Grieving Parent

Tag: Resources

  • Journal Writing

    Journal Writing

    After your child dies you become desperate for something that helps ease the pain. Anything that will bring healing.

    One tool often recommended by counselors is journal writing. A journal gives you a place to put your thoughts, frustrations, remembrances.

    This blog is my version of a journal.

    I’ve found it helps to get some of these overwhelming thoughts out of my head. I’m not sure how it works or why, but sending my thoughts out into the ether of the blogosphere seems to bring me comfort.

    At the recent TCF regional conference we attended, author and bereaved mom Alice J. Wisler conducted a workshop on journal writing. While it’s too late for you to attend her workshop, Alice can still help you with your journal writing.

    She periodically offers a course, Writing the Heartache, providing lessons. In this five week course Alice sends out lessons via email. You send your assignments back to her for critique, suggestions and support.

    Resource Links

    Get more details and sign up for the course here.

    Alice J. Wisler’s website.

    Alice J. Wisler’s Facebook Fan Page

  • The Grandmother of Grief?

    The Grandmother of Grief?

    Both days of the recent conference by TCF Frankfort, KY opened in a session with Darcie Sims. She told us, “I’m probably the oldest member of TCF,” at least based on the time she’s been a bereaved mom – 34 years. In fact she was one of the early leaders in growing TCF into a national organization.

    If you go to her website you’ll find enough letters after her name to keep Vanna White busy for awhile. Letters like Ph.D., CHT, CT, and GMS. I have no idea what most of those mean except the lady has some serious training.

    And that training did nothing to prepare her for the pain and grief she experienced when her son “Big A” died.

    The first day she went through her experience as a bereaved parent.

    It was a standup comedy act with tear jerking insights tossed in. That’s right, she had a room full of grieving parents, siblings, and grandparents laughing often.  Like all good humor, her jokes and comments were funny because they hit at the heart of reality.

    At her first Compassionate Friends meeting she told about the leader’s innovative technique, having them all sit in a circle and touch knees. Sit on the chair with their legs spread so their knees would be touching their neighbors. Pretty dumb idea right? But no one questioned it. Because we grieving parents are crazy and we’ll do most anything to take away the pain. She did note the women wore pants after the first meeting.

    She informed those of us that are still in our “year of firsts” that we’ve had it easy so far. The second year is harder. As she explained, “at first we’re frozen.” After the first year we thaw out. Then we really feel the pain.

    That’s a very chilling thought.

  • TCF Regional Conference

    TCF Regional Conference

    We’ve been doing some crafts lately. Making some pretty horseshoes.

    We’ll be going to the Frankfort Compassionate Friends regional conference this coming weekend. The people attending the conference will receive a gift bag. I don’t know what all will be in that bag, but I do know it will have a real nice horseshoe.

    The idea of a conference for people that have lost a child just seems so wrong.

    But there are a bunch of us out there.

    The conference is named “Remembering, Helping, Healing.” I know all of us grieving parents need those things.

    Maybe I’ll see you there.

  • TCF Frankfort Website

    TCF Frankfort Website

    “Our” chapter of The Compassionate Friends launched a new website recently.

    If you live near Frankfort, KY and have lost a child or sibling you should check them out.

    They’re having a conference in March. Details are at the website:

    http://thecompassionatefriendsfrankfortky.com/

  • GriefNet.org

    GriefNet.org

    GriefNet provides email support groups for all areas of grief. There are thirteen groups listed for loss of a child.

    GriefNet asks for a $10 per month donation to be part of a group. They say no one is turned away for financial reasons. They do offer a one month free trial so you can try it before making a donation.

    I joined the group for parents that have lost an adult child.

    The best I can tell, there is no access to past emails for the group. You only get an email if a parent sends one to the group. You then get all the replies to that email by other members. Traffic has been pretty slow in this group so far. Of course I could send an email to the group. But I don’t really know what I’d say or ask. It’s easier for me to join in a conversation that’s already started.

    I would get more out of GriefNet if it was set up as forums rather than email groups. If there were forums we could go back and view past topics. Forums also let users add profile information if they feel comfortable doing so. It would help me to see something about the other people I’m sharing my life with here. With the email group all I see is a name. I just don’t feel that connected. I must admit I’m not really fond of email groups and that may affect my opinion about this. If you like email groups this may work great for you.

    GriefNet has a library of articles on their website. It isn’t specific to bereaved parents, but there is some interesting stuff there.

    They also appear to have a place for you to setup a “virtual memorial” for your child. I didn’t set one up for Richard yet and I may not because this blog sort of serves that purpose. I didn’t see anything about charges for this service, so I assume it is free.

    Visit the GriefNet.org site here:

    http://www.griefnet