for anyone finding Christmas more painful than comforting - please know this truth. You are not weak. You are not broken. You are not failing. You are a parent who loved deeply and continues to love still. Surviving this is not small.

The journey of grief, particularly following the loss of a child, can profoundly affect your relationships. While some friends may stand by your steadfastly, others may struggle to cope with the enormity of your loss and begin to pull away.

In the aftermath of profound loss, your emotional and physical energy is already stretched thin. Grief demands a significant amount of mental and emotional bandwidth, leaving you with less capacity for other things in life.

Grieving the loss of a child is an incredibly personal experience, but it’s also one that no one should have to face alone. Building a support system can provide a sense of connection, understanding, and compassion during this time of profound loss.

The loss of a child is one of the most profound and challenging experiences a married couple can face. It’s a loss that goes against the natural order, and it affects each partner deeply, often in different ways.