Tomorrow's child

From Lansing, MI on Father's day--

What Grieving Parents Want for ...Father’s Day
June 21, 2009

1. Recognize that they are a parent: Send a simple card to let them know you remember that they are a parent even though their child is not with them physically.

2. Acknowledge that they have had a loss: Express the message, “I know this might be a difficult day for you. I want you to know that I am thinking about you today.”

3. Use their child’s name in conversation: Saying the name of a child who has died is important to a grieving parent.

4. Plant a living memorial: This is a wonderful day to plant a tree or flower bulbs in memory of the child. This is something that will live on as a beautiful reminder in the years to come.

5. Visit the gravesite: Many parents felt that it was “extremely thoughtful” when others visited their child’s gravesite and left fl owers or a small item near the headstone.

6. Light a candle: Let the parents know you will light a candle in memory of their child.

8. Send a gift of remembrance: maybe an angel statue, a memory box, a memorial candle, a picture frame, a library book donation, an ornament, anything personalized with the child’s name or a date, books on grief, a garden stone or a toy donation in the child’s name.

9. Don’t try to minimize their loss: Avoid using clichés that attempt to explain the death of a child. (“God needed another angel.”) Don’t try to find anything positive about the loss--

(“You still have two healthy children” or “She’s in a better place”).

10. Encourage Self-Care: Self-care is an important aspect of the “healing the mind and spirit effort”…"