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We all know how difficult it can be returning to school or university after a long summer off, but it’s even harder when someone you love has died.
I lost my Dad when I was 14 on the first day of my Christmas holidays from school. I was made to go straight back to school after the holidays were over. I was terrified, but they thought it was best I went back with everyone else to help me blend in with all the other pupils.
My Mum spoke to my Head of Year about helping me through the return, and she checked on me in class every so often to see how I was holding up. I was allowed to leave class if I felt it was too much, and it was a huge comfort knowing I wasn’t trapped.
What have you done to help overcome the fear of returning to education after losing a loved one?
Post any ideas or hints in the comment section!
Hope Again is a place created to help with the bad endings and how they have affected us. I have been on a journey with Hope Again over the last ten months and now as I reach the end of my time here I see that this is a good ending and I’m thankful for that.
Ten months ago I didn’t know where this job would take me but I never would have guessed that I would learn so much. I’ve read hundreds of emails about some terrible times in people’s lives but the one thing everyone had in common was hope. Even if they didn’t mention the word, behind their stories and their words was hope. They may not have experienced much hope yet, but they were looking for it, and hopefully we were able to provide a little bit.
Grief can isolate you and one of the things I wanted this website to provide was a common ground between young people—a little island of commonality were people could relate to each other and maybe help each other. I hope that we have been able to achieve that and I trust this website continues to be a safe place for young people looking for a little bit of hope.
Why not jot here a one-sentence response telling us where you last caught a glimmer of hope in your every-day world?
Bridget Molloy, Youth Web Consultant
We'd like to hear how people are using Hope Again and would appreciate it if you could comment on any of the questions below by Monday 17th August. Thanks very much!
1. Would you recommend Hope Again to anyone else?
2. What do you think is the most important service this website provides?
3. What is one thing you like and one thing you would change about Hope Again?
Thanks very much for your comments it will help us improve our service.
Every year I see without fail the same patterns occur around Father's Day:
My peers and acquaintances getting flustered and edgy when it's mentioned because to them the date can't be brought up around me in case I burst into tears and become inconsolable.
In fact, most avoid the topic of my Father altogether for fear of a similar reaction. Truthfully though avoiding the topic of bereavement is understandable, whether or not it would provoke an emotional reaction, most people would just rather not take the risk.
Nevertheless, being a bereaved child is by no means the taboo that some regard it to be. Hopefully by sharing, talking and supporting each other we can help dispel such myths.
Patrick, guest blogger
Would you comment here about your first Mother/Father's Day without your parent?
