Grief Support for Parents

When a child dies, grief support for parents is critical. The death of a child of any age is one of the most excruciating forms of pain for mothers and fathers.

A child has died. Whether the death was anticipated due to a prolonged illness, or unexpected, such as a death from a car accident, disbelief and agony sets in. A child's death is always shocking and devastating for parents. Parents feel like their world has been altered and nothing makes sense to them for a long while. They are filled with questions and struggle with these night and day. Some of the common questions include:

• Why couldn't I save my child?
• Why my child?
• How can I live on?
• He was my only child, what do I have to live for now?

As parents grieve the death of a child, they need assistance from others during this critical time. Having to deal with all the emotions, difficult questions, doubts and fears takes time and energy. This can be overwhelming. The help and encouragement of others, especially from others who are walking in bereaved parent shoes, is healing and therapeutic. Those who have not experienced the death of a child may give advice that does not help the sorrowful parent. Many want to help, but do not know how. Most do not realize how painful dealing with the death of a child is. They may expect parents to get back to their "old selves" within months. The reality is that it take years for parents to learn how to cope in a world without their child.

Fortunately, there are places of support for parents. Some of these are organizations that have international and national recognition as well as local chapters. When you go to the website you can do a search to see if a support group has a meeting place near where you live. Most groups have a non-profit status, are run by volunteers, and do not cost to join. Some have mailing lists you can sign up for.

• The Compassionate Friends
• Bereaved Parents/USA
• M.I.S.S. Foundation
• Mothers with Angels Memorial and Grief Support
• Grief Net.org

If your child died from cancer or another specific illness, there are online groups offering support. Sometimes it is important for parents to be able to talk with others who have lost a child in the same manner in which they lost their daughter or son.

Parents Grieving Children of Suicide provides help to parents who must go through the difficulty of losing a child to suicide.

Try a search on your computer to locate what is available for you in relation to the specific way your child died.

Do not neglect your local library or bookstore. Find the bereavement or grieving section (these should be labeled) where there are a variety of books written by those who have walked in your shoes.

Sharing your child with the world is helpful to many parents. At MySpace you can create a web page in his or her memory for all to view. Uploading pictures of your child who died and writing memories of him will make for a tribute where others can go to learn about him.

If you are a grieving parent or friend of a grieving parent, search for the help needed. Grief support for parents has the capacity to benefit the bereaved. Look for a physical group that meets in a brick and mortar place as well as for the groups online. Be careful because every group may not meet your needs. Be part of a gathering that will assist you in coping the best you can in life after the death of a child. If you cannot find what you are looking for, you may be able to start your own group. At Bereaved Parents USA, there is information and guidance on how to form your own chapter.

• Dying Celebrities
• Books on Grief for a Stillborn Child
• Children's Books About Death

• Free Funeral Program Template
• Sample Funeral Program
• Poems Related to Grief
• Bereavement Poems by Unknown Authors
• Poem about Death of a Dog

• Interview With Dr. Joanne Cacciatore, MISS Foundation
• Loss of a Child Condolences
• Adults Grieving the Death of a Sibling
• Grieving the Loss of a Child
• Online Grief Support Group