Losing a child can lead to extreme grief for parents. The loss is often sudden and feels unnatural. Though it can be difficult to carry on after such a tragedy, families should still have a memorial service and find ways to move forward together. Here are some guidelines to help you process your grief and keep the rest of your family together.

3 Tips for Dealing Grief After Losing a Child

1. Ask for Help

Professional help from a therapist or grief counselor can be beneficial for anyone after a loss, but it’s especially crucial for sudden or unexpected losses. Find a therapist you like and stick with regular appointments even after the funeral and memorial service has passed. You might also find it helpful to attend a support group of other parents or people who have experienced loss.

2. Start New Routines

Routines are essential for moving forward. However, there may be a lot of sadness associated with some of the activities you used to do. While you likely need to go back to some of your family’s old routines, like going to work and school, you might opt to start some other new traditions as well. For example, you could start a new hobby like painting or playing music.

3. Honor Your Child’s Life

You need to acknowledge your loss and grief to move forward in your life. However, it’s nice to remember all of the good things that came from your child’s life. A memorial service can go a long way toward honoring their memory. However, you might also start new traditions like writing to them on their birthday or sharing memories across the dinner table.

If you’ve experienced a loss, Hardwick & Sons Funeral Home in Chattanooga, TN, can help. In business since 1926, the locally owned and operated funeral home specializes in helping families process their grief and celebrate their loved ones. In addition to helping you through the process of making funeral arrangements, they also offer grief support emails and memorial videos for a year afterward. Visit the funeral home’s website for a full list of services. To discuss your memorial service needs with a funeral director, call (423) 267-1244.