For Grieving Parents
This may be the first time you have to experience grief of a loved one. The loss of a child, however, has been called the worst loss. It shakes the foundation of your esteem, your faith and your will. You will never be the same and this may frustrate you and others close to you. Sometimes family become like strangers and strangers become like family.
Don’t let anyone tell you there is a time limit for your grief. There isn’t. If a child has their parents die, they are called an orphan. If a wife has their husband die, they are called a widow. If a husband has his wife die, he is called a widower. If a parent has a child die, there is no name for it. It is that lonely at times and that tragic. There are no words, so when others try to comfort us with words, it is just not acceptable. Sometimes what we truly need is to be hugged or allowed to be at peace with our thoughts.
Sometimes people even avoid us because they don’t want to be sad or see us in this new way. Well, the issue with that is that we will never be the same again and we are gradually moving to our new normal. This is a struggle for the grieving parent too.
Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep – http://nowilaymedowntosleep.org/
Photographers in your area to take photos of your baby and your family – this is a free service.
Centering Corporation – Grief Books and resources for all
PO Box 4600, Omaha NE 68104
402-553-1200
http://www.centering.org/
SHARE, One of the first national organizations to provide support groups for parents. 800-821-6819
Butterflies:
Michael’s Fluttering Wings, Route 1 Box 447A, Mathis TX 78368
512-547-5568
Mr. Butterflies
http://www.mrbutterflies.com/
Fragrant Acres’ Butterfly Farm
http://www.butterflyreleases.com/
Vibrant Wings Butterfly Release
http://www.vibrantwings.com/
Books For Adults
Empty Cradle, Broken Heart: Surviving the Death of your Baby - Deborah L. Davis
Grieving the Child I Never Knew - Kathe Wunnenberg
The Death of a Child: Reflections for Grieving Parents - Elaine E. Stillwell
Chicken Soup for the Grieving Soul - Jack Canfield and Mark Victor Hansen
After the Darkest Hour, the Sun will Shine Again: A Parents Guide to Coping with the Loss of a Child - Elizabeth Mehren
Help, Comfort and Hope After Losing Your Baby in Pregnancy or the First Year -Hannah Lathrop
Holding on to Hope - Nancy Guthrie
Safe in the Arms of God - John MacArthur
Gone but not Lost: Grieving the Death of a Child - David W. Wiersbe
Empty Arms - Sherokee Ilse
I'll Hold You in Heaven Remembrance Book - Debbie Heydrick
Closer to the Light - Melvin Morse, Paul Perry, and Raymond A. Moody
Song for Sarah: a Young Mother's Journey Through Death and Grief - Paula D'arcy
Trying Again - A guide to pregnancy after miscarriage, stillbirth, and infant loss - Ann Douglas and John R. Sussman, M.D
Pregnancy after a Loss - A Guide to Pregnancy after a Miscarriage, Stillbirth or Infant Death - Carol Cirulli Lanham
Gone too Soon: the Life and Loss of Infants and Unborn Children - Sherri D. Wittwer
Waiting with Gabriel - Amy Kuebelbeck
After the Death of a Child: Living with Loss through the Years - Ann K. Finkbiener
When The Bough Breaks: Forever After the Death of a Son or Daughter - Judith R. Bernstein
The Worst Loss: How Families Heal from the Death of a Child - Barbara D. Rosof
For Children
Please note - some of these books are also good for parents too.
Mommy, Please Don't Cry, There Are No Tears In Heaven - Linda Deymaz
We Were Gonna Have a Baby, But We Had An Angel Instead - Pat Schwiebert and Taylor Bills
No New Baby - Marilyn Gryte
All Gods Creatures Go to Heaven - A.A. Nolfo and N.A. Noel
Websites:
The Compassionate Friends
www.compassionatefriends.org/
The Labor of Love
http://www.thelaboroflove.com/prose/loss.html
The MISS Foundation
http://www.missfoundation.org/
The Cope Foundation
http://www.copefoundation.org/
Remembering Our Babies - Pregnancy and Infant Loss
http://www.october15th.com/
Share - Pregnancy and Infant Loss Support
http://www.nationalshareoffice.com/
Breath of Hope’s Listserv for Parents of Angels
Breath of Hope Angels Listserv Forum
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/BreathofHopeAngels/
or:
Don’t let anyone tell you there is a time limit for your grief. There isn’t. If a child has their parents die, they are called an orphan. If a wife has their husband die, they are called a widow. If a husband has his wife die, he is called a widower. If a parent has a child die, there is no name for it. It is that lonely at times and that tragic. There are no words, so when others try to comfort us with words, it is just not acceptable. Sometimes what we truly need is to be hugged or allowed to be at peace with our thoughts.
