Being a mother while dealing with the death of someone close to you can be an extremely difficult balancing act to manage. You have an obligation to your children to be there for them. If the passing of a loved one is also someone your child was close to then you also have to help your child navigate their own grief. It is vital that you look after yourself in the wake of tragic events. When you’re a mom, you can’t just put your children on hold while you sort out your feelings of sadness and loss. Life goes on, and your children need you to be there for them. They need your stability. By implementing these three parenting tips, you may be able to be an incredible mom to your child or children while dealing with grief and tragedy.
Be Open With Your Children
Moms sometimes make the mistake of trying to be strong for their children by hiding their feelings of grief. Especially when the children are also grieving the loss, it is helpful for them to see how their own parents process emotions like grief and sadness. When parents hide their feelings while the kids are grieving too, it implants an incorrect understanding that they should also act unaffected by the death.
Remember that kids learn through the actions of their parents. Eliza Martinez, an Early Childhood Development Specialist does a brilliant job of covering many of the behaviors children can learn solely based on parents behavior in this overview. As a mom, you want to give your child every opportunity to grow. By mourning the loss of a friend or family member you demonstrate to your child that crying is a natural part of the grieving process.
Talk with Close Friends and Family
Speaking about the problems you are facing is usually the first step towards finding a resolution. Finding people who you trust to confide with is a wonderful way of navigating your emotions. You do not have to be alone in your grief. Reach out and talk to somebody. There are numerous ways to make the brave decision of asking for help including:
- Online forums
- Grief recovery organizations
- Chat support
- Talking with close friends and family members
Grief is complicated and having someone help you to understand your feelings is often an overlooked blessing. Having someone lend a kind ear to your problems is a great way to begin processing your emotions so that you can be a better and more responsive mother to your kids.
Planning a Memorial Service
If you ever find yourself in a situation where you have to help plan the funeral yourself then knowing the funeral process will relieve some stress and anxiety. The process of planning a funeral can have large ramifications on the total bill. Being a young mother often requires frugality and by learning how to save money on funeral costs, you can save you and your family quite a lot of money.
The 4 main steps in planning a funeral are:
- Transportation of the body
- Filing appropriate documentation and getting permits
- Notifying family and contacting relevant parties
- Planning the funeral reception
Transportation of the deceased body to a funeral home will normally be completed by a licensed funeral home or healthcare facility. The documentation required when someone passes away varies by state, however, you will always need to obtain a Death Certificate. This funeral planning guide covers in much more detail everything you need to know about planning a funeral service. Don’t let the stress of organizing a memorial service overwhelm you. By understanding the documentation needed as well as the importance of choosing the right funeral home, you can save a lot of money and time that can be better spent with your family during this time of grief. Hopefully these three tips can help you be a better mom while dealing with grief. Please keep Safe Passage Urns in mind if you are looking to memorialize a loved one.
