imstilla.grandma
Believer of Miracles
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Grandparents who are grieving the death of a grandchild are often “neglected mourners,” taking a back seat to the primary mourners – the parents and siblings of the child who died. When it comes to offering empathy and support, grandparents are often forgotten or are too focused on “staying strong” for their loved ones to process their own feelings.
A Grandparent’s Grief is Unique
According to Dr. Alan Wolfelt, renowned author, educator and grief counselor, when a grandparent experiences the death of a grandchild, they are faced with a unique grieving process, mourning the death on many levels.
Wolfelt explains, “when a grandchild dies, grandparents grieve twice. They mourn the loss of the child, and they feel the pain of their own child’s suffering.”
Grandparents are in the extraordinary position of playing two roles: that of mourner and protector. Dr. Wolfelt continues, “a parent’s love for a child is perhaps the strongest of all human bonds. For the parents of the child who died, the pain of grief may seem intolerable. For the grandparents, watching their own child suffer so and feeling powerless to take away the hurt can feel almost as intolerable.”
Coping with the Loss of a Grandchild
If flowers grow in heaven,
Lord, then pick a bunch for me.
Then place them in my granddaughter’s arms
and tell her they’re from me.
Tell her that I love and miss her
and when she turns to smile,
place a kiss upon her cheek and hold her for awhile.
Author unknown
A Grandparent’s Grief is Unique
According to Dr. Alan Wolfelt, renowned author, educator and grief counselor, when a grandparent experiences the death of a grandchild, they are faced with a unique grieving process, mourning the death on many levels.
Wolfelt explains, “when a grandchild dies, grandparents grieve twice. They mourn the loss of the child, and they feel the pain of their own child’s suffering.”
Grandparents are in the extraordinary position of playing two roles: that of mourner and protector. Dr. Wolfelt continues, “a parent’s love for a child is perhaps the strongest of all human bonds. For the parents of the child who died, the pain of grief may seem intolerable. For the grandparents, watching their own child suffer so and feeling powerless to take away the hurt can feel almost as intolerable.”
Coping with the Loss of a Grandchild
If flowers grow in heaven,
Lord, then pick a bunch for me.
Then place them in my granddaughter’s arms
and tell her they’re from me.
Tell her that I love and miss her
and when she turns to smile,
place a kiss upon her cheek and hold her for awhile.
Author unknown