christmas. The Christmas after my mom died, I was sure that would change. So many of… …
Grieving Your Way October 14, 2017 by Maddie Redding Posted in: Moving Forward – For me, grieving meant learning to live without my mom. It wasn’t about going to therapy or talking about how… …
Self Care: Easy, Until it’s Not October 8, 2017 by Isabel Mishkin Posted in: Moving Forward – Mental health is kinda my “thing.” Ask anyone who knows me- most of my free time is consumed with with… …
On Going Back to School September 30, 2017 by Dominy Gallo Posted in: Moving Forward – Everyone reacts differently to the prospect of returning to school after the loss of a parent. Unfortunately, many kids have… …
Lost and Gained September 25, 2017 by Amelie Liu Posted in: Moving Forward – Look at me. This is what I think you see. You see a girl who lost her dad. You see… …
New Beginnings September 15, 2017 by Maddie Redding Posted in: Moving Forward – My mom passed away 3 days before my sophomore year of high school started. That meant that in the time… …
Onward and Upwards: School Transitions September 8, 2017 by Isabel Mishkin Posted in: Moving Forward – Switching from one school to another is one of those universally dreaded teenage experiences. There will be more work, new… …
It’s Not Replacing Them August 29, 2017 by Maddie Redding Posted in: Moving Forward – It’s something that is kind of insanely difficult to think about. You’re working on getting past losing one of the… …
Scared to Move Forward? August 26, 2015 by Emily Kaufold Posted in: Moving Forward – After receiving help and support after a traumatic and life changing experience, a thought that would be… …
One At A Time July 10, 2015 by Kathy Merlo Posted in: Moving Forward – For my blog on WordPress, I wrote a poem. It was a challenge that all the words be one syllable… …
Memories of the Heart May 4, 2015 by Kathy Merlo Posted in: Moving Forward – You’ve lost a parent. Your world may feel upside down, turnaround, and filled with so many different feelings you don’t… …
What I Really Lost When My Mom Died March 12, 2015 by Kathy Merlo Posted in: Moving Forward – The loss of a parent means more than just a loss of their presence in your everyday life. One day… …
Trying to Fill My Mom’s Shoes January 15, 2015 by Kathy Merlo Posted in: Moving Forward – When my mom died, suddenly I felt like the weight of the family was on top of me. Even though… …
Radical Acceptance January 4, 2015 by Emily Kaufold Posted in: Moving Forward – Radical acceptance is an important first step in any problem a person is trying to overcome. …
Fight Back and Find Happiness October 27, 2014 by Kathy Merlo Posted in: Moving Forward – Death has the power to turn your life upside down. When my mom died, I felt lost, alone, sad, and… …
My Numbers Game October 13, 2014 by Kathy Merlo Posted in: Moving Forward – I can tell you how many birthday or holidays have passed since my mom died, or how long she’s been… …
Joseline Gomez: A Long Journey October 3, 2014 by Genevieve Posted in: Moving Forward – “It’s been a long journey.” …
Jessica Lamb-Shapiro: On Grief, Coping, and Moving Forward September 29, 2014 by Genevieve Posted in: Moving Forward – Jessica Lamb-Shapiro is the author of the book Promise Land (http://www.promiselandbook.com). Months before she turned two, Jessica Lamb-Shapiro’s mother committed… …
Guilt: It’s a Part of Loss September 9, 2014 by Kathy Merlo Posted in: Moving Forward – Do you feel guilty? It’s ok. Guilt is a natural feeling to have after losing a parent. …
Ways to Cope August 9, 2014 by Emily Kaufold Posted in: Moving Forward – There are five stages of grief; denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. …
I can’t stop feeling that my mom’s death was preventable and my fault. May 26, 2014 by Judy Posted in: Moving Forward – I lost my mother in a very sudden incident, and I can’t stop reliving the situation on how she could… …
How can I stop being angry at my dad because he died serving in the military? March 24, 2014 by Judy Posted in: Moving Forward – My father died in the line of duty, and I can’t help but feel that what he did was both… …
My parent died from severe illness; how do I know that I won’t die from the same thing? March 10, 2014 by Judy Posted in: Moving Forward – My parent died from severe illness; how do I know that I won’t die from the same thing? …
How do I convince myself that she’s really gone? January 27, 2014 by Judy Posted in: Moving Forward – I keep thinking that my mom is going to come back, that when the phone ringing it is her calling,… …
This Kind of Life January 20, 2014 by Tanya Posted in: Moving Forward – In the blurry, awful period immediately after my father died, the house where I’d spent half my life no longer… …