Father’s Day Resources
Not everyone gets to celebrate Father's Day, and for those grieving their dad, it can be one of the harder days on the calendar. The reminders pile up fast, and there's often nowhere to put that feeling.
Your grief doesn't need to be explained or justified. It doesn't have an expiration date. Missing your dad today, whether the loss is fresh or years old, is a completely human response to losing someone irreplaceable.
Web Articles
Coping with losing a parent- Calabasas Counseling
Father’s Day Sulking Without Apology - WhatsYourGrief.com. This website is one of my favorite resources for grievers. Litza Williams and Eleanor Haley created this incredible site (I’ve been following them for many years now).
Helping Yourself Heal When a Parent Dies - Alan D. Wolfelt, Ph.D
When A Parent Dies - Le Anne Schreiber. Themes include: Internal changes within the griever after the parent dies, relief of the pressure of expectations, and finding self
Books
Saying Goodbye to Dad by Mandy Warchola. 2012.
“A wonderful resource for the loss of a father. Beautifully written for someone who wants a down to earth view point, not a "psychologists" teachings. I found great comfort while reading this book. I sent it as gift to friends and they loved it. I have ordered book for several friends and all loved it. It lets us know we aren't "crazy or broken" because we may not react "normally" or stop grieving on someone else's schedule. Makes you feel a little less alone in this journey.” Amazon reader review.
Ch 5 Family Relationships:
Unresolved issues and disputes among family members
Financial resources of family members
Sibling rivalry and competitiveness
Difficulty of family being able to “grieve together”
Anger directed at each other
Change in roles
Fatherloss: How Sons of All Ages Come to Terms with the Deaths of Their Dads by Neil Chethik. 2001.
“This is an excellent resource if you have boys who have lost their dad… He gives many examples based on age groups of what to expect due to father loss, and what may be helpful to ease some of the pain due to that loss, and what a dad can do now for their sons.” The author conducted over 70 interviews with men, each chapter is a compilation of stories.
Part 1 Impact of FatherLoss
Birth to age 17
Ages 18-32
Ages 33-55
Ages 56 and Up
Part 2 Rebounding from FatherLoss
Men’s styles of grieving
How spouses can help
Life changes
How therapy can help
Part 3 Affectionate Fathering
How fathers can help their sons now
Facebook Groups
(Request to join)
Death of a Parent - Grief & Loss Support Group (15k members)
“Losing a parent is among the most emotionally difficult and universal of human experiences. And while we may understand that the death of our parents is inevitable in the abstract sense, that foreknowledge doesn’t lessen the grief when a loved one dies. Losing a parent is grief-filled and traumatic, and permanently alters children of any age, both biologically and psychologically. Nothing is ever the same again — the loss of a parent is a wholly transformative event.
This group is a safe place for all. A place to mourn. A place to remember. A place to honor. A place to just... be.”
Support Group for Grieving Spouses (3.5k+ members)
“This group is for anyone grieving their husband or wife. Feel free to share pictures, stories, advice, and offer support to each other.”