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Candle and a red rose

Coping with Valentine’s Day as a widowed parent

Valentine’s Day can be tough when you’ve been bereaved, particularly when you’ve lost your life partner. We asked our friends at the charity WAY Widowed and Young to share some tips from their members – who’ve all been widowed before their 51st birthday – to suggest ways of coping with this ...
Child's hands decorating a Christmas tree

My Christmas as a widowed parent with bereaved children

Written by Gary Andrews, Winston's Wish Ambassador My wife, Joy, died just two months before Christmas 2017. It was a sudden death (a result of sepsis) – totally unexpected and as you can imagine we were left totally stunned. She was just 41 and our two children, Lily and Ben were ...
Stressed mum sat at a table wrapping presents - Winston's wish

Grief at Christmas: Common questions asked by parents and carers

Dealing with your grief at Christmas can be tough, especially when you’re a parent or carer and feel like you need to celebrate Christmas for your children. Know that you’re not the only one struggling with this. Here are some of the common questions our on-demand services team are asked ...
Christmas cards on a table - Winston's wish

Writing an unsent Christmas card

Christmas time can cause grief and its emotions to feel more intense for some people. You might be reminiscing on happy memories or feeling like you can’t think about those memories right now, either way it might be helpful for you to write down your thoughts. Sending Christmas cards might ...
Child's hands putting decorations on a Christmas tree - Winston's Wish

How to cope at Christmas as a widowed parent

Christmas can be an incredibly challenging time when you’ve lost a loved one, particularly if you’re a parent also supporting grieving children as you navigate your own bereavement. We asked our friends at the charity WAY Widowed and Young – which supports people who’ve been widowed before their 51st birthday – ...
Two candles behind a tree shaped Christmas decoration - Winston's Wish

5 ways to remember someone at Christmas

When you’re grieving, Christmas can be difficult. It may feel like you’re surrounded by memories of the person who has died and so it can be an emotional time. Or you may feel guilty for enjoying Christmas and not thinking about them. If you're struggling with your grief at Christmas, ...

Christmas grief activities for children and young people

Grief can feel too much during the Christmas season. It may be a time when you are surrounded by memories and other people making plans with their loved ones. There are lots of potential triggers which could pop up at any time – Christmas adverts, personalised cards, poignant films and ...

Coping with grief at Christmas

Christmas can be an incredibly difficult time when someone important has died and you are grieving. It doesn’t matter whether your special person died a few weeks, months or years ago, you and your family may find it difficult to cope with your grief at Christmas. Ways to cope with grief ...
Mum sat reading a book with two children

How to explain death by drugs or alcohol to a child or young person

Telling a child or young person that someone important to them has died is difficult enough. Explaining a death involving drug or alcohol use, whether from substance misuse, addiction or accidental overdose, can be challenging. Often, our instinct is to protect children by not telling them, but we know from ...
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