We kick off this episode with our review of the new Dan Levy Netflix film "Good Grief". If you haven't watched it and don't want any spoilers, jump into the episode closer to minute 27. In the rest of the episode we address a common question that comes up for grievers: with so much information out there about grief, why aren't people more grief-literate? Which of course begs the question, what is grief literacy? Should that be what we strive for? We're not so sure. 

The documentary Litsa mentioned about finding out secrets after a death is called Stories We Tell. You can find the trailer here: https://youtu.be/A_8BnZ471GY?si=WvIYzclvFaS_Sj-K

Visit whatsyourgrief.com for hundreds of free articles we've written about all things grief and loss. If you liked this episode, these are some articles you might appreciate: 
Learning a Secret After a Death
64 Ways to Meet Grieving People Where They're At
How to Help a Grieving Friend: Beyond the Basics
WYG's Definition of Grief

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When something sad, bad, or anxiety producing happens in the life of someone we care about, our immediate instinct is to comfort.  Of course it is – we’re good people!  And often this instinct is useful because comforting is exactly what the situation calls for; for example a child’s bruised knee or a nervous first day on the job are both situations where a “there, there, you’ll be okay” goes a long way.

However, in the early days of grief, there is very little anyone can say to take away a griever’s pain and there is very little value in summing up the situation with a positive or inspiring platitude. So, we suggest people hoping to providing support.  In this video podcast, we outline what this new conceptualization means.

It is normal to be nervous about sending your child back to school after a death.  As a parent, it's in your nature to want to protect your child after a death.  If your family experienced the death of someone special this summer, there is a good chance you've been watching your child to see if they're coping and adapting well.  If possible, you may have spent extra time over the summer coping together as a family.  Maybe you've even been spoiling them a bit, trying to make the pain in their life just a little bit more tolerable.

As much as you may want it to, the extra time and coddling can't (and shouldn't) last forever,  so the back to school transition may provide an opportunity to ease back into regular patters of interaction with friends, teachers, and school counselors.  For many children, a return to "normal" life will be helpful and uncomplicated, while other might need a little extra help readjusting to the school environment.  In this episode of the What's Your Grief Podcast we discuss a few ways you can help to prepare your children for returning to school and to work with their teachers to ensure they have the support they need both at home and in school.

Supporting a grieving teenager or young adult can be a pretty big head scratcher for parents and professionals. Although teens are a lot like adults when it comes to grief, there are a few key differences due to personal history, social support, and stage of life. In this episode of the What’s Your Grief Podcast we talk about specific considerations for supporting a grieving teen.

Show Notes:  www.whatsyourgrief.com/twenty-one/

After a death supportive family and friends often struggle to find the right words to say to their grieving loved one.  Unfortunately, in an effort to provide comfort to the griever, well intentioned family and friends often find themselves saying the wrong thing.

In this episode What's Your Grief's Litsa and Eleanor discuss some of the more commonly used yet cringe worthy statements said to grievers.  They explain why these sentiments often fall on agitated ears and offer an alternative approach for supporting those grieving the loss of a loved one.

Outline and show notes can be found at www.whatsyourgrief.com/two