Insight from a Bereaved Parent

I’ve been asked "how many kids do you have?" That’s always a tough question to answer. I don’t want to make people feel uncomfortable but I want to count Ava because she will always be our child. When I do mention Ava and that we lost her I typically receive a generous “I’m sorry” followed by silence and typically a shift in the conversation.

Many people are very uncomfortable having a discussion about someones child who's passed and that’s understandable. Some don’t want to engage in an emotional conversation or think that by asking them about their child that it’s going to upset them. I love talking about Ava, the person she was and the experiences we had together. I may get emotional and I may shed a tear but that’s ok. You’re not hurting me or making me upset you’re giving me a chance to talk about her and keep a piece of her alive.

If you run into a bereaved parent and want to push past the silence to have a conversation good questions are “what were they like” or “what’s your favorite memory of them”? They may not want to answer but they may also appreciate the chance to talk about them.

Photo by: Kayla Simpson Photography