SPENDING THE FIRST FATHER’S DAY WITHOUT DAD. 5 TIPS ON HOW TO SURVIVE.
May 15, 2023
If you’ve lost a parent it's normal to feel apprehension and even dread as holidays like Father’s Day approach. That first Father’s Day without your dad can intensify your loss. If dad was a grounding force in your life you can feel untethered and isolated. You’re likely to feel unsure how to navigate a day that’s dedicated to celebrating someone no longer with you.There’s no magic way to make this day easy. But we hope sharing 5 tips on how to survive can help you feel empowered to find your way.
- Feel Fully. It’s OK to let yourself fully experience what you are feeling. Feelings of sadness, anger, wanting and pain are normal and expected. Don’t judge yourself or feel like you’re letting anyone down. Give yourself permission to feel the way you do. If you can sit with these feelings, acknowledge them and accept them, then you will have more power to be comfortable with these very human emotions.
- Celebrate A Positive Male Role Model. Celebrating another male role model in your life can bring you comfort and help you feel less untethered. Celebrating what someone else has meant to you can bring joy and remind you that love and support still surrounds you.
- Focus On Happy Memories. Memories are where your father can continue to live long after his passing. Memories of happier times remind us of the joy and love he had in his life. Memories can also help us process loss. Remembrance can help you refocus on gratitude for the time you had with him in your life. Gratitude is powerful. When you are able to look with gratitude on the wonderful memories of the past and the coming memories of tomorrow with others you love, you can begin to heal.
- Spend Time With Others. Spending time with others who loved him can make you feel his presence. Ask others to share their favorite memories or stories of your dad. You may learn new things about your father’s life and gain new memories to hold close. Seeing what he meant to others can help you realize he is not really gone, he also lives in the hearts and minds of all of you.
- Distract Yourself. It’s OK to completely skip Father’s Day. When nothing else feels right, plan an activity to distract yourself. Plan something that will help occupy your mind and help you escape the day. Go out of town to explore someplace new, plan an adventure you have never done before, treat yourself to a staycation at a fancy hotel, pamper yourself. So much about Father’s Day can be a sensory overload - places, sounds, smells that trigger memories, and all those social media posts of happy family celebrations. If you are simply not ready to face Father’s Day, escaping somewhere new can help.
Your first Father’s Day without your dad will not be easy. But it can feel empowering and then hopeful when you are able to navigate the day. We hope these suggestions help you find what peace and comfort you can. If you also lost your mom, then you may find our blog How To Survive Mother’s Day insightful. Remember that grief is a personal journey; allow yourself to travel at your own pace.
Losing a mother is never easy, and Mother’s Day can be an emotional time. Honoring her memory in meaningful ways can bring comfort and keep her spirit alive. Here are ten thoughtful ways to honor the memory of Mom this Mother’s Day: 1. Visit Her Resting Place Spend time at her gravesite or memorial, bringing fresh flowers, her favorite items, or just sitting and reflecting on her love and legacy. 2. Cook Her Favorite Meal Prepare a dish she loved or a recipe she passed down. Sharing a meal in her honor can be a comforting way to feel close to her. 3. Write Her a Letter Express how much you miss her, update her on your life, or share a special memory. Writing can be a powerful way to process emotions and keep her close. 4. Light a Candle in Her Memory Lighting a candle in her honor can be a quiet, reflective way to feel her presence and express your love. 5. Look Through Old Photos & Videos Take time to revisit cherished moments by flipping through photo albums or watching home videos . It’s a beautiful way to celebrate her life and legacy. 6. Do Something She Loved Whether it’s gardening, painting, reading, or taking a walk in nature, engaging in her favorite activities can be a meaningful tribute. 7. Make a Donation in Her Name Give to a charity or cause she cared about . It’s a wonderful way to extend her kindness and make a difference in her honor. 8. Create a Memory Book or Scrapbook Compile photos, letters, and stories into a scrapbook or digital memory book that keeps her spirit alive for future generations. 9. Plant a Tree or Flowers in Her Honor Planting something in her memory can be a lasting tribute, symbolizing growth, love, and the continuation of her legacy. 10. Spend Time with Family & Share Stories Gather with loved ones to reminisce, share stories, and celebrate the love she gave. Keeping her memory alive through storytelling can be healing and uplifting. No matter how you choose to honor your mom, the most important thing is to celebrate the love and impact she had on your life. We hope these 10 ways to honor the memory of Mom this Mother’s Day helps readers celebrate this Mother’s Day. Also read here about surviving the first Mother’s Day without Mom .
Our expert care enriches life by controlling symptoms and managing pain, while also caring for the mind and spirit. Hospice often becomes a choice when you or a loved one is seeking relief from frequent emergency room visits or are physically or emotionally tired of challenging treatments that no longer have a positive impact on life expectancy or quality of life. Serious illness affects more than just a loved one. So, our support extends to family caregivers . We become an extra layer of support by sharing our experience and resources to ensure that you and your loved ones feel prepared by knowing what to expect as illness progresses. We also help you feel less overwhelmed by sharing in some of the responsibilities of the day-to-day care of your loved one. We also understand the worry that comes with serious illness. When a loved one is living with a serious illness, a price can’t be put on peace of mind. Here 12 things that are important to understand about hospice. 1 - Hospice is a philosophy of care that treats a person rather than the disease. Hospice is a complete and cohesive program of medical care and emotional/spiritual support to improve the quality of life for patients facing a life-limiting illness. 2 - When treatment is no longer effective or desired, hospice care can be provided for pain relief and symptom control , along with emotional and spiritual support for patients and loved ones. 3 - Hospice care takes a holistic approach focusing on both physical and emotional health. 4 - In most cases, a family member serves as the primary caregiver and helps make decisions for their loved one. 5 - The caregiver works with our team to develop a plan of care to provide treatment, support, and personal care. 6 - Your physician remains in charge of the overall medical care, we become a part of his team. 7 - Hospice isn’t giving up. It’s finding comfort and dignity after you’ve been told nothing more can be done. 8 - You are free to leave a hospice program at any time for any reason without penalty. You can re-enroll in a hospice program any time that you meet the medical eligibility criteria. 9 - Medications and medical interventions are used regularly to control pain and symptoms. 10 - Hospice patients live an average of 29 days longer than those that do not receive hospice care. 11 - Hospice care is provided anywhere your loved one lives, including private residences, assisted living communities, and long-term care facilities. 12 - Our care is covered by Medicare, Medicaid, and most private insurance companies. We understand that choosing to stop curative treatments and begin care and comfort services can be overwhelming. If you have questions like ' is now the right time’ or if you wonder ‘when will the right time be”, you can call and speak to one of our clinical directors. An Ascend nurse or social worker can meet with you and your family members and provide information on all of the services available to you. Once you are ready your physician, our team of nurses, our medical director, and our chaplains, social workers, and aides will be with you and your family on every part of your journey ensuring that your care and comfort are our first priority.