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Like many holidays throughout the year, Mother's Day and Father's Day can trigger various emotions.
Here are a few suggestions to help you through this time if you or someone you know is grieving:
1. Build in time and activities that are comforting and supportive around these holidays.
2. Make a plan, even if that plan is to do nothing. If you choose to acknowledge the day, consider doing something that connects you with the person who died and what they meant to you.
3. With children, it’s helpful to talk with them ahead of time about what they would like to do or not do.
4. Children may also have to face Mother’s Day or Father’s Day activities at school. Check-in with teachers to learn about their plan and include your children in talking about what works best for them.
5. Let children know that it’s okay to want to celebrate and equally okay not to want to. Don’t force a child to pick another adult to honor unless it’s something they want to do.
7. Social media will likely be flooded with posts about the holiday, including memories of past years. Consider taking a social media break or choosing what you want to post ahead of time.
8. Plan something for yourself. Think about what environment you’d like to be in, knowing you may run into families celebrating the day.
9. Plan an activity with the food, movies, or music your person loved.
10. Volunteer. Doing something for others can create a sense of contribution, belonging, and connection. You might pick an organization or cause that was important to your person.
How you approach Mother’s or Father’s Day is as unique as your grief and relationship with the person who died. Give yourself grace in finding what works best for you and your family. It’s always also okay to change your mind at the last minute.
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