grief resources

 From Teens in Comfort Zone Camp Healing Circles^SM, 2008

• Don’t say “I know how you feel”

• Don’t say “everything will be okay" – be honest

• Don’t say “your [insert person who died] would have wanted this,” it instills guilt

• Don’t make us talk 

• Be considerate of our emotions

• Don’t pretend that the person who died was never here, help keep the memories alive

• Explain your feelings and grief to us too

• Moving and changing schools means having to tell our story again, to new people

• Remember that we are still kids — try not to give us the duties of a parent

• Get the details on health-related deaths to help prevent it in the rest of the family

• Realize that every kid reacts differently, we’re all individuals 

• Acknowledge the anniversary of their death, find something the family can do together

• Don’t force counseling — let us grieve on our own terms

• Help us and our little brothers/sisters ease into life transitions, and be patient

• Don’t date or remarry just to try to replace the person who died