Children and Grief: October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month

When my twin teenage girls lost their dear grandmother, Baa, to breast cancer earlier this year, they responded to their loss so differently.  One of my daughters spoke so eloquently and delivered a beautiful eulogy at the funeral and the other retreated. Both of these responses are completely normal.  Children take time to cope with their loss and to find ways to adapt.

Grief can affect a child's appetite, sleep, energy level, and mood. Pay attention to how grief may be affecting your child's body. 

Grief may last for weeks, months, or longer. How much grief your child feels or how long it lasts is not a reflection on how much your child loved the person. As your child starts to feel better, it does not mean they have "forgotten" or are "getting over" their loss. 

As your child's grief fades, they will slowly come to realize that the person they love remains with them in their heart, thoughts and memories.

As my daughter, Jayna, slowly started to find ways to adapt and cope with her grief, she discovered Brighter Magazine, a lifestyle magazine targeted for women in any stage of their cancer journey.  Through joining Brighter, Jayna has been able to channel her grief into loving memories. 

Watch the video to learn more.