48. Sibling Grief Pt I: A Mother’s Experience after Child Loss

If you’ve lost a child and wondered how your surviving children are coping, this episode is for you. Sibling grief is so often overlooked, yet brothers and sisters are mourning too — and they need support just as much as parents do. In this heartfelt solo episode, host Lisa Boehm shares my own experience of helping her teenage son Ryan grieve after the death of his sister. You’ll hear what helped, what she wishes she had done differently, and how she managed to support him, even while she and her husband were grieving themselves.

Here are 5 key takeaways you’ll hear in this conversation:

• Why siblings are often called the “forgotten mourners” — and how to make sure your child doesn’t feel invisible.
• The surprising ways grief can show up in teens
• What helped most — and why “dedicated time” can be more healing than therapy (at least in the beginning).
• The words we say in despair that can unintentionally wound our surviving children — and how to reframe them with love.
• Practical ways to reassure, connect, and build resilience in your surviving children, even when you feel broken yourself.

Resources Mentioned

• Beyond Tears: Living After Losing a Child (Revised Edition) by Ellen Mitchell → [Amazon link]
• Lisa's comprehensive list of grief resources for bereaved moms

Connect With Me

• Instagram: @grief.and.childloss
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/griefsupportformoms