Gentle Advice
Small, steady kindnesses for anyone walking alongside grief.
i.
Say their name.
Saying a baby's name aloud will never remind a parent — they have not forgotten. It tells them you remember too. It is a gift, not a wound.
ii.
Show up after the casseroles stop.
Grief outlives the funeral, the flowers, and the first wave of cards. Mark the calendar — and keep showing up at three months, six months, one year, five.
iii.
Listen more than you speak.
Silence held with love is a gift. You do not need the perfect words. You only need to stay in the room.
iv.
Offer the small, specific thing.
"Can I bring dinner Thursday?" is easier to accept than "let me know if you need anything." Be specific. Be brief. Show up.
v.
Let grief be its own shape.
There is no timeline, no five tidy stages, no correct way to grieve a baby. Some days will be tender. Some will be quiet. All of them are love.
“Be the friend who keeps showing up long after.”