Holiday and Special Occasion Survival Guide
Updated September 06, 2012.
When you’ve had a pregnancy loss, you feel like the whole world should stop. You might think like you’ll never feel normal again, and that you can never go back to the way you used to be. Unfortunately, we cause pause time and wait for grief to give up its hold. Days, weeks, and months keep passing, and with them inevitably come all the usual events. Holidays, anniversaries, birthdays, family parties, baby showers…the list goes on.
Here is your go-to survival guide with helpful hints for getting through all those yearly milestones while you walk through grief.
Possibly the most bittersweet day of the year for loss moms, Mother’s Day can be a real emotional roller coaster. Anticipating your emotions and planning a new tradition may help you get through the holiday. See the links below to get started.
Though dads aren’t always as vocal about their grief, Father’s Day can be just as hard for fathers as Mother’s Day is for mothers. Below, learn about ways to cope and make the day more than just a reason to be sad.
For many people, Thanksgiving is the kick-off to a long season of holiday celebrations and family time. It can be overwhelming for bereaved parents to balance their desire to withdraw in grief with the potential guilt about avoiding holiday traditions. Here is your survival guide.
No other holiday has the association with family, celebration, and children that Christmas does. It can seem impossible to face for grieving families. Should you skip it? Try to recreate the traditions of previous years, or start something entirely new? Browse through these links for ideas on coping, creating traditions, or making the bold choice to skip the holidays this year.
Whether your baby passed away in utero, or lived for a short time, you’ll never forget the day you delivered. As the anniversary approaches, you may wonder what you should do—let it pass unobserved or celebrate? Read some suggestions for ways to spend the day below.
Most likely, you’ll eventually need to attend a baby shower or other baby-related event, like a baptism or brit. Few events are so full of painful reminders of your own loss. Prepare yourself for the emotional pitfalls with the hints below.
When you’ve had a pregnancy loss, you feel like the whole world should stop. You might think like you’ll never feel normal again, and that you can never go back to the way you used to be. Unfortunately, we cause pause time and wait for grief to give up its hold. Days, weeks, and months keep passing, and with them inevitably come all the usual events. Holidays, anniversaries, birthdays, family parties, baby showers…the list goes on.
Here is your go-to survival guide with helpful hints for getting through all those yearly milestones while you walk through grief.
1. Mother’s Day
Possibly the most bittersweet day of the year for loss moms, Mother’s Day can be a real emotional roller coaster. Anticipating your emotions and planning a new tradition may help you get through the holiday. See the links below to get started.
2. Father’s Day
Though dads aren’t always as vocal about their grief, Father’s Day can be just as hard for fathers as Mother’s Day is for mothers. Below, learn about ways to cope and make the day more than just a reason to be sad.
3. Thanksgiving
For many people, Thanksgiving is the kick-off to a long season of holiday celebrations and family time. It can be overwhelming for bereaved parents to balance their desire to withdraw in grief with the potential guilt about avoiding holiday traditions. Here is your survival guide.
4. Christmas
No other holiday has the association with family, celebration, and children that Christmas does. It can seem impossible to face for grieving families. Should you skip it? Try to recreate the traditions of previous years, or start something entirely new? Browse through these links for ideas on coping, creating traditions, or making the bold choice to skip the holidays this year.
5. Your Baby’s Birthday
Whether your baby passed away in utero, or lived for a short time, you’ll never forget the day you delivered. As the anniversary approaches, you may wonder what you should do—let it pass unobserved or celebrate? Read some suggestions for ways to spend the day below.
6. Baby Showers
Most likely, you’ll eventually need to attend a baby shower or other baby-related event, like a baptism or brit. Few events are so full of painful reminders of your own loss. Prepare yourself for the emotional pitfalls with the hints below.
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