Grief is something I unfortunately have had to deal with for most of my life. When people are grieving we always want to give them comfort by going over to the house, bringing food, sending a card, etc. I am here to tell you that while those things are great as a grieving person I want more things that will help me out greatly. Things aren’t the norm but will help me in my everyday life aspect. Things that maybe while grieving I forget about. Here are a few gifts that offer comfort and support that go way beyond tradition the traditional sympathy.
Cleaning while grieving is the last thing that we think about. Who thinks about cleaning at a time like this? And to make matters worse the people that come over to the house that visit you will see everything because you just aren’t in the mood. A cleaning crew to come over and clean at least for the first 2 months would be so beneficial to someone who is grieving. This helps out so much because I don’t have to worry about the dust that’s piling up and my guests don’t have to see how my house looks when I am not in the mood. To take it further they can also organize certain areas and help clean your fridge or pantry. This can help you keep some type of regularity going in your home some sense of normal when things aren’t. Call around for a cleaning service or have a trusted friend who can clean very well go over to that persons house.
Get them a notebook. Not just any notebook but something they can write their thoughts in that will help them on their journey. I know a lot of people don’t like to write anymore but it’s so therapeutic. Get this one as a start.
A staycation is something that I would have enjoyed when my hubs first passed away. I think having that getaway without going too far would have been beneficial for me. We all need to getaway from time to time but driving when you’ve just lost a loved one can be hard. A staycation is a nice gift to give to someone that you love and you can tailor it to their liking.
Here are some other ideas
- a care package that gives them something that they love. Tailor it to something they specifically love like Starbucks or perfume.
- getting their car cleaned can be huge too it’s one less thing off their plate
- give them the gift of getting their kids for a weekend. If you can offer this to someone that you know who is grieving this is a huge help
- a handwritten note means a lot
- don’t ask what can I do or what do I need. Avoid that question. Try instead to listen to them and figure it out without asking. What I need is my loved one back and I may get pissed and say can you bring them back if not then stop asking (I did this when my mom died)
- playlist of their favorite songs (this is free)
- I know I said earlier that food is always a welcome gift but how about hiring a chef for them. The company can be good and if they are picky about their food this gives them a way to see what is being cooked
- wine…enough said
Whatever gift you decide to give nothing beats the gift of being there for someone going through grief. Don’t just stop after 3 months. We need you to check in with us often because we will never be the same.
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