Dear Grief

Kids and Teens / Kids and Teens : Litsa Williams



For further articles on these topics:


We put out a call to action last week encouraging all of you out there, adults and kids alike, to write a letter to grief in honor of Children's Grief Awareness Day. When the letters didn't come rolling in, we decided the concept of a 'letter' may feel like a little much. I mean, it is 2015. My mom is lucky if she gets more than 140 characters from me at a time. So, we put out an update letting you know it could be a note, comment, drawing, Tweet... whatever. As promised, we are posting some of the responses we received.

Dear Grief...

Dear Grief 1
Dear Grief 2
Dear Grief 3
Dear Grief 4
Dear Grief 5
Dear Grief 6
Dear Grief 7
CGAD Cullin Image
Dear Grief 8

We know you have something to say to grief, so leave your message in the comments!

We wrote a book!

After writing online articles for What’s Your Grief
for over a decade, we finally wrote a tangible,
real-life book!

After writing online articles for What’s Your Grief for over a decade, we finally wrote a tangible, real-life book!

What’s Your Grief? Lists to Help you Through Any Loss is for people experiencing any type of loss. This book discusses some of the most common grief experiences and breaks down psychological concepts to help you understand your thoughts and emotions. It also shares useful coping tools, and helps the reader reflect on their unique relationship with grief and loss.

You can find What’s Your Grief? Lists to Help you Through Any Loss wherever you buy books:

Let’s be grief friends.

We post a new article to What’s Your Grief about once a week. Subscribe to stay up to date on all our posts.

Related Blog Posts

Related Blog Posts

See More

27 Comments on "Dear Grief"

Click here to leave a Comment
  1. Michele McDonald  November 18, 2017 at 7:46 pm Reply

    Dear Grief,
    I am going easy on you today… you are one of the most powerful forces i have ever felt. Surely you must be leading me some place worthwhile.

    1
  2. Michele McDonald  November 18, 2017 at 7:46 pm Reply

    Dear Grief,
    I am going easy on you today… you are one of the most powerful forces i have ever felt. Surely you must be leading me some place worthwhile.

    1
  3. kathleenvaudo  November 16, 2017 at 6:51 pm Reply

    Dear Grief, You are the enemy that has moved into my heart. You are the reminder that my son has been stolen from me. Before you became a permenant presence I didn’t have to work so hard at life. Now that you have wormed your way into my soul I will keep my eyes open and watch you closely. I will make sure you don’t stop me from being kind, or patient or generous. I’ll use your constant presence as a reminder that I can continue to love deeply. You make me cry grief but I will appreciate those tears as an expression of the love I have for my son. I hate you grief but I will welcome you to stay forever. My love resides with you.

    2
  4. kathleenvaudo  November 16, 2017 at 6:51 pm Reply

    Dear Grief, You are the enemy that has moved into my heart. You are the reminder that my son has been stolen from me. Before you became a permenant presence I didn’t have to work so hard at life. Now that you have wormed your way into my soul I will keep my eyes open and watch you closely. I will make sure you don’t stop me from being kind, or patient or generous. I’ll use your constant presence as a reminder that I can continue to love deeply. You make me cry grief but I will appreciate those tears as an expression of the love I have for my son. I hate you grief but I will welcome you to stay forever. My love resides with you.

    1
  5. rachel lopez  June 2, 2016 at 11:16 am Reply

    grief??? never knew thw mwaning of that word untill i lost my beautiful husband on july 13th 2015. i never knew that losing him would change me forever i am not the same person i live in fear of everything and everybody!! nithing is right anymore we have 4 kids 2 of mine but his ans 2 together, the pain is like a beast that grown in my soul my mind and my heart, it sleeps and awakens but when its awake i wanna scream punch kick stab squeeze and cry intill im too tired to cry anymore cause ive cried so much. its not fair i never felt so cheated in mylife this is ll so unreal still even though next moth marks 1Yr. i do really understand i get it it was his time to go. he suffered here he was a herion addict and died from it. i freaking cant stand that drug i just wanna rid it of this planet. hes finally free and thats all i ever wanted for him hes was a beautiful man

    1
  6. Suzy  April 15, 2016 at 4:00 pm Reply

    Jenn
    He is not your pain…he is your memories…let grief go and celebrate this life

    1
  7. Jenn  December 21, 2015 at 10:02 pm Reply

    Dear Grief,
    I want you to go away because I want to be normal again, but I want you to stay because when you are near, so is he. And I miss him.

