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Final Words

Final Words

by Kellyn Shoecraft
This is the second part in a short series on the end of my dad's life. For part one, click here.    Late January, 2004 My dad's room is dim. The li...
Chronic illlness End-of-life Illness
My Dad's Driver

My Dad's Driver

by Kellyn Shoecraft
December | 2003 The gravel crunches after I shift to drive and we slowly begin the descent down our driveway. The roles are reversed. Instead of my...
Care taking Chronic illlness End-of-life
Talking with Children about Death and Dying

Talking with Children about Death and Dying

by Kellyn Shoecraft
This is part II of a series in honor of Children’s Grief Awareness Day. Part I, on helping children grieve with remembrance books, may be found h...
Child grief Grief support
Helping Children Grieve with Remembrance Books

Helping Children Grieve with Remembrance Books

by Kellyn Shoecraft
This post is sponsored by Pinhole Press. Thank you for considering brands that support Here For You. This Thursday, November 15th, marks Childre...
Child grief Grief support
Signs that My Grief is Still Raw

Signs that My Grief is Still Raw

by Kellyn Shoecraft
*Some of these are code names for real people (my high school history teacher is really my high school history teacher). My sister is probably the...
Grief experience Sibling loss
My (Dead) Sister Triggers

My (Dead) Sister Triggers

by Kellyn Shoecraft
   This probably reads to you like how my 10th-grade yearbook inscriptions read to me. A list of scrawled inside jokes that have no meaning. T...
Grief Grief experience Sibling Loss
Anatomy of a Condolence Text

Anatomy of a Condolence Text

by Kellyn Shoecraft
Helpful facts: My older sister, Alison, died unexpectedly on August 9, 2017. On the morning of August 10th, I sent an email and made a social ...
Grief support Strategies
Death Anniversaries Part II: How We Supported Ourselves

Death Anniversaries Part II: How We Supported Ourselves

by Kellyn Shoecraft
On a whim, I signed up for a grief retreat hosted by Modern Loss. I didn’t think much about it at the time, I just knew that I loved Modern Loss (b...
Grief experience Sibling loss
Death Anniversaries Part 1: How To Be Supportive

Death Anniversaries Part 1: How To Be Supportive

by Kellyn Shoecraft
The anniversaries of my sister’s (8/9/17) and father’s (2/6/04) deaths are the two most impactful days of my life. It’s customary to check in with ...
Grief experience Grief support
Suicide & Mental Health

Suicide & Mental Health

by Kellyn Shoecraft
Grief is complicated and difficult. To be a family member or friend of someone who lost their life by suicide adds an additional level of complexi...
Suicide Support
Failure to Communicate

Failure to Communicate

by Kellyn Shoecraft
The miscommunication of grief is kind of like this hug between my nephew and my daughter. Good, heartfelt intentions, but an uncomfortable and pain...
What to say
Where to turn for comfort and support

Where to turn for comfort and support

by Kellyn Shoecraft
 Updated: December 3, 2018 When you are recently diagnosed or bereaved, people are frantic to help you solve your problem. This is well-intentioned...
Grief support Support