Holiday Grief
For those who are grieving, the holidays can be unfamiliar terrain. Whether you celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah or Kwanzaa, this time is filled with fond remembrances of loved ones who are on your mind yet absent from your traditions and rituals. Acknowledging the difficulties of holidays after loss does not make a potentially difficult time any easier, but preparing for the holidays by tapping into helpful coping strategies may provide some much-needed help.
We have compiled a list of resources below that we hope you might find helpful. Our executive committee has vetted every resource as the highest quality. If we can be of help to your or your family during this difficult time as you walk towards your new normal, please let us know by contacting us with any questions you might have.
For Parents From Parents
- Surviving the Holidays
- Thankful for the Unexpected
- The Most Wonderful and Grief Filled Time of the Year
- Honoring Your Child During the Holidays
- ‘Tis the Season for Grief
For Parents from Professionals
- Getting Through the Holidays – The Dougy Center
- Three C’s for Holiday Grief – Hospice Foundation
- 64 Grief Tips for the Holidays – What’s Your Grief
- Grief for the Holidays – Grief.com
For Parents Regarding Surviving Siblings from Professionals
- Help Grieving Children During the Holidays – Katie Lear
- Supporting Grieving Children During the Holidays – Texas Children’s Hospital
- 7 Tips to Support Children During the Holidays – Mindfulness and Grief
- Helping a Teen With Grief – What’s Your Grief
- Teenage Grief – Eterneva
For Kids from Professionals
- Help for Kids – The Dougy Center
- Holiday Toolkit – Children Grieve
- Books for Grieving Children – Allina Health
- Grief for Children – Sesame Street Communities
For Teens from Professionals
Online Resources For Parents
The Compassionate Friends
The Compassionate Friends non-profit organization exists to provide friendship, understanding, and hope to those going through the natural grieving process.
Mothers In Support And Sympathy (MISS Foundation)
The MISS Foundation is an international 501(c)3, volunteer-based organization providing C.A.R.E.S. [counseling, advocacy, research, education and support] services to families experiencing the death of a child.
Still Standing Magazine
Still Standing Magazine, LLC, shares stories from around the world of writers surviving the aftermath of loss, infertility – and includes information on how others can help.
Bereaved Parents of the USA
We are the parents whose children have died. We are the siblings whose brothers and sisters no longer walk with us through life. We are the grandparents who have buried grandchildren.
What’s Your Grief?
Our mission is to promote grief education, exploration, and expression in both practical and creative ways.
Open To Hope
Open to Hope is a non-profit with the mission of helping people find hope after loss. We invite you to read, listen and share your stories of hope and compassion.
Still Mothers
Still Mothers is a community and support resource for women who are living a childless life after the death of their only child(ren). We support all mothers who have faced loss due to miscarriage, stillbirth, neonatal death, infant death, as well as any other form of child loss.
PALS, Pregnancy After Loss Support
The MISS Foundation is an international 501(c)3, volunteer-based organization providing C.A.R.E.S. [counseling, advocacy, research, education and support] services to families experiencing the death of a child.
Grieving Dads Project
Grieving Dads Project is a site build by a grieving father and geared for grieving fathers. It’s a great resources specifically designed to speak to men.
Grief Share
GriefShare is a friendly, caring group of people who will walk alongside you through one of life’s most difficult experiences. You don’t have to go through the grieving process alone.
Care For The Family
Care for the Family is a national charity which aims to promote strong family life and to help those who face family difficulties.
The Lullaby Trust
The Lullaby Trust raises awareness of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), provides expert advice on safer sleep for babies and offers emotional support for bereaved families