Summer holidays can heighten grief for bereaved parents

While many Danes enjoy summer holidays with family and friends, the break can amplify grief for parents who have lost a child, reports DR.

Katrina Fandrey of Als knows this firsthand. Thirteen years ago, her two-year-old daughter died from a rare metabolic disorder. Even now, holidays filled with happy moments can suddenly give way to sorrow.

“It’s hard when you have wonderful experiences and memories, and yet there’s always someone missing,” she says.

Grief does not vanish with sunshine or time off. For Fandrey, it can strike unexpectedly—even while watching her younger daughter swim in a lake, she may find herself in tears.

About 1,200 Danish parents under 65 lose a child each year, according to the National Grief Centre. Summer, with its emphasis on family time and traditions, often makes the absence more painful, says Preben Engelbrekt, the centre’s director and founder.

“For most who have lost someone, taking time off becomes especially challenging when you’ve lost one of the people you love most,” he says.

Fandrey urges friends and relatives to ask directly about grief: “You can absolutely bring it up and ask, ‘When are you sad? What do you need?’ or if there’s anything you can do.”

The National Grief Centre and the Association of Bereaved Parents plan to establish family camps where bereaved families can meet others in similar situations. Engelbrekt notes that such connections help, particularly for children and young people, by showing them their feelings are normal.

“Just being able to talk with peers about it makes a huge difference,” he says.