Grief and the Holidays (Podcast)

Meet social worker and Mary Washington Healthcare community bereavement coordinator, Mary Beaven. Mary shares tips on processing your grief during the holiday season, and includes suggestions for anyone supporting someone who is grieving.

Some of the resources Mary shared are listed below the audio player. Read more about Grief Support Services at MWHC.

Websites

https://whatsyourgrief.com/ (Grief education – Articles, podcast)

https://dougy.org/ (Resources for children and families)

https://refugeingrief.com/ (From the author of It’s Ok That You’re Not Ok)

https://www.taps.org/ (Military associated loss)

https://www.centerforloss.com/grief/im-grieving-loss/ (Grief education)

https://nacg.org/resource-library/ (Education for caregivers of grieving children)

Books for Adults

The Year of Magical Thinking by Joan Didion (Spouse loss)

loving the gone by sara rian (Book of poetry; parent loss, but not loss specific)

Understanding Your Grief by Alan Wolfelt, PhD (Grief education)

The Grieving Brain by Mary-Frances O’Connor, PhD (Grief education; parent loss)

It’s Ok That You’re Not Ok by Megan Divine (Spouse loss, but talks about all grief)

Books for Children

Lifetimes: The Beautiful Way to Explain Death to Children (kids 5+)

The Invisible String (kids 3+)

The Fall of Freddie the Leaf: A Story of Life for All Ages (kids 4+)

The Elephant in the Room: A Childrens Book for Grief and Loss (kids 4+)

Tear Soup: A Recipe for Healing After Loss (kids 8+)

Samantha Jane’s Missing Smile: A Story About Coping With the Loss of a Parent (kids 5+)

Where’s Jess: For Children Who Have a Brother or Sister Die (kids 3-6)

The ABCs of Grief: A children’s book for all types of grief and loss (kids 3-10)

Holiday Grief Emotions Bulb Activity

This is an activity that will help you and your loved ones identify and express their emotions about the loved one who has died. This is an activity that creates an opportunity for the family to participate in an activity and share feelings with each other. Make a memory.

Supplies:

Pens and ribbons

Start:

Ribbon: black-sad, white-scared, red: mad/angry, blue-love, memories- glitter, green-peaceful, pink-lonely, Yellow/gold-Happy

Blank paper strip: write whatever you would say to your loved one if he were here or something you want them to know.

Directions:

Everything is spread out on the table. Think about your emotions this season in relation to your loved one.

Put ribbons in the Christmas ball according to the feelings you have. It could be all of them! Sprinkle in some memories, put top on, and then add a ribbon.

You may want to hang on the tree or you may want to put it near the picture of your loved one.