Grieving with the Loss of a Family Member Over the Holidays
The holiday season has arrived, with all its hustle and bustle, parties and presents. But it’s not the same for families coping with a recent loss. So how do you handle that void?
FOX’s Lisa Brady reports:
The holiday season can be rough emotionally and if there’s been a loss in the family, even more so:
(Monêt) “With an empty chair, things are not going to be as wonderful as everybody remembers them being or wants them to be.”
Author Grace Monêt, who’s certified in grief counseling, suffered her own loss at age 13; her mother and brother died after a car accident:
(Monêt) “A lot of people believe that if you talk about the person that’s gone that’s gonna make it worse.”
Instead, she says talking about it is comforting and for children, important, because they react differently to loss than adults, only appearing to bounce right back:
(Monêt) “Keep the lines of communication open. Let them know that they can ask you questions, whenever they need to.”
And that it’s okay to cry. And that it’s okay if the grown ups cry. Monêt also says it’s not a good idea to use extra gifts to try to compensate for loss.
A sense of security is the key trying to keep the holidays as normal as possible without pretending that nothing happened.
With FOX on Family, I’m Lisa Brady.
