How do people celebrate death around the world?
One thing we all have in common is life and death. There are lots of different traditions to mark the occasion of a person dying.
Becoming bereaved of both parents can bring lots of change, uncertainty, and complicated emotions to your life. To read more ways to cope with your grief, read more here. Below are seven ways to creatively express your grief and feelings when you're grieving for both your parents.
Memory jar or box
Find a jar or a small box and fill it with written memories, photos, or small items that remind you of your parents. You can write little notes about special memories, things you wish you could tell them, or things you miss. Whenever you need a comforting moment, you can read a memory or look at something meaningful in the jar or box.
Create a collage or scrapbook
Gather photos, quotes, and other mementoes to create a scrapbook or collage. Having a physical project helps to express thoughts and emotions, and if you don’t have many items, you can add small drawings, poems, or journal entries that capture how you’re feeling. Keep it in your room privately or share it with others you trust when you want to find ways to talk about your parents.
Write a poem, story, or song
If you enjoy writing, create a poem, story, or song dedicated to your parents, individually or together. It doesn’t have to be about them directly; it could be about how you’re feeling or a way to imagine what you’d say to them. This can be a really powerful way to let out emotions you might have trouble saying aloud.
Memory garden or planting sill
Consider planting flowers, a tree, or even a small indoor plant in memory of your loved one. As the plant grows, it can be a symbol of your connection and a comforting reminder. You can decorate the plant’s pot with messages or symbols that remind you of them. If you’re not so great at keeping plants healthy, try finding a hydroponic plant (one that lives in water), that way you just have to keep the water refreshed and not worry about soil, plant food, or anything else.
Painting or drawing your emotions
It can sometimes feel hard to put grief into words but expressing it visually can be easier. Try painting or drawing scenes, colours, or shapes that represent your emotions. This might be abstract colours and swirls or actual scenes of comforting memories. Having a ‘grief art book’ to fill over time can help you reflect on your journey and see how far you’ve come already.
Memory recipe book or cooking traditions
If your parents had favourite recipes, create a small recipe book of these dishes or learn how to make them. Cooking the recipes they loved can feel like spending time with them, and you might even add little notes about when they used to cook that meal or memories connected to the food or flavours. If you feel ready, one day you might share your cooking with friends, family, or your future partner and refer to this book to tell them all about the food’s connection to your parents.
Dedicate a space to them
Design a small area in your room (or another safe place) with photos, items, or objects that remind you of your parents. It could include things like a candle, a special piece of jewellery or a watch, or even a small note. This space can give you a physical place to go to, where you can sit, share your thoughts, or just spend a few moments remembering them.
Whether you’re struggling with your feelings, not sure how to express your thoughts or trying to find ways to remember your person who has died, we have lots of ideas to help.
View grief toolkitIf you need to talk, we’re here to listen. You can speak to the Winston’s Wish bereavement team using one of our confidential on-demand services. You can chat with us anonymously if you wish and share whatever you are feeling. Nothing about your grief is off limits. We promise to listen, not judge and can offer advice and guidance if needed. You can speak to us as little or as often as you want.
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If you need to speak to us in a language other than English, we can use interpreters over the phone, and we can use the Relay UK app if you have hearing or speech difficulties.
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