Reflecting on the past year since losing our son, a common theme we’ve noticed is our intentionality to ensure he is not forgotten.
Based on our experience over the last year, below are some day-to-day ways to honor the memory of a child who has died.
- Refer to the child by name and encourage others to do so (e.g., our son’s name is Travis Jr. and we say his name often)
- Include the child in the count when asked how many kids you have
- Refer to the child as the big brother or big sister of younger siblings (e.g., “the new baby is getting his big brother’s hand-me-downs”)
- Include mementos of the child around the house (e.g., we set up faux magnolia flowers for our living room decor because that’s a special flower from our pregnancy photo shoot)
- Include the child in holiday celebrations throughout the year (e.g., hang a Christmas tree ornament with their name on it; sign Fathers’ Day and Mothers’ Day cards as being from the child plus any other siblings)
What are some other ways that you find yourself regularly honoring the memory of a child who has died?