I Am A Griever

Kate – Things I do that help

Kate talks about how art, hiking and visiting the cemetery can be very therapeutic

Jim – Preparation

Jim shares here is no way to truly prepare for the experiences that you will see as a police officer. You can read about it, talk to veteran officers, and even watch videos, but until you are personally involved in something, you will never know how it will affect you. The best way to deal with the challenges of being a police officer is to expect the unexpected and to be prepared to handle anything that comes your way. Remember, you are not alone. There are many resources available to help you cope with the stress of the job, and there are many other officers who understand what you are going through. If you are considering a career in law enforcement, be sure to do your research and talk to as many people as you can before you make your decision

Lyss – Therapy and the right fit

Lyss talks about therapy and finding the right fit

Kate – Trust and listening

Kate – explains how having someone you trust is super important so that you can have a space space to go to

Adam – Story 2

Adam discusses his busy life and how he has coped after losing his mother

Scott – The grieving process

Scott talks about how his song ‘The Good Man James” was about his father, their relationship and how it helped him process their relationship. Find the song at his website www.dotbmusic.ca

Lyss – Holding Space

Lyss discusses holding space, feeling the feelings and the things her Mom missed by dying at 47.

Keeping Records

I pulled the photos out of their envelope one at a time, turning over each one to carefully record the date, place, and people in the photo. Sometimes, I included comments. “Apple picking in Hamilton with Pop Pop, Fall, 2023. You loved the wagon ride!”. I slipped each picture into an empty pocket in my son’s photo album.

Joyce – Your other children

Joyce discusses how her daughter dealt helped her as well as dealing with the loss of her brother.

Kate – Stigma

Kate discusses how difficult the stigma is to deal with

Betsy – Mother’s day

Betsy shares her challenges around mother’s day when her adopted son died

Kate – My art and my brother

Kate talks about being an artist and expression through art can remind her of her brothers encouragement