One of a series of leaflets published by The Compassionate Friends As time goes by “When my daughter died, I was inundated with offers of support - too many offers to take up - but after a while everybody thought I was okay and stopped asking me if there was anything they could do.” As parents, we will grieve for our children as long as we live. One of the heartbreaking aspects of being a bereaved parent is that we are always aware of the passing of time and what could have been. For instance, a parent may be painfully aware that this is the year when their child would have reached a milestone age, or watch painfully as their child’s old friends graduate, marry or start a new career. Our child is missed in so many circumstances, just as much on big occasions as in multiple ways every single day. People in our social and family circle, who are kind, patient and caring, who speak with love about our child, who are good listeners, give us a safe place in which to cope with this immense, enduring grief. Staying in touch, visiting, phoning, messaging or writing to us, letting us know that neither we nor our child have been forgotten, can make such a great difference. Bereaved parents will never forget your friendship and support. You cannot take away our pain, but your ongoing caring response can make it easier to bear.
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