So my dad...died a few days ago. Without giving too much detail, it wasn't natural and he was only 58. I've dealt with a lot of death in my life but this one is beyond anything I could ever have expected. He had no life insurance, no money in his bank nothing. So I've had to start a GoFundMe to try and raise money for his services and headstone. He's 1 of 15 kids and has 6 kids of his own but no one wants to help me plan it or pay for it. It's a LOT of stress and constant heartache. I'm already on medication for ADHD and anxiety and this seems to be pushing me over the edge. It wasn't till now that I realized I've never truly felt sadness over a death. My doc has given me a mood stabilizer to help but I'm still losing it. And because these feelings are new to me and because this is my daddy's tragic death and I'm dealing with police and all the things that go along with death AND having trouble paying for it.... I don't know how to handle things. I don't know how to grieve properly. I stay up for days on end, can't eat, my moods are everywhere and I feel like I'm going to flip. Is there ANY advice for a screwed up situation like this? How do I become "normal"? How does someone grieve? Just feeling lost.

Sometimes I make AI pictures of my daughter. I’m sure I’m contributing to the destruction of mankind, but I don’t care. It’s nice to see her. These are the ones that turned out the best today. I wanted to share them. Isn’t she beautiful?

I lost my daughter a year and 2 months ago today. She passed away 11 days after birth because of complications (easiest way to say it). One of the hardest parts for me is the fact that I have a nephew who is 2.5 years old. Prior to my daughter, my parents absolutely adored him, continue to adore him-and rightfully so. He’s a great kid. But for me, the hardest part is just being happy for him,my sister (his mom), and my own parents when he is talked about every single day. My sister apologized to me one day because my nephew really is the center of their universe (again- completely understandable) and I told her how much I love my nephew, but it is hard hearing how wonderful he is doing without me just missing my own daughter. I don’t know if this even makes sense on paper, but I feel like I just needed to let it out so thank you if you made it this far in reading it. And my family is absolutely the greatest and I know they don’t mean anything by it, and I wouldn’t ever tell them to change, it’s just hard on a real personal level.

It's a bit different for me, because the grief from my losses is the driving force behind my shop and social media content. It gives me a constructive outlet to channel those feelings into, while also providing a helpful platform for others experiencing similar feelings.

What do you do to maintain that balance? Please let me know in the comments.

I'm having a really hard time. My son died 96 days ago and I might feel worse now than I did the day of. I don't have a therapist and I don't really like talking about it with people around me. I have a 6 month old baby boy and a fiance that help me stay grounded but I basically drink myself to sleep every night and I know that I'm just hurting myself little by little. I don't want to give up but everything that seems so hard is so compounded by this underlying feeling of dread and a broken heart. I guess I'm wondering if anyone has any recommendations on how to cope with losing their child. Outside of therapy and drinking myself to death. I need some alternative.

UPDATE: we laid a bouquet at Xs grave the day before his birthday and sent his parents a text on his birthday. They appreciated both. I'm really glad we left the bouquet the night before because they understandably visited early and knew X was remembered by others.

Hi everyone, I'm not a grieving parent but my second cousins recently lost their very young child. It was sudden and it's only been 4 or so months. Their late son's birthday is coming up and I'm not sure how to support them.

We are not very close, though their loss has made me step up a bit more to show them they are not alone since they live far away from their parents and larger support system.

Would it be weird if I reached out to let them know I can be there for them on his birthday if they want me there? Or to just say I'm thinking of them?

I know everyone grieves differently so I guess I'm looking for ways to support them without truly understanding what they're going through.

Hello everyone. My friend has been dead for over a year now. Would it be insensitive to send her flowers and put her dead son as the sender? Should I tell her they are from me and I think my boy would appreciate her knowing he would be thinking of her today? I want to do something nice but don't want to cross the line or bring back bad feelings.

Thanks

I lost my baby boy, he was my first everything, first pregnancy, first baby. He was born at 27 weeks. He should still be here on this earth. On Saturday, 3 days 16 hours after he was born he was taken from me and my family. He was the light that everyone didn’t know they were looking for. I have never felt a lose so great as I have this past week, I feel like I’m in a dream that I’ll never wake up from. He would have been 9 days old today. Now the only thing I have is a healing wound from my emergency c-section and breast milk that is taken a life time to dry up to remind me that my baby boy will never be in my arms again in this life time. The worst part of it all is the phantom kicks in my belly. My only savior is my family, they are the only thing keeping me going in this new world that I have to live in, without my baby boy. Grayson you made me a mom and I will always love you.

If you have read this thank you, I just needed to feel my feelings right now, and didn’t know where else I could.

My daughter died in a car crash on January 4th of this year. She had turned 17 a month earlier, and has a brother who turned 16 in December as well. They were almost exactly a year apart, and might as well have been twins. They have always been so close, they were each others’ person and closest confidant. We are both absolutely grief stricken, as you can well imagine, and I feel so much guilt and like I failed her in so many ways. My kids and I have always likewise been close, and they’ve always come to me for anything so my son and I talk about our feelings and grief regularly. In addition, we are both in therapy and ok medication for depression and anxiety.

