Mother’s Day is a time of celebration and togetherness. It’s a day dedicated to showing our Mum how grateful we are for all that they do for us, and it’s also a very exciting for Mum’s themselves - a time to reflect on the joys and pride of being a parent.
Lighting a candle to remember a loved on on Mother's Day helps some people to feel closer to that person in times of grief. Photo: PA
Although a lot of us can spend Mother’s Day making happy memories with our family, there are many of us who find Mother’s Day a particularly difficult time.
If you’ve lost a parent, or you’re a parent that has lost a child, celebrations like Mothering Sunday and Father’s Day can be a tough reminder of the grief you have - or still are - suffering.
Andy Langford is the Chief Operating Officer at Cruse Bereavement Care - a charity which provides support for children, young people and adults after the death of someone close.
He says: “We offer a range of free and confidential services, including a Freephone National Helpline, face-to-face bereavement support and we provide training to help organisations and professionals to support others who have been bereaved.”
Andy explains that Mother’s Day is a particularly difficult time for people whose mum or child has died as it can be a trigger of grief.
“Mothering Sunday is seen by many as a day to celebrate and spend time with their mum, or a maternal figure in their life. If their mum or child has died, Mother’s Day can be a distressing reminder of this loss and can trigger emotions of grief and sadness.”
Cruse Bereavement Care aim to minimise these feelings of grief or assist people in dealing with it in a helpful way to them.
Andy says: “We have put together some tips to help people who are grieving or missing their mums or children in the lead up to and on Mother’s Day. Everyone’s grief is unique so it is important that people do what feels right for them.
“Many people tell us that they like buy a Mother’s Day card or gift for their mum. Writing a Mother’s Day card can help them to feel part of the festivities and express how they are feeling.
“Others may like to light a candle, plant a flower in their garden or visit the final resting place of their mum or child. This can help them to feel closer to the person who has died and remember happy memories.
“It is completely natural for people to be overcome with emotion on Mother’s Day. If this is the case, there are many organisations that people can call for support. Cruse’s Freephone National Helpline will be open from 09:00 to 17:00 on Mother’s Day, the number is 0808 808 1677."
So what exactly is it that the charity can do to help? Andy says that anybody who is struggling can get in touch with a member of the trained team on their helpline. And this isn’t just in the run-up to Mothering Sunday, but all year round...
“On Mother’s Day, Cruse Bereavement Care’s National Helpline is open for people who would like immediate support. Our team of trained bereavement supporters are there to listen and support people who are struggling on the day. The Freephone National Helpline is a confidential service and will be open from 09:00 to 17:00. The number is 0808 808 1677.”
Because there are no time limits to grief, you don’t have to have recently lost someone to reach out for help from Cruse. They understand that the healing process takes longer for some people than it does others, and every person has a different journey when it comes to accepting and learning to live without a loved one.
Andy explains: “Cruse is there to give people support, advice and information when someone they love has died. Regardless of whether someone has been bereaved recently or not, we are there to support them on this difficult journey.
“We offer a range of free and confidential support, including a Freephone National Helpline, local face-to-face bereavement support and provide training to help organisations and professionals to support others who have been bereaved.”
“If you know someone whose mum or child has died, get in contact with them to let them know that you are thinking of them. Regardless of whether their mum or child has died recently or many years ago, simply acknowledging how difficult they might be finding Mother’s Day and the lead up to it can be helpful.”
For more information on how Cruse could help you or a loved one, visit their website: https://www.cruse.org.uk/
Or call their free helpline to speak to a member of their team, open from 09:30 to 17:00 on weekdays and open until 20:00 on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, on: 0808 808 1677.
Tagged in Parenting Mother's Day