Today is Children’s Grief Awareness Day and yes I am wearing Blue to show my support.
This information is directly from the Highmark Caring Place website
http://www.highmarkcaringplace.com/cp2/cgad/index.shtml
Before they graduate from high school, one child out of every 20 will have a parent die—and that number doesn't include those who experience the death of a brother or sister, a close grandparent, aunt or uncle, or friend.
Children who have had someone die—especially a close family member — can feel the loss forever. They eventually go back to school. They might pick some activities back up. They certainly look "normal." And yet there's still that hole inside.
It often gets worse during the holiday season when the already hard feelings of longing and pain become intensified and when memories of past holidays contrast sharply with the loss of the present holiday.
This is a time of year when the grieving child can feel even more set apart, different from their peers, more alone than ever.
Every school and every community has children who have experienced some type of loss. Even if they keep their loss and experience to themselves, there are many children who are grieving among us.
These children can be helped to not feel so alone. Children and adults together can show their support for grieving children and show their awareness of what grieving children might be going through by participating in Children's Grief Awareness Day.
I can’t say enough about how good the Caring Place was for us. It gave the girls a chance to feel “normal” if not for just a little while and me a place to make sure I was doing the right things. The counselors were very nice and when the girls are a little older I still fully intend to go back and volunteer. It’s very important for people to know that life will go on and things can and will get better. I was so skeptical in the beginning but after attending the meetings I was so glad we all stuck with it. I want other people to know that and to feel that feeling…so today…I wear Blue.
Everyone at my kids' school wore blue today. Already a number of very young kids there who have lost parents.
ReplyDeleteBill,
ReplyDeleteI remember how important the Caring Place became for you and the girls and also how skeptical you were initially :). Thanks for posting a reminder on FB as well. I wore my blue last Thursday and thought of you, the girls and your family. I hope you do go back to volunteer because I know that you and the story of your family will serve as an inspiration and reassurance that life does indeed go on.
Take Care,
Jenn