After the death of a child, the world often expects grieving parents to stay stuck in sorrow — to grieve quietly, privately, and on a timeline.

After the death of a child, grieving parents are often met with well-meaning but misplaced comparisons

When a parent loses a child, they are thrust into a world that few can truly understand. One of the greatest burdens is not just the pain of loss, but the pain of being misunderstood.

There are times when it rumbles and bubbles up and just must come out. No amount of mindfulness, self-reflection, deliberate distraction will suffice.

This article was written by Dr. Lynda five years after the death of her daughter, Maria-Victoria at age 13. It was published in numerous professional journals, was adopted as an article to share with new members of Compassionate Friends chapters and received nationwide attention as it was shared throughout the United States and Canada. This article was the beginning of her decision to write the book Journey, to document how it feels with the loss of a child over a span of nearly 30 years, as well as helping professionals know how to help the bereaved.