Losing a Parent: Coming Through a Special Loss

The death of a parent brings a special kind of grief. When a parent dies, we lose a unique connection with our roots, our past, our identity and our childhood - and we are forced to confront our own mortality. Often the practicalities of bereavement take over, leaving us unable to focus on the complex realities of this loss, or platitudes and easy answers are proferred, distracting us from the grieving process. The work of grief, in fact, can take years and may change our view of life profo...