    2
  8. Chloe Cheffins  December 2, 2015 at 7:41 pm Reply

    Dear Grief
    You make everyone sad,angry. We all hate you. I never knew what you were until my mom past away. It is just me and dad now. That is all. Chloe

    1
  9. Andrea  November 23, 2015 at 2:30 pm Reply

    Dear Grief,
    I thought we had met once years ago when my mom died. I felt we were fully acquainted –but I did not know you at all. Fifteen months ago today I traded my son, my daughter in law and my two year old grandbaby for a relationship with you and let me tell you, you are a sorry substitute for my beautiful children. I wish I could say nice things about you like some of the people here but I can’t. When you came into my life my entire world fell apart and no matter how I try I cannot take these shattered, broken pieces and make it whole again. Although you are now my constant companion, make no mistake, we are not friends. http://www.stillBriansmom.blogspot.com

    1
  10. Yam Kahol  November 22, 2015 at 10:31 am Reply

    I liked your idea. It just took me a while to work out what to write. In fact, you inspired me to write into the letters page of a magazine with a “Dear Grief” letter.
    Fair to say I’m getting in touch with me creative side 😉

    Love and hugs to all.

    1
  11. Mikaels Mom  November 21, 2015 at 7:52 pm Reply

    Dear Grief,
    I thought I could help him, but drugs were stronger than me. Frantically I pushed those chest compressions. Fruitlessly, I breathed his last breath. What his last breath released into me was grief. Agonizing grief. Bottomless. Like a pendulum I grief, some moments it feels gone, then it hits me with the full force of swing of emotions pendulum. I try to will that pendulum to calm and be still, so I can experience only good grief. The swirling thoughts in my mind activate that emotional swing and I am hit again by his thoughts, his smell, his ideas, his frantic last hour of life. Balancing that phone with the EMTs, breathing for Mike, pumping his heart, crying, begging, shaking. I hate grief.

    1
    • Suzy  April 6, 2016 at 4:17 pm Reply

      More than grief…I hate heroin…my son died in January, I know your pain

      1
  12. Jill Schulte  November 21, 2015 at 4:43 am Reply

    Dear Grief,
    My heart is broke, the tears won’t stop, my head hurts constantly trying to remember and forget everything. I am more grateful for what I have now. The world looks different now that I met you. It’s not all bad but hurts like nothing I can describe. I’m constantly angry at you. Joy is hard to find right now. Give me time. Things will change like they always do. You made me feel alone. I like the rain now and gloomy days. I like the sky on pretty days. You make me feel crazy because one minute I appreciate things and the next I do not. Trying to find myself again is a struggle since you came in my life. Waiting still for the storm to pass.

    1
  13. Carm Russell  November 20, 2015 at 2:38 pm Reply

    Gloria I follow this blog because I lost my husband in early 2014. I have also lost a daughter in 1989 and it was until 2003 or 2004 that I found my way of being at peace. The time in between except for the first year or so was “normal”. However there never seemed to an inner peace with my baby gone. It was a scene in a movie based on a fictional book by Janette Oake called, “Love Comes Softly.” It was a life changer for me. My point is not that this might be what helps you but try not to be so hard on yourself. It takes time. 20 + yrs for me. I pray that God will help you find what You need to keep moving forward. Blessings, Carm

