How to Handle Mother’s Day After Losing a Child
Monday, March 20, 2023
Mother’s Day can be a joyful time to celebrate motherhood, but it can also trigger feelings of sadness if you’ve experienced a miscarriage. Healing from a miscarriage takes time, and the path looks different for everyone. Whether or not you have other children, you still deserve to celebrate Mother’s day in any way that feels meaningful and supportive for you after having a miscarriage.
Here are our Top 6 Tips for handling Mother’s Day after losing a child.
1- Express yourself
Find those trusted people who will listen while you express your feelings. If you don’t have someone in your life you can trust with your feelings, writing a letter or journal entry is an excellent way to let your feelings out.
You can always seek help from a professional counselor if you really need to discuss things with someone.
2- Permit Yourself to Feel Your Emotions
Depending upon your situation, you may find yourself experiencing emotions like sadness, anger, regret, jealousy, or resentment this Mother’s Day. Many people react to their feelings negatively with judgments like “it’s wrong to feel this way” or “I shouldn’t feel this way when so many people in the world are suffering.” These judgments will only make you feel worse. Instead, allow yourself to feel whatever comes up and acknowledge your emotions.
Remember, there is no right or wrong way to feel when dealing with infertility, loss, or estrangement.
3- Spend time in nature
There’s nothing quite like the healing power of nature. Take advantage of whatever nature spots are near you, whether it’s a trip to the beach, a dip in a lake or river, a scenic hike, or a picnic in a park.
You don’t have to leave your house to get your nature fix. Simply tending to your garden or houseplants can help you connect with the world around you.
4- Treat yourself
Mothers of all kinds deserve to be treated and celebrated on Mother’s Day – including you. Today is your day to treat yourself, feel luxurious, or just be incredibly comfortable. Here are some ideas for treating yourself: Eat your favorite meal, get a spa treatment and relax at home.
5- Avoid Social Media
If you anticipate that Mother’s Day will be difficult, you may want to stay off social media for a few days. It can be painful to see other people sharing positive feelings today. Also, consider what other people, places, or things may trigger negative emotions and, if possible, stay away from them this day.
6- Find a support group
Feeling connected to other positive people is one of the most effective ways to deal with negative feelings. If you are struggling this Mother’s Day, keep in touch with other people in your life who have been through similar struggles or are empathic to how you are feeling.
If you don’t feel like you have anyone, you can benefit from finding an online or local support group for people dealing with infertility, grief and loss, or estrangement.
Remember, on this Mother’s Day, you are not alone in your journey of healing and honoring your child. It’s understandable that this day may be difficult, but with the right support and self-care, you can find moments of peace and comfort. Allow yourself to feel your emotions, connect with nature, treat yourself, and seek out a support group if needed. Remember that your love for your child is eternal, and they will always hold a special place in your heart.
