REMEMBERING THROUGH MOTHER’S DAY

Mother’s Day can bring a mix of emotions, especially if you are dealing with grief and loss. It is a day that may try to catch your attention through department store specials, posts on social media, or through conversation with family and friends. This can make the absence of a mother, or a child, or even the relationship you wish you had, feel even heavier. If you are going through this, you are not alone. Here are a few ideas that can allow you to remember and honour your grief through this day:

Acknowledging Your Grief – Waves of grief can hit, especially on significant days. It is okay to

feel sadness, anger, emptiness, etc. Whatever you feel, is a valid feeling. Create space for

acknowledging your feelings by jotting it down in a notebook or taking time to yourself as

needed.

Ways to Honour a Loved One – If it feels comforting, you might try one of the following on

Mother’s Day: lighting a candle, looking through old photos, writing a letter to your loved one, or doing something that they loved. If you are feeling up to celebrating, you might consider adding new rituals to help you continue to honour your loved one.

Connect With Someone You Trust – If the idea of Mother’s Day is feeling hard, connect with a

trusted loved one or trusted professional to create a space where you can talk this through in a safe, and nonjudgemental space. Having someone acknowledge and support you through this time can help emphasize the reality that you are not alone in this grief journey.

Alter Your Routines – Consider altering your routines during the Mother’s Day period. For

example, you may choose to take a social media break to reduce the number of Mother’s Dayposts you see to or treat this day as a special day where you prioritize activities that may allow you time for self-care.

If You're Grieving a Different Kind of Loss – Sometimes the grief we experience around

Mother’s Day is for a relationship that was complicated, distant, or painful. That kind of grief is also real. It is okay to mourn what never was, just as much as what was lost.

Sometimes the process of coming up with a plan A or plan B (or C-Z) for holidays can help you recognize that whatever you are able to do to remember Mother’s Day this year, will be what works best for you in your grieving journey. There is no right or wrong way to grieve. Remember this as you navigate this year’s Mother’s Day.

Submitted by: Walking Through Grief Society

Funded by FCSS; City of Lloydminster, Towns of Vermilion and Wainwright, Village of Kitscoty, and County of Vermilion River.