Mother’s Day can be quite painful for those who have lost their mom or for those that have struggled to become pregnant, experienced pregnancy and infant loss, or the death of a child. For many, the day may bring feelings of sadness, isolation, loneliness, unworthiness, and pain. They may feel left out and forgotten on Mother’s Day.
Michelle provides a brief history of Mother’s Day and the creation of International Bereaved Mother’s Day in 2010 by Carly Marie Dudley after the loss of her stillborn son, Christian.
Many in the baby loss community have embraced this day and events have been designed around it such as this year's 3rd Annual Bereaved Mother’s Day Conference - A Healing Collective, on May 1, 2022, which is available online.
Yet, just as each person’s journey of grief is as unique as their fingerprint, it is understandable that International Bereaved mothers day would bring up differing feelings for parents that have experienced the unfathomable loss of their baby or child. The beautiful thing is that as International Bereaved Mother’s Day becomes more recognized, mothers and families can honor one or both days in the way that is best for them, even varying it year by year. Michelle shares tips to support someone that is grieving their child on both Mother's Day and Bereaved Mother’s Day.
Michelle closes this episode with a short meditation for Bereaved Mother's Day.
References:
https://www.bbc.com/news/stories-52589173
https://stillstandingmag.com/2016/06/02/international-bereaved-mothers-day/
https://www.gpshope.org/know-sunday-may-6-international-bereaved-mothers-day/
https://pregnancyafterlosssupport.org/can-we-talk-about-bereaved-mothers-day-and-mothers-day/
https://www.joincake.com/blog/bereaved-mothers-day/
Connect with Rev. Michelle:
Website: BirthEaseServices.com /loss-support
Facebook: Birth Ease Baby Loss Support
Instagram: @birtheaselossssupport
LinkedIn: Birth Ease Michelle Smith
Thank you for listening! Remember, you are not alone in your grief.
