7 Ways to Cope with the Holidays After the Loss of a Loved One

I must apologize for my prolonged absence on my blog. 2013 has been a truly difficult year. My father passed away in the spring after a short battle with the same cancer that claimed my mother's life. 

Becoming 'orphaned' as an adult is a fear that I always carried with me, but it doesn't matter how much you worry about the notion, you're never prepared for when it actually happens. 

And here we are… it's the holiday season, a time of family, memories and a renewed sense of loss for some of us. 

I recently wrote an article for Canadian Living magazine's website about how to deal with your grief during the Christmas holiday season. This subject is one that's very close to my heart. I wish that I had found an article like this one for the first Christmas that I spent without my mum. For my research this autumn, I spoke to a wonderful grief counsellor from Montreal - Dawn Cruchet. She offered some invaluable advice that I took to heart this year. I can only hope that my article will help others like me who are continuing to struggle with the death of someone special. Click here to read 7 ways to cope with the holidays after the loss of a loved one.

Must Visit Website

The 3rd anniversary of my mum's passing is only a few weeks away, and despite the ever-growing gulf between my previous world that I enjoyed with my mum, and the quieter, more lonely one that I'm experiencing now, I'm still comforted by new websites and books that cross my path.



I have no idea how I missed Grief.com. This wonderful site belongs to author David Kessler. His book "Visions, Trips and Crowded Rooms" was one of the books that I leaned on in the months following mum's death. I still refer to it when I'm having a wobble and I need some support.


His website mirrors his books. It provides a safe haven for those of us who have lost a loved one, and still feel the emptiness that their absence brings.