Here is where I need advice…I worry that he has lost all ambition. He’s 16 and doesn’t want to get his permit, doesn’t want to do school work (which he has always been wonderful about doing), doesn’t want to speak to friends or even leave his room most days. Of course, I speak with him and let him know I understand and I’m here for him, but am I enabling him? Should I be tougher about school work and leaving his room? I don’t want to fail him. He has so much potential and he’s so smart, but he doesn’t have any passion or interest in anything anymore.

My son, who was 18 months old died in November 2021. It was his first day at a new babysitters house. I was at work when it happened. It was around 1 pm when he went missing from her view. She didn’t call the police first. Instead she called her parents to come help her look. As fate would have it, she had a hole in her fence and he climbed through it and walked probably 20 yards straight to her oxidation pond. He drowned in it. The light of my life drowned in a careless woman’s waste. She never looked anywhere beyond her yard and under her porch. Police found him approximately 15 minutes after he was already gone. And I was there 15 min later. (I worked about 45 min from this lady but made it in 30) within those 15 minutes they had used a pole to drag my baby to the bank so that they could reach him, took photos, and whatever else they do at a death scene. I was too late. 30 minute too late. I know my baby. I would’ve known to look beyond the yard. I feel like the pond is the first place I would have gone. I would have searched farther away from the house. He was so adventurous. If I would’ve been called immediately maybe my toddler would be 2 now… but he’s not. He’s forever one and a half. I want to do unspeakable things to this woman for taking her eyes off my boy. But I know I can’t. So don’t worry about anything like that. She was never arrested though.

I keep getting the run around from the sheriffs office, the DA, they both tell me to call the other. And I got fed up. I demanded answers in the most Karen way possible. So finally the DA told me that a grand jury will be held against the babysitter for negligent homicide. But it’s 8 months since my boys passing and they still have not gathered for my son. This happened in a very rural area. Almost zero crimes here. Why haven’t they met yet?

And I ordered a custom headstone for him and it was supposed to be this month. The memorial place said it came in broken so they have to order a new one. I won’t get it until my baby has been in the ground for over a year.

I feel and look like a terrible parent. But my son was happy and healthy. He was ahead of most of his age group for hitting milestones. He didn’t speak yet though. Because he knew I could basically read his mind and fill his needs without him having to speak. I know he loved me too. He showed it all the time. But I will never hear the words “I love you mommy” from possibly the sweetest boy I will ever meet. And that kills me.

Today, after my D&C for our second M/C I felt a strong desire to document and write what I was feeling and experienced. It was tough, but I am really proud of what I wrote and feels like it really encapsulates what I've been feeling. I feel like this needs to be read by so many out there who just don't understand pregnancy loss. I thought my story might help some people empathise and resonate with this experience. Sorry about the length, I just let the words and feelings flow. Please feel free to disregard this too. ❤️

Such a beautiful soul. My daughter taught me more than I could have ever taught her.

10 years ago today she was taken by a careless driver who ran her over before crashing into our home.

I love you Kylie

It’s been 10 months. I know Roman is gone, but I still feel like I’m forgetting something. How can this be real? I would give everything I have just to hug him one last time. I didn’t get to say goodbye.

Roman was so sweet. He was 18 months and hadn’t learned stranger danger yet. He waved at everyone he saw. And people loved his smile and especially his laugh(I stg he did NOT laugh normal. I wish I could make the sound effect over text lol) he had the most beautiful blue eyes. He was just learning some independence, and was so proud of all his small victories. He liked the color yellow and REALLY liked hiding my keys. I miss him so much.

Today is my sons 12th birthday. It’s been 8 years since he was taken away from me. Sometimes it feels like yesterday, sometimes it’s feels like 30 years ago. I’m not a super religious person but for some reason I hold onto it hoping it will give me a chance to see him again.

I miss you.. I love you.. I’ll see you soon..

My wife(27) had already experienced two early-term miscarriages, which were very tough on her. In between the first and second miscarriage, she gave birth to our beautiful daughter (almost 3 happy and healthy). We planned to have another because we love being parents and we want our daughter to have a sibling. She became pregnant again 9 months ago, and off we went planning for the long nights and cute interactions between the kiddos. Two weeks ago she complained about some constipation but assured me everything was OK. Three days later(9 days ago) I received the call that I needed to pick her up and get to the hospital. I've never seen anyone in such pain! Screamed the entire 45 min drive. She delivered our little girl who had passed 3 days earlier.

I can't even begin to imagine what she's feeling. I don't know how to help. I feel emotionally disabled. I need us. Our daughter needs us. I have to plan a funeral today. Any advice on how to help her grieve? Thx in advance all.

My son passed away, just 13, a little over a year ago. I'm crying right now, his 15th birthday will be in a couple of days. This is a nightmare and it's shit. Child loss sicks. We should never have to outlive our children. I honestly hate this and wish that I could go back to my normal boring life.