    1
  14. gloria  November 20, 2015 at 12:13 pm Reply

    Dear Grief,
    I hate you. My daughter, Laura is gone and I have you as my constant companion. I hate you. Even when I smile, or have a bit of fun, you are right there pulling me down. I hate you. I see that others are able to get rid of you somewhat, and live again. From that I get some hope. But as I reach 5 months with out my dear daughter I find you are still around me way too much. I hate you.
    I am grateful for this website and all of those who share their heart-broken thoughts, but I still hate you.
    gloria 🙁

    1
  15. Yam Kahol  November 20, 2015 at 11:04 am Reply

    Dear Grief,

    I knew death of relatives as a child, but somehow I didn’t feel grief. Somehow I just accepted the news and moved on. (Sounds a little bit cold-hearted written down like that).

    But now I know grief. It feels like it hits me hard because I loved my dad so much.

    All good things come to an end. Grief is a necessity.

    🙁

    1
  16. Peg  November 19, 2015 at 10:42 pm Reply

    Dear Grief,
    Please allow my family to be able to share the joy of the holidays we had in years past. May we strive to make new memories & be thankful for the old ones we have to hold on to. My faith in the Lord and those who really know and care about me will always be my stepping stones to give me hope and peace thru the low valleys. I know our lives can’t always be sunny days…so looks like we will be lifelong friends.

    1
  17. Alex  November 19, 2015 at 1:12 pm Reply

    Dear Grief,

    Like any tumultuous relationship, you’ve dragged me through pain and anger and some self-destruction. You’ve shown me my worst self…and my best new self. You’ve freed me to remember how little everything except a few things actually matter. Thanks friend.

    1
  18. Tricia  November 19, 2015 at 12:56 pm Reply

    Dear Grief,
    I still struggle with you every day even after almost 8 years. I have done my best to deal with you, but it is very hard. I know you will be with me the rest of my life and I am learning daily how to cope and not let you get the best of me.

    1
  19. Liz  November 19, 2015 at 12:34 pm Reply

    Dear Grief,
    Can you lay off a bit? Thanks:)
    Liz

    1
  20. Carm Russell  November 19, 2015 at 11:30 am Reply

    I thoroughly find much help in reading other people’s thoughts on grief. I have also found much support in the website/FB.

    1
  21. charlie  November 19, 2015 at 11:29 am Reply

    Dear Grief,

    My old friend. My all to constant companion. You know why I cry. You even know why I laugh. You are always near but I really appreciate it when you back off and give me some time to breath. Time to enjoy without feeling guilty. So I got a new Kitty recently. His name is Mijo. He returned a smile to my face and laughter to my heart. you would like him. Let’s keep our relationship real and not go overboard with each other. Can we do that? I will allow you in when you are needed but I really must insist that you only appear when absolutley necessary. Deal?

    Charlie

    1
  22. Joanne  November 19, 2015 at 11:18 am Reply

    Dear Grief,
    I am tired of you but at the same time I don’t want to let you go. I wonder how long you will stay. I marvel at how you have changed me. I long for the person I was before you came into my life and yet I appreciate who I have become since you came into my life.

    1
  23. Louisa  November 19, 2015 at 11:17 am Reply

    Dear grief,
    I am so grateful that there’s Someone that’s always with me Who is greater than you are. At first, I wanted to give in to you, and I felt so hopeless and helpless. But, now, The One Who is stronger than you is helping me to hope again and to be stronger. Goodbye grief.

    1
  24. Viviana Baca  November 19, 2015 at 9:53 am Reply

    Dear Grief,
    I am going to open myself up to all it is you have to teach me. You will not ruin me, you will make me a better version of myself. That’s what my son Christipher would’ve wanted.

    1
    • Suzy  April 15, 2016 at 3:54 pm Reply

      I agree, I am starting to see a better version of myself…it is possible

      1
  25. Ian Cordner  November 19, 2015 at 8:49 am Reply

    Thank you grief for allowing me to honour my late husband through the tears you provided. My dearest Jeff is looking down at me with loving compassion!

Leave a Comment

YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS WILL NOT BE PUBLISHED. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.