There is a grief unlike any other—the grief that follows the death of a child.

This July, during Bereaved Parents Awareness Month, we pause to recognize the millions of parents who carry this grief every day. Some are grieving children who died as teenagers or adults. Others are grieving babies who died during pregnancy, at birth, or shortly thereafter—babies they never had the opportunity to watch grow, hear laugh, or celebrate birthdays with.

No matter how old a child was when they died, no matter how much time has passed, the love remains.

What many people don’t realize is that bereaved parents don’t just grieve the child who died. They also grieve the future that was supposed to unfold.

They grieve the birthdays that will never be celebrated.

The graduations.

The first jobs.

The weddings.

The grandchildren.

The ordinary moments they imagined and looked forward to.

For parents whose babies died before or shortly after birth, there can be an additional layer of heartache. Society sometimes struggles to acknowledge a life that was so brief. Yet that child was loved, dreamed about, and cherished long before they took their first breath. The length of a life does not determine the depth of a parent’s love.

Bereaved parents often carry silent reminders with them everywhere they go.

A child who would have been entering kindergarten this year.

A teenager who should be learning to drive.

A son who would be celebrating his 30th birthday.

A daughter who should be bringing her own children to family gatherings.

Sometimes the most difficult moments arrive unexpectedly. A back-to-school commercial. A family photo on social media. Seeing children who are the same age their child would be today.

While the world keeps moving forward, many parents are quietly marking milestones and wondering who their child would have become.

One of the greatest misconceptions about grief is that it has an expiration date.

The truth is that grief changes over time, but it does not disappear.

Many bereaved parents will tell you that what hurts most is not when people remember their child. It’s when people stop mentioning them altogether.

They worry their child’s name will no longer be spoken.

That their life will be forgotten.

That the impact they made, no matter how brief, will fade from memory.

This month, we invite everyone to remember that support does not have a timeline.

If you know a bereaved parent:

Say their child’s name.

Acknowledge birthdays, anniversaries, and meaningful dates.

Send a message, even years later.

Invite them to share memories if they wish.

Let them know their child is still remembered.

A simple text that says, “I was thinking about your daughter today,” or “I remembered your son and wanted you to know he came to mind,” can mean more than you may ever realize.

You are not reminding them that their child died.

They already know.

You are reminding them that their child mattered.

Bereaved Parents Awareness Month is about more than recognizing grief. It is about recognizing enduring love.

Because the bond between a parent and child does not end with death.

This July, may we honor the children who are deeply loved and deeply missed, support the parents who carry them in their hearts every day, and create space for conversations that remind grieving families they are not alone.

If you know a bereaved parent, consider reaching out today. One message. One memory. One acknowledgment.

Sometimes the greatest gift we can give is letting someone know that their child is still remembered.

If you know a bereaved parent, consider reaching out today. One message, one memory, one acknowledgment can remind them that both they and their child are still remembered. ❤️

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