If You Have Lost A Child

If you have lost a child there are several books that you can buy that can help you navigate the grieving process. Losing a child is one of the most difficult experiences that any human being will ever face so you need all the support you can get in order to not be overwhelmed by the pain.
One good book is 'Don' t Take My Grief Away' by Doug Manning. This understanding author talks about how letting go of grief, anger and resentment makes us feel like we are letting go of the child. This book also reinforces the idea that we all need to recover from these experiences in our own time and that they cannot be forced.
If you feel that you are somehow responsible for the child's death as would be the case if there was some kind of home accident then you need a book that tells you how to deal with grief that is mixed with guilt. A good self help book for this matter is 'Forgiving God' by Carla Killough McClafferty. This is by a woman who has been there and it is extremely cathartic and comforting for those who need an emotional release.
Another great book is 'Gone But Not Lost' by David W. Weirsbe. This book teaches you to be patient with your spouse. Many marriages split up after the death of a child and it is just not necessary if the two of you can understand that you may be grieving for the loss in different ways and at different rates.
A similar book is called 'Five Cries of Grief' by Merton P. Strommen. It is the journal of both a father and a mother writing about the loss of their son. It reveals the difference between how men and women deal with loss psychologically.
Another sweet and comforting book on the topic is 'Roses In Heaven.' This is by a mother who has lost three children named Marilyn Willett Heavilin. Whether your child was an infant, a stillborn, or an adult at the time of death, this book will help you manage with your loss. Roses in December investigate your emotions and assist the reader in dealing with anger, sadness, depression, and other aspects of grief. This is a must read book for anyone who has ever lost a child, or knows someone who has.
These are also good books to give anyone who has lost a child and who you perceive is having a very hard time. It is better than giving them a pep talk as most bereaved parents feel hurt because it seems that you do not understand their sadness. Giving the person a blank journal into which to write down their thoughts is also a very good idea. In fact writing in journal every day is what most of the authors mentioned in this blog suggest as an outlet for expressing grief.

Books for Troubled Kids

Sometimes you end up trying to help a kid that is going through a very troubled time in their life because of a divorce or a death. It could be your own child or the neighbour's child but you still want to help. However sometimes you feel completely helpless because it is hard to communicate with the upset child or see the world through his or her eyes. Thankfully there are some books out there on the market that can assist you with this type of situation.
A common situation is the one where you end up being the stepmother to a new kid through marriage either because of a death or divorce. There is a really good book on this topic on the market. It is called 'The Good Stepmother: A Practical Guide' and it by two women who have been there. The authors are Patricia Adams and Karen Savage. Every issue is discussed in this book including the ex spouse, children who act out their resentment and money issues. You are basically taught how to handle these situations so nobody is hurt, resentful or traumatized as a result of the big change. The chapters on how to handle the ex are also very important as you can save the children involved a lot of stress during the divorce and remarriage process if the two of you can learn how to get along.
Some kids really have a hard time adjusting to a divorce. A child can isolate and refuse to communicate to you. In this case you might want to purchase 'What's Going to Happen to Me? When Parents Separate or Divorce. This is a paperback by Eda LeShan that is directed to kids who are eight years of age or older and who are hurt and mystified by the divorce process. It is just a great all purpose book about the subject to give to any child as it explains what goes on and helps the child feel more emotionally secure.
If you have a depressed kid or one that just seems woefully ignorant of how to handle the issues that he or she might be facing. Heartbeats and Other Stories by Peter D. Sieruta is a classic book about a set of twins that go through all of the issues such as temptation to suicide, teen pregnancy and feeling picked on or lonely. Most kids identify with the two main characters which is reassuring and educational for them.
If you have a new baby you will love the funny and helpful book by Edward R. Christophersen Baby Owner's Manual. The illustrations and photographs in this book are wonderful and will help ward off that case of post-partum depression after you have been up all night for months. It is always good to know that others have been through same stressful experiences that you have just after having a baby.