Christmas can be a magical time of year filled with hope and joy. For the children that we meet, it is often shadowed by sadness either because someone special has died or it will be their last Christmas with their loved one. For those of us who are missing someone special because they have died, we thought it might be helpful to share some ideas that help us to remember them at Christmas.

One of the activities that we use on our group programmes that could be applied to this time of year is to make a decoration that we can hang on a tree at home or at a special place. Carefully cut a Christmas shape out of colourful card then make a hole in the top where you can thread pretty ribbon through. On the back of the decoration you can write or draw a message for your special person or memory of them. If glitter glue is more your thing then you could decorate a plain bauble with your special person’s name. Some of our families have bought snow globes where you can have a photo put inside. Other families that we know like to light a candle and have a quiet moment to reflect and remember.

At Jeremiah’s Journey we hold Christmas events where the children and young people can come together and know they are not alone in their grief. Of course we also do our best (with a little help) to ensure that they have some fun.

Wishing you a peaceful Christmas and New Year.