#MondayMourning: Don't forget to check on your grieving friends long after the funeral!
Support dries up in the weeks and months following a funeral, but that's often when the bereaved needs it the most.
Set reminders to periodically check in with your grieving friends, especially around special occasions, holidays, and anniversaries. Let them know you're there for the long haul and that their ongoing grief matters to you.
This isn't a "do it once and check off the box" task. Continue to reach out. Continue to invite them to participate in activities (even if you're pretty sure they'll decline). Continue to mention their loved one's name and give them permission to talk. All too often, friends walk on eggshells not wanting to cause further grief, but the grieving person actually WANTS to talk about their loved one! Give them the space to do that with you.
Not sure how to jump back in after a long absence? Take a hint from #NationalSendACardToAFriendDay tomorrow and mail them an actual card. It's something they can hold on to and it can be even more meaningful arriving long after the other condolences have stopped. Don't second guess. Just do it.
Need some tips on what to write? The lovely folks at What's Your Grief have you covered here: https://whatsyourgrief.com/how-to-write-a-sympathy-card/
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