Entry Date: Monday, May 23, 2005
Location: Valpraso, Indiana
Title: Death of a Child

From the book: Goodbye My Child

Message:

You never forget your child, nor would you ever want to! Because of all your memories and life experiences, grief has a way of sneaking up on you. Birthdays, Christmas, Hanukkah, anniversaries of the death, expected date of graduation, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day and many day-to-day activities of life can trigger re-grief. This re-grief, sometimes called bittersweet grief, is a mixture of sadness and sweetness.

These are some healing things you can do to help you through special days:

• Recognize the day and spend time remembering.
• Bake a birthday cake or have your child’s favorite meal.
• Fill your child’s Christmas stocking with fresh flowers.
• Volunteer in honor of your son or daughter.
• Decorate the grave for holidays.
• Change holiday rituals such as opening presents at a new time.
• Plan your days instead of letting things happen.
• Make plans to go to the movies or go out for dinner.

You can expect to experience bittersweet grief throughout your life, although it will not be as intense or last as long. Some sadness will forever be in your heart even after you have returned to a new normal life.