Summertime Grief
Summertime – time for fun! Beach time, flower gardens, BBQ’s, and picnics in the park. Summer is time for vacations and enjoying a few lazy afternoons outside. We look forward to time with family and friends.
Heartlinks Grief Center had a summertime activity last Friday that has become a summer fun tradition for our family. A fundraiser at the Gateway Grizzlies Ball Park in Sauget, Illinois. Not just the fun of the game, there is face painting and playgrounds and lots of good food and drink. Here’s three of my grandchildren and me with Diana Cuddeback, Heartlinks Director, at the event.
These three were excited for the evening of fun! Our children are often the most excited for summer. Summer vacation, time with grandparents, ball games, and fun with friends.
But when a child is grieving the loss of someone they love, summer may be hard. Hard to imagine doing that favorite activity with a lost parent or sibling. Feeling sad when everyone else is out there having fun. Feeling guilty for having fun when their loved one isn’t here to enjoy it with them.
Some ways to help children cope with grief in the summer, from the Agrace Educational Institute, include:
- Try to keep their routine structured if at all possible.
- Get outside if possible. Sunshine and vitamin D are good for health.
- Do things that bring back happy memories of their loved one, such as special summertime meals.
- Try new summer activities and create new traditions – if they are ready.
- Find others who share your experience.
Heartlinks Grief Center was founded as a children’s grief center and today serves all ages and types of grieving people. If you are loving a child who is grieving, contact Heartlinks.
If you’d just like to help others who are grieving, please consider a donation to Heartlinks Grief Center.
Heartlinks Grief Center provides grief support to all ages, regardless of ability to pay. If you are grieving or know someone who could use assistance on their grief journey, please contact Heartlinks Grief Center at 618-277-1800 or email support@myheartlinks.com.
Proceeds from the sale of my books are donated to help support Heartlinks Grief Center, a program of Family Hospice of Belleville, IL.
Be blessed,
Ellen
“We Grow Stronger Together”
Contact me at: Ellen Krohne or Ellen Krohne Author Facebook
My books are available at Annette’s Gifts in Okawville Illinois and on Amazon.com at the links below:
Heartbroken – Grief and Hope Inside the Opioid Crisis