March brings with it the beginning of Spring (although the weather may remain stubbornly cold), and spring brings the hope of the warmth and light of summer. Winter is on its way out, and warmer weather will soon be upon us. Warmer weather often brings with it many family activities such as sports games and vacations. At the grief center, we wanted to provide a time for grieving families to come together and have time to connect with other families who are grieving.
This month’s workshop is a Family Night. I am a little old-fashioned and enjoyed spending time with my sisters growing up, watching movies. To the shock and horror of many children, I did not grow up with internet or even cable TV in my home, so we read books and watched movies. We often learned all of the lines and would enact the movie as it was playing out, or to my mother’s great annoyance, we would say the lines before they were said. As an adult, I look back fondly on these memories of bonding with my sisters and sharing that time with them. At this month’s movie night, we will watch a movie together, have popcorn, maybe eat some pizza and discuss the grief related, or emotion related aspects of the movie. I promise you don’t have to sing along, or enact the movie as it is playing, but if you feel inspired I might join in!
Taking time together as a family where there is no to-do list to be done, or task to be completed seems rare in our society. We are often busy, with full schedules. Our children are involved in every sport and club, and our work schedules can be busy and unforgiving. When is the last time you did something together as a family that was not an event for your child? At Family Night, there is nothing but spending time together and eating (which if there isn’t food, is it even a gathering?), and discussing the elephant in the room: grief.
Parents often tell us at the Grief Center they are not sure how to talk about grief with their children, or how they should express their grief in front of their children. Children often tell us they feel they have to be strong for their parents, because they can tell their parents are sad. Maybe some time together with no other agendas will provide the time we all need to meaningfully connect through vulnerability and listening.
May the Spring season bring you hope that the winter season of your grief is soon ending, and the joy of a renewed and happy future.
