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Looking Forward April 23, 2018 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 Posted in: Friends and Family – When a friend or loved one is feeling down, what do you do? …
The First Conversation July 29, 2014 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 Posted in: Moving Forward – “It’s been a long journey.” …
Jessica Lamb-Shapiro: On Grief, Coping, and Moving Forward September 29, 2014 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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… …