Coping with Christmas 2021

• It is not being disloyal to your child to feel happy at times. You might find yourself enjoying a special meal, a drink, the good company of friends, songs and music, or even Christmas services. Adjusting to life without your child means that hopefully, in time, you will find more joy in living than you do at present. • Be aware that the New Year celebrations can also be difficult. The coming of a new year can feel like you are moving ‘further away’ from your child. The celebrations of others, wishing you a ‘Happy New Year’, can intensify your yearning and grief. You can feel isolated from the happiness of others. Acknowledge these feelings to yourself and others close to you. It might help to have a plan for the evening of December 31st – whether that is to be alone, or with close, understanding friends who will allow you to be yourself and remember your child at this poignant time of year. After the death of your child, the Christmas holidays will have shadow, a yearning for what might have been, an added poignancy. However, we bereaved parents do survive these days, difficult as they are. What matters is that, as far as possible, you are able to do whatever feels right for you, and eventually be able to carry the loving memory of your child with you into future Christmas-times.. UK Helpline 0345 123 2304 (10am – 4pm, 7pm- 10pm every day) The following Helplines are open too: Child Death Helpline 0800 282 986 Child Bereavement UK Support and Information Line 0800 02 888 40 Samaritans 116 123 (free to call) To find out more about TCF visit tcf.org.uk  @tcf.org.uk  @TCFcharityUK @thecompassionatefriendsuk The Compassionate Friends National Helpline will be open during the Christmas period: Note: The above could also apply to other publicly celebrated occasions within your own culture and community, such as Diwali, Chanukah and Eid. Company No 04029535, Charity No 1082335 | Registered in England and Wales. © 2021 The Compassionate Friends (UK).