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/