Living After Unthinkable Grief
Michele Benyo is a mom of two, a Certified Grief Recovery Specialist, an early childhood parent coach, and the founder of Good Grief Parenting. And after her 6-year-old son died of cancer, her 3-year-old daughter’s heartbreaking statement – “Mommy, half of me is gone,” – defined Michele’s life purpose.
Michele says, “Childhood sibling loss has deep ramifications that few people recognize; it impacts the most basic of day-to-day interactions. My daughter spoke it so well one day on the playground when she said to me, ‘No one can know the pain that we feel.’ My daughter’s loss will never ever be okay. Yet, I couldn’t change it. I simply had to make the best lemonade that I possibly could. I had to figure out how to do the rest of our lives — how to help her cope with her loss, shine light into the void, and remake a meaningful life around her altered identity as a sibling by heart.”
Michele’s mission today is twofold. One, to help parents through the challenges of parenting while grieving the death of a young child. And two, to help parents meet the unique needs of a child who has lost a sibling in the early childhood years. Michele’s heart’s desire is to see families live forward after loss toward a future bright with possibilities, and even joy.
In this episode, Michele tells her story, what she needed as a bereaved parent of a young child. She also provides some guidance on how to cope, build resilience, and live after such a devastating loss.
Resources
Good Grief Parenting
https://www.goodgriefparenting.com/