Father’s Day without Dad can be difficult for anyone struggling with grief and loss. No matter how much time has passed since the loss, a day like Father’s Day can bring simmering emotions to the surface. However, it can also be a good reason to celebrate the life and memories of a loved one if it’s something you feel up to doing. We often deal with customers who have experienced hard times with grief, and we appreciate this is a sensitive subject, but we really hope this blog helps anyone experiencing hard emotions during this time.
In the lead-up to the day… go offline as much as you can
Father’s Day marketing messages can feel impossible to escape from. A TV advert can show whenever you have the television on. Or a social media post could pop up whenever you’re browsing through your phone. This can make it difficult to cope with because they are external factors outside of your control.
One way to remove yourself from this is to go offline as much as possible in the day’s lead-up. Try to limit your screen time and potential exposure. It’s also worth keeping an eye on your emails, as some companies might ask you if you’d like to opt-out before sending Father’s Day emails.
To increase your off-screen time and enjoy some headspace in the lead-up to Father’s Day (and perhaps on the day itself) there are some offline activities you can enjoy. Take a walk and breathe in the fresh air, either alone (perhaps with a podcast, audiobook, or your favourite music) or with a friend or loved one who understands what you’re going through. Turn your phone off or put it on airplane mode for the day to avoid the adverts and declarations of love on social media. Stick to TV that won’t show you adverts, or go offline entirely and get stuck into a book.
On the day… make yourself a priority
Prioritise yourself on Father’s Day, no matter what that consists of. Think about what will really make you feel OK on the day. Would you feel better with your own company? Or would it help to spend the day with loved ones who understand? Perhaps getting out of the house and going for a coffee, a meal, or a walk might help you clear your mind? Or would you prefer to stay in and try to relax, perhaps with a bubble bath and your favourite films or TV series? Take it easy on yourself, whatever you decide to do. Make sure you’re kind to yourself, as it might be a day of up and down emotions, and that’s completely normal.
After the day… mark their memory if it’s something you feel up for doing
It might be too much to do on the day (or you might feel strong enough for it), but afterwards, you might want to mark their memory. You could visit their resting place and put flowers on a grave or where ashes have been scattered. Others might like to use the day to celebrate their loved ones, perhaps by raising a toast to them, cooking their favourite meal, or inviting friends and family around to remember them and tell their favourite stories. This can be a lovely way to pay tribute to someone who has passed, but understandably, it can take time to get to this place of celebrating their memory. If your grief is still fresh or you don’t feel ready, this might be something to consider doing in future years instead.
How to help a child struggling with Father’s Day without Dad
If you know a child who may struggle with the challenges of Father’s Day, Grief Encounter is an incredible charity that supports children following the untimely death of a family member. They seek to help with the confusion, fear, loneliness and pain that any child would inevitably experience upon losing a loved one. The charity provides them with a lifeline to cope with free, immediate one-to-one support. Their helpline (0808 802 0111) is open on weekdays from 9am to 9pm for anyone who needs to talk. If you would like to find out more about Grief Encounter, please visit their website: https://www.griefencounter.org.uk/
There are lots of different options for help, including telephone support, such as The Samaritans and Cruse Bereavement Care. You can access bereavement counselling via your GP or privately. Mind also provides information on bereavement, where to go for support, and suggestions for helping yourself and others through grief.
Sensitive but heartfelt gifts for those grieving
We created our Hand on Heart memorial range as a beautiful way to create something unique and remember the memories of lost loved ones. Grieving families have chosen to work with us and commission memorial jewellery to represent someone close to them. If you like the idea of buying a gift for someone who might be finding Father’s Day difficult this year, perhaps something from our memorial range would make a lovely present. It will help them remember those special memories and give them something they can treasure forever.
Cremation ashes jewellery
We offer two different types of cremation ashes jewellery at Hand on Heart. There are self-fill lockets, which customers can do themselves at home. Or there’s our range of jewellery made from ashes and created by our expert designers. These pieces are set into glass appearance resin and delicately layered to create a sparkling, floating appearance in a hard-wearing material that will last forever. The cremation ashes jewellery is available in different designs, including necklaces, rings, bracelets, beads, cufflinks and earrings.
Memorial handwriting jewellery
Whether it’s a signature from an old greeting card or a note left on the fridge, we can turn that special note into a piece of memorial handwriting jewellery to keep close to you forever. You don’t need to part with the writing as we can work from a photograph taken on your phone to create your unique design (we can even use snippets taken from a few notes or move the layout around if you like). If you need any help before ordering, we’re here to help. Please feel free to contact us, and we’d be delighted to help you create your perfect piece.
A final note from us to you this Father’s Day…
We understand the sensitivity of Father’s Day. We hope this blog has offered some advice about coping on this date when you’re grieving or missing a loved one or you know someone who is going through the complex and unique experience of grief. If you or someone you know is struggling, professional help is out there – please visit The Samaritans, Cruse Bereavement Care, Mind, or speak to your GP to find out services available on the NHS.
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