What to Say to a Grieving Parent

• Offer sincere condolence. “I am so sorry for your loss” is a good example.
• Offer open-ended support. “If there is anything I can do, please let me know.
• Offer silence.
• When the time is right, express what the deceased child meant to you.

  What do you say to losing a son?

  Sending your condolences: “I am so sorry to hear of the loss of (insert child’s name). Offering a short anecdote or observation: “(Insert child’s name) had such a beautiful soul and I feel so lucky to have spent time with them.” Offering support: “I am here for you and am thinking of you.”

  How many couples split up after losing a child?

  The Compassionate Friends, an organization that supports bereaved parents, conducted a study in 2006 showing that the divorce rate among couples that suffered the loss of a child is about 16%.

  What do you say when your daughter passes away?

  Consider one of these messages:

  1. It was such an honor to know [name].
  2. I am thinking of you in this difficult time.
  3. I wish I could take some of your pain away.
  4. Your son/daughter was very blessed to have you as parents.
  5. We are holding you close to our hearts.
  6. Please know I am thinking of you always.

  How long has it been since my daughter died?

  In the nearly five years since my daughter died, I have packed it all away for the sake of social comfort too many times to count, but it still hurts.

  What did I learn after my daughter died?

  Here are 10 more things I learned after my daughter died. 1. Death doesn’t ask. What you’d prefer. Who should go first. When it will happen. If you’re ready or if you’re willing or what you’d give instead. 2. Life doesn’t mind. You’ve read her autopsy eleven times. You’re afraid to fall asleep and to wake up.

  What did the nurse say to me when my daughter died?

  I sat on the couch and I thought of the nurse from that night; the hitch in her voice at the welcome desk. Her grip on the ultrasound wand. The way her words were calming but her eyes were not. Were she here, I would thank her for holding my hand, and for trying so hard to find what was no longer there.

  What do parents feel when they lose a daughter?

  It is no surprise then, that a parent’s love for a daughter is so intense and selfless. For this reason, the loss of a daughter can bring on a range of difficult emotions including numbness, guilt, anger, emptiness, disbelief and deep sadness.