The “Forgotten Mourners”

 

 

Today is Children’s Grief Awareness Day. According to the National Alliance for Grieving Children, “Bereaved children are often referred to as the ‘forgotten mourners.’ Many bereaved children feel isolated in their grief, unaware that they are not alone. Children’s Grief Awareness is an opportunity to tell children they are not forgotten and that there is support, hope and healing to be found.”

I was one of those forgotten mourners…

Losing my father at eight-years-old I was not allowed to attend his funeral, say goodbye or openly grieve this profound loss. That’s why I became a social worker. And that’s why I devoted much of my 40-year social work career to ensuring that other children were not left behind, especially Miss M.

So on this day, I hold up Terri Luanna’s extraordinary daughter. Not only is she sharing her Mamãe’s legacy of living fully in the face of loss and adversity with the world, she carries Terri in her heart each and every day. Through her writing, through her open heart, and through the beautiful song she wrote for Terri entitled, “Don’t You Ever Lose Me.”

I share it with you in the hope that it inspires you to open your heart to the grieving children in your life.

And in so doing, empower them to find their voice…

Love,

Auntie L and MIss M