Discussion about this post

User's avatar
Barry Rands's avatar

"I know how you feel" may not be a good comment, but letting the grieving person know that you also lost a child, parent, sibling, etc. can be helpful. When I lost my firstborn child, I was devastated. It was the first time I had ever experienced grief of that intensity. And as I learned of others who had also lost children, they were the ones who could help me best understand what I was going through and also what I would need to go through on that journey of grief. So maybe an appropriate comment would be "I'm grieving with you. I lost my father a few years ago, too."

Expand full comment
Bill Robson's avatar

Well said, John. I didn't mourn my dad at his passing as I mourned the death of our relationship when I left home my junior year in high school. We kept in touch over the years but there was nothing of substance. He never once asked about my kids. His love affair with a bottle was his family. His loss. At age 78, I almost naturally do the 3 things you suggest as my wife and I have had practice with grieving with our friends and family. Death is very humbling.

Expand full comment
2 more comments...

No posts