The Empty Seat at the Table: How to Support Someone Grieving During the Holidays
I’ve received so many messages lately asking, ‘How do I support a friend or family member who’s grieving during the holidays?’ Honestly, I get it. The holidays are emotional, overwhelming, and often unbearable when you’ve lost someone you love. For years, I’ve dreaded Christmas—I’ve even wanted to skip it entirely. Grief does that. Everything feels amplified.
If you’re wondering how to show up for someone grieving this season, I hope what I share here helps. It’s not about fixing their pain—it’s about easing the burden, making space, and offering compassion when they need it most. Because for someone grieving, the holidays aren’t joyful—they’re just hard.
🎄 Here are a few simple but powerful ways you can truly support someone who’s grieving this year. (Spoiler: It’s the little things that mean the most.)
What No One Understands About Losing a Child
Losing a child is an unimaginable grief, filled with misconceptions that can deepen the loneliness. Grief doesn’t expire; you don’t “move on,” you carry it forward. Talking about a lost child doesn’t worsen the pain, it keeps their memory alive. Other children don’t fill the void, and strength includes falling apart. Life changes forever, but it can still hold meaning as you honour their memory.