As I Live and Grieve®
It’s time for grief to come out of the basement, or wherever we have stuffed it to avoid talking about it. When you suffer a loss you need support, comfort, and a safe place to heal. What you are experiencing is painful but normal, unique but similar, surreal but very, very real. As grief advocates we understand and want to provide support, knowledge and comfort as you continue to live and grieve. Host, Kathy Gleason; Producer, Kelly Keck. www.asiliveandgrieve.com
As I Live and Grieve®
When Little Hearts Break
Sarah Mayfield brings a uniquely powerful perspective to the conversation about children's grief – she's both a former elementary school counselor and a bereaved mother who watched her four-year-old son navigate the sudden loss of his younger brother.
When Sarah's 18-month-old son Elliot died unexpectedly in his sleep, she faced not only her own devastating grief but also the challenge of helping her living son Bradley understand and process what had happened. Despite her professional background, nothing had prepared her for guiding a child through sibling loss while managing her own raw emotions.
What makes this episode particularly valuable is Sarah's candid sharing about the realities of childhood grief. She challenges the well-meaning but dismissive comments like "he's too young to remember" or "kids are resilient" that often minimize children's grief experiences. Instead, she offers practical insights about using direct language, answering repeated questions with patience, and creating meaningful rituals that honor the person who died.
Sarah's experience led her to write "The Sure Thing," a beautiful children's book that illustrates how a child can continue to "live that love" for a sibling who has died. Beyond the touching story itself, the book provides valuable resources for grieving families, including 30 suggested activities for honoring lost loved ones and templates for children to express their feelings.
Perhaps the most comforting message Sarah shares is that while the trauma of loss may diminish with time, the love never does.
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To Reach Sarah:
https://www.livethatlove.com/
Credits:
Music by Kevin MacLeod
Copyright 2020, by As I Live and Grieve
The views expressed by guests are their own and their appearance on the program does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent.