Kindermourn was suggested to me very early on after my husband’s death. I had heard of the organization but only knew about their services for parents who had lost a child. Right away, I connected with a counselor and learned more about what they provide. About a month and a half later, my children were seen for an evaluation and my oldest began individual counseling. We also started attending the group meetings and found them to be healing and comforting. Group meets on Monday evenings from 6:30-7:30. Children meet in small groups based on age. There is also an adult caregiver group as well as a group for parents who have lost their spouse. Snacks are provided and the atmosphere is generally light and sometimes even joyful despite the unfortunate reason we are there. Kindermourn also hosts various events for families throughout the year such as a movie night, a day camp, and an impressive fundraiser held each spring at the US National Whitewater Center called the Hope Floats Duck Race.

The first time I walked into the Kindermourn house it felt heavy and dark. I didn’t want to be there. I didn’t feel like I belonged (I suppose I was in denial of my status as a widow), but somewhere along the way, Kindermourn has become a place of warmth and comfort that I am so grateful to have in my life. If you have a personal connection to Kindermourn, please feel free to comment below so others can learn more about how impactful this organization is for grieving children and adults.

To learn more, you can access their website here.