Beyond Medical Care: What to Consider When Selecting a Care Home
February 1, 2025
Grief is a journey we may start at any age, but for children, it often feels confusing and overwhelming. Reflecting on my own experiences, I remember losing my brother and grandfather as a young child, and other loved ones as I grew older. With each, I learned something new about grief’s impact and the ways it shapes us, especially in childhood.
Today, as a parent, I see grief through my son’s and niece’s eyes as they navigate their feelings after my father’s passing. Each child has their own way of expressing emotions: my son holds onto memories with vivid recollections of scents, foods, and stories, while my niece’s emotions come in strong waves, often accompanied by the urgent need to “just move on.” This experience reminds me of how crucial it is to validate and support each child’s unique way of grieving.
Reading stories together has been one of the most healing activities for our family. Books like The Invisible String by Patrice Karst and The Memory Tree by Britta Teckentrup have helped us talk about love, memory, and connection. We’ve also incorporated rituals, like planting a tree in my father’s honor. My son and niece often water it, talk to it, and include it in our lives as a way to feel close to him. Through meditation, letter writing, and creating special mementos, we’ve found ways to honor him together.
Each of these rituals has helped my family—and can help yours—by giving children tangible ways to express love and keep memories alive. There are now so many helpful books and videos that validate a child’s grief and show them they’re not alone. For a curated list of resources that might resonate with young ones, please see my books page.
We’re all connected by love, and these shared stories and traditions can remind us that even in loss, love remains.
