bereaved families

Anniversaries, Holidays, and Special Events

Families observe cultural and religious traditions on occasions such as reunions, weddings, graduations, and anniversaries.

During the days and weeks after the baby dies, there will be special events that will certainly by different without your baby. You will face celebrations that focus on the joy of children such as Christmas, Mother's Day, Father's Day, and Halloween. Holiday reminders will be all around you in the stores, on television, and in newspapers and magazines.

Holidays and special events are reminders that life goes on around you. You will be torn between how holidays and festive occasions are normally celebrated and how you are going to celebrate them without your baby. You may feel anxious, sad, and empty and may long to have your baby be a part of the special times that usually involve the whole family.

Some people may not understand you need to talk about and remember your baby at these times because they want you to "get on with your life." You may want to talk about the loss of your baby to SIDS for a long time. This does not mean that you are not recovering and coping with death.

What to Expect as You Face the Special Times

The first year after your baby's death will be the hardest, and your baby's first birthday and the anniversary of his or her death may be two very difficult times.

Even if you seem better, the sadness and pain may return. It will be hard to be around other children, especially babies. These are normal feelings.

It is OK to celebrate and enjoy these times. It is OK to laugh and cry at the same time. Very quickly, you can go from laughing to crying.

Other children in your family will need help during the holidays to celebrate as they have in the past or to understand why things are different.
Some Parents...

Choose to celebrate and participate in these occasions as they always have in the past, but find it is a struggle. Sometimes they even avoid talking about the baby who died.

Choose to do completely different things during the holidays and special events. They may not participate in any of the usual activities or traditions.

Try to balance their participation in holiday activities and cope with the pain and sadness of missing their baby.

These are difficult and personal choices.
Remember...

What you and your family decide to do for anniversaries, during the holidays, or for special events are your choice.

Your participation in these events may be very different during the first year or so. After a while, you may go back to normal activities or permanently change how you remember some holidays and special occasions.

Celebrating holidays and special events will reflect your cultural background and traditions. It is important for you to value these traditions because they are part of your life during happy and sad times.

Family Gatherings

Families gather for both sad and happy occasions. Happy times and sad times often bring families closer together.

Holidays, weddings, graduations, and reunions are times for celebration. Everyone is expected to be happy. Relatives and friends want you to join in as you have in the past.

Family and friends usually provide the most comfort and listen to you as you try to cope with your loss. But even the closest of relatives and friends cannot completely understand the hurt that you feel.

Friends and relatives want...

To take your pain away... to offer you hope for better times... to see you "back to normal again"... to help you "forget about what happened."

But...

No one can take your pain away... there will be better times, but they will be different without your baby... your life does not feel like it will ever be "normal" again... you will never forget your baby.

Talking About SIDS

It is hard to understand how babies can die for no apparent reason. Explaining SIDS o others is difficult. Sometimes it is helpful for a close friend or relative to provide information to others for you.

Sometimes people have wrong ideas about SIDS. SIDS is not caused by smothering, choking, infections, or allergies. People may say things that are not true. Some people might give you information that has not been proven or compare the death of your baby to another death they know about. They offer many types of information in the hope of helping you feel better.

Others may ask questions and make comments about your baby. Sometimes their remarks will make you feel like you did something wrong or that you did not take proper care of your baby.

Remember...

You did not do anything wrong to cause your baby to die. There was nothing you could have done.

Making Special Times Easier

As you approach an anniversary, holiday or special event, do something to remember your baby and to help ease your anxiety. Thinking about how you are going to handle such an occasion is often worse than the actual event. For example, having a memorial service or going to the cemetery before the occasion might comfort you.

Realize that sadness and confusion may remain with you during these times. Feelings of anger, pain, and loss of control do not necessarily mean that you are not recovering from the loss.

Make changes in the way you celebrate holidays and special events. These changes may be temporary or permanent.

Take care to remember that other children and family members will want to continue to celebrate the occasion as usual.

Start a new tradition in memory of your baby.

Talk or write to other parents whose baby has died. Find out how they have coped with the special occasions.

Memories

The memories you have of anniversaries, holidays, and special events are of celebrations and family times together. Now you face these times feeling empty without your baby. You have a different outlook about such occasions and may have images of how you would have shared the moments with your baby.

While sadness will remain with you forever, the memories of your baby are some of the most important "keepsakes" you will have. You can treasure them. You can share them with others.

Family and friends often feel they will cause you more pain by talking about your baby. Let them know if you want to talk, and together you can build memories.

As time passes, happy memories of your baby will gradually replace the sad ones, and you will be able to laugh again.

"What we have once enjoyed and deeply loved we can never lose, for all that we love deeply becomes a part of us."
Helen Keller

Getting Through the Holidays

The whole world seems consumed with tinsel and glitter - but those who grieve are only aware of the terrible hole in their hearts. Here are some helpful thoughts which other bereaved parents have shared, with the hope of making your Holidays easier.

Grieving persons have definite limitations: we do not function at normal capacity; therefore, we must reevaluate our priorities and decide what is really meaningful for ourselves and our family.

We must decide what we can handle comfortably and let these needs be known to family, friends…whether…to talk about our child openly; whether we can handle the responsibility of the family dinner, holiday parties etc…whether we will stay around for the holidays.

Don't be afraid to make changes…have dinner at a different time; attend a different church; let children or friends take over the decorating or making cookies, etc.

Our greatest comfort may come in doing something for others…giving a gift in memory of your baby; donating money we would have spent on our child's gift to a particular charity; adopting a needy family…inviting a guest to share our festivities.

Find a creative outlet. Write a memorial poem or story about your child and share it if you wish.

Balance solitude with sociability. Solitude can renew strength but being social can be equally as important. Spend some time with friends you are close with.

Call another SIDS Parent who has experienced a Holiday without their child and find out what they did to make things easier. There can be some relief just by knowing that you are not alone.

SIDS Mid-Atlantic

previous next