Where Can We Turn? ... Finding Resources

I know that I am not the only grieving grandparent in the world.  There are LOTS of us.  Maybe I am strange, but I do glance through the obituaries a few times a week and there is usually someone listed who is young enough to leave behind grandparents.  So, why aren't there more resources for us?

Maybe we have to create them.  After all, we are the experts on what it's like to lose your child's child and everything it involves.

The lack of websites, books, support groups and places for us to turn is what motivated me to start this site.  I wanted there to be a place just for us because only we share the experience of losing a grandchild.  No one else can completely understand unless it happens to them - not something I would wish on anyone.

If you happened to read 'About Me', you know that I serve on a grief support coalition.  Twice a year, we provide 4 or 5 week sessions that start with a speaker, followed by small group sharing.  The groups are divided into these categories:  loss of spouse, loss of parent, loss of child and loss of other, i.e. job, home, health, relationship, etc.   So, anyone in attendance who has lost a grandchild either sits with the loss of child group. requests a one-on-one listener or they just leave.

About a year ago, I was assigned to facilitate the 'loss of child' group for one of our sessions and was surprised when - lo and behold - four of the five participants weren't parents, but grandparents mourning their grandchild.  Do I believe there is a need for more resources for grandparents?  

I would like to add a resource page to this site.  It won't have much listed at first, but it will be amazing to see the lists on the page grow longer as we discover additional help for grandparents.  If you have found a website, read a book or joined a group that has been comforting and helpful, please share it here and I will be more than happy to add it to our page.

In the meantime, I am excited to explore a couple of new 'findings'.  I'll be sure to keep everyone in the loop.