As the funeral ritual ended, and we returned to our house, downhearted and sorrowful, the long road of coping with our loss and reaching some kind of acceptance began. This first year is an immensely important period in rehabilitation, and in my ignorance of bereavement and grieving, I made many fundamental mistakes, which caused hurt to my children and hindered rather than promoted their healing. Experiencing the death of my child has made me an ‘expert’ on the feelings that are associated with grief, but how I coped was harsh and lacking in self-care, both for myself and for some members of my family.
It was in keeping with my personality of the time.
Extract rom When a Child Dies. Footsteps of a Grieving Family. Published by Veritas.
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