Hello Grief

I think almost everyone collects something.
My mother collects angels. My husband collects banks. My brother collects unusual percussion instruments from all over the world.  I have friends that collect items as varied as Disney memorabilia, teapots, shoes, Superman collectibles, and rare coins.
I used to collect pigs. The fascination with pigs started sometime in elementary school. I [...]

When Samantha Worman’s dad died, a family friend suggested she go to Comfort Zone Camp, a special camp for kids and teens who had lost a parent or sibling. Samantha loved camp so much, and felt so impacted by the connections she made, that she returned later to mentor another child who had who had experienced a loss in her life.

Often, our grief is something that hides beneath the surface. Others may not remember we are hurting, until something happens that brings our grief into the spotlight. Guest author Rachel Reynolds shares how a skinned knee helped her to understand her own experience with grief.

When your parent is dying, you may find yourself in the odd position of being both child and caregiver. Guest author Cheryl Rice tells us how her mother still cared for the whole family in the end, even as they were caring for her.

Losing a spouse is one of the most devastating events many of us will face. On top of all of the grief, there are hard financial questions that must be addressed. Jason Alderman, Visa’s Senior Director of Global Financial Education, shares some valuable tips on which decisions can wait, and which need to be dealt with quickly.

So many of us try to hide from our pain and put on a brave face after a loss. Guest author Catherine Greenleaf, who has lost three people to suicide, tells us why it is so vital to allow ourselves to really cry and grieve in order to heal.

Desperate to find healing after her father’s death, Comfort Zone Camper Samantha Worman realized that she spent more time reading books on loss than she spent actually grieving. In time, she found that her grief was her own, and that she could experience it any way and any time that she needed to.

It is hard enough to lose a loved one as a child or a teen but to add the extra stigma of suicide almost seems unbearable. Guest author Kim Kates shares how Samaritans and Comfort Zone Camp offered hope and healing to a very special group of kids and teens, and how you can offer your support as well.

When a friend dies, it can leave so much hurt and anger in our hearts. Guest author Victoria Noe shares more thoughts on the anger we may experience, and how we can start to move towards healing.

Working with a parent who is facing a child’s death can present unique challenges for a human service professional. As a bereaved parent and counselor himself, guest author David J. Roberts offers some advice on how to serve these parents and honor the memories of their children.