Be with Family: The most important thing after Zack died, was to just be with family on those tough days. It will mean more than you could ever imagine.Ĥ. If you have a friend or family member who is missing someone they love, you might want to make that same visit so they know that person has not been forgotten. Our sweet friend, visited Zackie this week and made us realize that he is missed and remembered by so many others. We’ve had cake on the grass for our first birthday without him and we’ve let off balloons singing “Happy Birthday” beside his gravestone. In our family, we have cried and laughed there. Visit their grave: It seems obvious, but some people find the grave site a sad place to visit. It reminds us of the memories of family time spent blowing bubbles for him and watching his infectious smile and laugh as we tried to pop them.ģ. We love to blow bubbles for Zack, as it was one of his favourite things. Did they love a particular game or activity? Do it. ![]() Did they love to eat at a special family restaurant? Eat there. My Twitter friend watched “Rio” for her sweet daughter. Do what they loved: Did you loved one have a favourite movie? Watch it. We often leave an Elmo balloon at the grave on that day.Ģ. We love to take a Sharpie marker and write personal messages to Zack and then sing “Happy Birthday” as we send the messages (and balloons) to Heaven. Especially when there are kids involved, balloons are the symbol of a birthday. Send Balloon Messages: Nothing says a birthday like balloons. Here are 10 ways to acknowledge, remember and celebrate the birthday (or death anniversary) of someone who has died ġ. What could she do? How could she acknowledge the day? What were some ideas to do something in her daughter’s memory? I shared some of the ways we have celebrated Zack’s birthday over the 3 years since he’s been gone. Just last week a new Twitter friend (connected through the loss of our children) was approaching the first time she would celebrate her daughter’s birthday since her death. Certainly a unique and almost impossible feat but we’ve managed to do it for 3 years. This year, Jayden will be opening presents, sharing cake with his friends and enjoying family time but how do we mark the day for Zackie? How to we hide our sadness and grief from our happy birthday boy?The question haunts me every September, as I find the perfectly appropriate way to acknowledge the day for Zack while not taking away from Jayden’s celebration. The joy I felt being pregnant, the excitement as were about to meet them and then the way the world changed just after Zack arrived. As I wrap my head around another year without Zack, I’m overwhelmed with memories of what it was like leading up to the arrival of our twins. Four years since we all celebrated together. This year, on September 21st, it will be our boys’ 7th birthday. ![]() While it can be difficult to relive our moments struggling with the same questions, it’s comforting to know that I might be able to help another family think of a special way to honour the birthday of someone they miss. ![]() I really love being the one that people come to for advice on how to honour someone they love, when they have died.
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