Summertime and Grief

Summer is a season of mixed emotions for many families in grief. The end of school and after-school activities can be a relief for some, especially if they struggled with having enough energy and concentration for class and homework. Others will miss the structure and social time that school and sports provide. For adults, summer might mean a less demanding schedule, but could also add the stress of finding childcare or having enough financial resources for camps and trips.

Families may also wrestle with whether to continue summer traditions they shared with the person who died. If you are the parent or caregiver for grieving children or teens, set aside time to talk about memories and traditions. Reassure yourself and others that there is no right way to do summer and that it’s okay to figure it out together.

Here are two summer activities for grieving people of any age:

Bubble Messages:
Bubbles are a great way to share memories and messages for yourself or in a group. Say a memory or a message to the person who died out loud or to yourself and then blow a bubble. This is also a good option for children to do on their own whenever they want to say something to the person who died.

Sidewalk Chalk Memories:
For this activity all you need is a sunny day, some chalk, and a sidewalk or driveway. Draw pictures of summer memories with the person who died or write messages. For those who struggle with painful images or regrets, they can write or draw those and then use a hose or a bucket of water to wash them away. Acknowledging and then intentionally erasing those images and regrets may help lessen their intensity.

If you have a child who likes structure and the free time of summer is difficult, work together to come up with a daily schedule they can follow. Consider getting a special calendar they can write or draw on and put in all the scheduled events for summer. This visual reminder of what is coming up can help children to feel more at ease.

For questions or concerns about helping kids and teens cope with grief this summer, please contact us at 503-775-5683 or .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).

Save the Date for Portraits of Courage, October 25, 2019

Join us for Portraits of Courage, The Dougy Center’s fall luncheon sponsored by KinderCare Education, and learn more about our work with grieving children and families.

The annual event is Friday, October 25, 2019 at the Sentinel Hotel, 614 Southwest 11th Avenue in Portland. The reception begins at 11:30 a.m., followed by the lunch and program from noon to 1 p.m.

You are invited to come as a guest or host a table of 10 people in support of The Dougy Center. There is no cost to attend this fundraising luncheon.

To find out more or to RSVP, contact Rebecca Sturges at 503-542-4827 or .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).

More than 600 grieving kids and their caregivers enjoyed a day at Oaks Park in honor of Michael Freres

The death of a family member often brings financial hardships, making a special day out difficult. As a way to honor their son, the Freres family started the Michael Freres Kids Day at Oaks Park to give grieving families a bit of fun during an extremely difficult time.

Now in its 12th year, the event is completely free for current Dougy Center families and included Oaks Park rides, face painting, and entertainment, as well as food by Voodoo Donuts, Pizza Schmizza, and Baskin-Robbins. A special bubble release also gave kids the opportunity to send a message of love and hope.

More than 600 kids and their adult family members attended the event at Oaks Park in Portland on June 28. Special thank you to the generous support of RE/MAX Real Estate, the Freres family, the Bad Habit band, Cha-Cha the Clown, and numerous Dougy Center volunteers for making this day possible.