Sometimes people even avoid us because they don’t want to be sad or see us in this new way. Well, the issue with that is that we will never be the same again and we are gradually moving to our new normal. This is a struggle for the grieving parent too.
Helpful Resources
Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep – http://nowilaymedowntosleep.org/
Photographers in your area to take photos of your baby and your family – this is a free service.
Centering Corporation – Grief Books and resources for all
PO Box 4600, Omaha NE 68104
402-553-1200
http://www.centering.org/
SHARE, One of the first national organizations to provide support groups for parents. 800-821-6819
Butterflies:
Michael’s Fluttering Wings, Route 1 Box 447A, Mathis TX 78368
512-547-5568
Mr. Butterflies
http://www.mrbutterflies.com/
Fragrant Acres’ Butterfly Farm
http://www.butterflyreleases.com/
Vibrant Wings Butterfly Release
http://www.vibrantwings.com/
Books For Adults
Empty Cradle, Broken Heart: Surviving the Death of your Baby - Deborah L. Davis
Grieving the Child I Never Knew - Kathe Wunnenberg
The Death of a Child: Reflections for Grieving Parents - Elaine E. Stillwell
Chicken Soup for the Grieving Soul - Jack Canfield and Mark Victor Hansen
After the Darkest Hour, the Sun will Shine Again: A Parents Guide to Coping with the Loss of a Child - Elizabeth Mehren
Help, Comfort and Hope After Losing Your Baby in Pregnancy or the First Year -Hannah Lathrop
Holding on to Hope - Nancy Guthrie
Safe in the Arms of God - John MacArthur
Gone but not Lost: Grieving the Death of a Child - David W. Wiersbe
Empty Arms - Sherokee Ilse
I'll Hold You in Heaven Remembrance Book - Debbie Heydrick
Closer to the Light - Melvin Morse, Paul Perry, and Raymond A. Moody
Song for Sarah: a Young Mother's Journey Through Death and Grief - Paula D'arcy
Trying Again - A guide to pregnancy after miscarriage, stillbirth, and infant loss - Ann Douglas and John R. Sussman, M.D
Pregnancy after a Loss - A Guide to Pregnancy after a Miscarriage, Stillbirth or Infant Death - Carol Cirulli Lanham
Gone too Soon: the Life and Loss of Infants and Unborn Children - Sherri D. Wittwer
Waiting with Gabriel - Amy Kuebelbeck
After the Death of a Child: Living with Loss through the Years - Ann K. Finkbiener
When The Bough Breaks: Forever After the Death of a Son or Daughter - Judith R. Bernstein
The Worst Loss: How Families Heal from the Death of a Child - Barbara D. Rosof
For Children
Please note - some of these books are also good for parents too.
Mommy, Please Don't Cry, There Are No Tears In Heaven - Linda Deymaz
We Were Gonna Have a Baby, But We Had An Angel Instead - Pat Schwiebert and Taylor Bills
No New Baby - Marilyn Gryte
All Gods Creatures Go to Heaven - A.A. Nolfo and N.A. Noel
Websites:
The Compassionate Friends
www.compassionatefriends.org/
The Labor of Love
http://www.thelaboroflove.com/prose/loss.html
The MISS Foundation
http://www.missfoundation.org/
The Cope Foundation
http://www.copefoundation.org/
Remembering Our Babies - Pregnancy and Infant Loss
http://www.october15th.com/
Share - Pregnancy and Infant Loss Support
http://www.nationalshareoffice.com/
Breath of Hope’s Listserv for Parents of Angels
Breath of Hope Angels Listserv Forum
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/BreathofHopeAngels/
or:
Click to join BreathofHopeAngels