In the last part of this series, I would like to talk about how we can teach our daughters to support others who are dealing with loss. In the Jewish tradition there is something called “shiva,” which is a seven day mourning period that follows the death of a close relative. During those days, those in mourning will stay at home and are not allowed to do anything. All of their needs are taken care of by others in the community, and their only responsibility is to mourn the loss of their loved one. It is customary to come and…
Dealing with Loss – Part 2 How to Help Your Daughter When She Has Experienced a Loss
I will never forget the first time I experienced real loss. As I shared with you a few weeks ago, I was 16. I had been really lucky until then. All four of my grandparents were alive, and while some of my friends had experienced the death of grandparents, loss seemed a far-away thing. That all changed one day in July. On a bright summer morning at camp, my brother came up to me as I was standing with friends, waiting to be let into the dining room for breakfast. He had come over to share with me the news…
Dealing With Loss – Part 1
In my last post I shared with you my own story of loss and some of the resulting choices I made. First, I would like to thank those of you who reached out in appreciation of my sharing my personal story, as well as entrusting me with yours. As we all know, no matter where you grow up, or where you live your life, loss will always be an integral part of life. It does not matter if loss is the result of a natural death, an unexpected and untimely tragedy (such as a suicide or traffic accident), or a…
I Was Alone- Now I Am Not !
This time of year is always difficult for me. It is a time of year when I remember some of the great lose I have experienced in my life, and in recent years as I have done my own deep work, when I reflect on how it has affected my life. As I sit down to write this post I keep wondering whether I should share this with all of you. First -because I don’t really share this part of my life with anyone and second- is it relevant? Since I share with you my life weekly and this is…