Grief: The Journey No One Plans For. Part 1. An Introduction

Welcome to "Grief: The Journey No One Plans For-For Parents and The Friends Who Walk Beside Them - a series created to support parents, like myself, who have lost a child and to help normalize our experience, regardless of our child’s age, the circumstances of their passing or how recently or long ago they transitioned. Part 1: "Understanding the Journey," explores the grieving process, and offers a glimpse into the next two talks. Part 2: "Finding Our Way Through Grief" is for parents who have lost a child, while also helping friends and loved ones better understand what a grieving parent may be experiencing. Part 3: "Walking Beside a Grieving Parent" -coming soon-explores how to offer meaningful and compassionate support, including what to say, what to avoid, and how to help a grieving parent feel seen, supported and less alone. Whether you are grieving the loss of your child or hoping to support someone who is, my hope is that the series brings comfort, understanding and connection.

Transcript

Hi, This is Teresa Conte. Thank you so much for joining me for this three-part series called Grief, The Journey No One Plans For, For parents and the friends who walk beside them. If you're a parent whose child has passed, I offer you my deepest condolences. And if you're a friend who wishes to support someone who's grieving, Thank you for being here. Today, I'll be sharing part one of the series, Understanding the Journey. Which provides a brief overview of the grieving process and a bit of what we'll be covering in the next two talks. If you're a parent who is experiencing the devastating loss of a child, I want you to know that Part 2 was created for you. As a parent who has also lost a child, I know that grief is deeply personal. And while we share similarities, No two paths are exactly the same. I hope. Part two of the series offers you a sense of comfort and understanding and helps to normalize what you may be experiencing as you navigate a journey you never expected or wanted to take. If you're a friend, Family member, Or someone who's walking alongside a person who's grieving, I'll be sharing part two with you as well. Perhaps you found yourself wanting to help, Wanting to say or do the right thing, Or simply wishing you could ease some of the pain. Part two will help you gain a deeper understanding of what the person you care about may be experiencing, Even when they find it difficult to put their feelings into words or to share them with you. In Part 3, Which will be coming soon, I'll turn my attention more directly to you. The friends, Family members, And others who want to offer support. I'll be sharing insights and suggestions to help you understand how to be there for someone who has lost a child in ways that are meaningful, Compassionate, And genuinely helpful. While also offering guidance on what to avoid saying and doing. Even when your intentions are good. Although parts two and three contain substantive and valuable information, Each part explores a distinct subject area and carries its own focus and energy. If you're here because you want to support someone who's grieving, I encourage you to listen to both parts. Together, They will offer you a deeper understanding of grief. Greater insight into what the person you want to support may be experiencing. And a more compassionate perspective on how to walk alongside of them through one of life's most difficult passages. While we can never take someone's pain away, We can learn to understand it better, To meet them where they are, Rather than trying to change or fix them, And to remind them that they don't have to walk through this most difficult journey alone. Well, Grief is something we will all experience in our lifetime. As a parent who is also grieving the loss of my son, Ian, I know that losing a child is a grief like no other. It takes us into depths of loving, Living, And learning in ways we never could have imagined. But there is hope as we open to the love, The light, And the healing that is unfolding within our hearts and minds and from the people who remain with us long after a child passes. I know that talking about grief isn't something we normally discuss. In fact, For many of us, It's a topic we've been conditioned to avoid. So it can leave us feeling alone and wondering if what we're experiencing is normal. Talking about grief can be incredibly difficult and can stir up painful feelings whether we are grieving the loss of a child or someone who wishes to offer support but is afraid of saying or doing something hurtful. Being there to support someone who's grieving can also stir up feelings in the person who is providing support, Perhaps bringing up an experience of grief in their own lives. If you're a parent in the first two years of your child's passing, You may be feeling quite raw and wondering if the pain will ever lessen. I want you to know that there is hope as we allow ourselves to feel and move through the grieving process. Healing is unfolding even though we may not recognize it in the moment. If your presence here is sparked by a desire to better understand what a friend is experiencing and how to support them, Thank you again for being here and helping to change the paradigm of how our culture responds to grief. Thank you again for joining me for part one of this three-part series, Grief, The Journey No One Plans For, For parents and the friends who walk beside them. I look forward to connecting with you in part two. For parents finding our way through grief.