Part I | Children's Grief Awareness
Grieving Voices
English - November 14, 2023 09:00 - 14 minutes - 6.68 MBMental Health Health & Fitness Education Self-Improvement grief grief podcast grief support grief education grief stories loss heartbroken divorce death child loss Homepage Download Google Podcasts Overcast Castro Pocket Casts RSS feed
In light of November 16th being Children's Grief Awareness Day, I recount my experience as a child griever in today's episode.
Back in the '80s, and still very much today, the topic of grief was uncomfortable and not something people openly shared their feelings about. Not to mention, the resources that exist today did not exist back then, leaving society to fend for itself and perpetuate the myths of grief I so often talk about: Don't Feel Bad, Replace the Loss, Grieve Alone, Be Strong, Keep Busy, and Time Heals.
Growing up with grief poses many challenges for children, particularly with the loss of parents, safety, and security. The myths of grief have been ingrained in our society, and grieving children of the past, like myself, grow up passing those same myths down to their children. Hence, the cycle of grief misinformation continues. This is why I am so passionate about talking about grief because the cycle must be broken.
The more people who recognize they're not forever broken or destined for a life of grief and instead learn new information and tools, the better off future generations will be - the better off our world will be.
I encourage all listeners to empathize with grieving children during this Children's Grief Awareness Day. Reflect on the role you play in the life of a grieving child you know. If you want a child to feel safe in sharing, as an adult, you often have to go first in sharing.
Through this episode, you will also learn children's common reactions to grief and more. In Part II, I will focus on an experience many children have today - divorced parents and navigating the holidays, especially if this is the first holiday without a loved one.
RESOURCES:
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NEED HELP?
If you are struggling with grief due to any of the 40+ losses, free resources are available HERE.
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