Counselor Connection

Thanksgiving Break is upon us! Then the countdown for Christmas Break!

👉Thanksgiving Break is November 26-28

👉 Break begins on December 22th- through January 6!

In this issue, I wanted to share some resources about grief and the holiday season as it approaches .

Wishing you a happy and healthy 2026!

- Mrs. Sims

Many look forward to the holiday season. It is a chance to be surrounded by family, friends, love, and kindness. While we like to keep the presence of the holiday spirit in tact, it is also a time for many families that comes with a heavy heart of grief. The holiday season can trigger emotions of sadness with thoughts of loved ones that are no longer with us. An empty seat at holiday gatherings may dull the light in us that wants to shine. I, personally, have experienced loss during the holiday season. My brother passed the day before Thanksgiving 5 years ago from Cancer. He was only 51. This year, my Father-in-law passed October 25th. We have all had in the back of our minds the thought of Thanksgiving and Christmas without him. Now, yearly, when this date approaches, I have to find ways to get me, as well as my family through. I thought I would share some of the ways in which we can help our children as well as ourselves work through this time. While not all of these suggestions would work for our families based on beliefs, or backgrounds, it can be a start to help work through a trying time. Thank you for supporting UTMS as always, and I will be thinking of our Bearcat family this Holiday Season.

Ways to externalize the loss – give it a time and a place

A prayer before the Holiday dinner, about your loved one.
Light a candle for your loved one.
Create an online tribute for them.
Share a favorite story about your loved one.
Have everyone tell a funny story about your loved one.
At your place of worship remember them in a prayer.
Chat online about them.

Do’s and Don’ts

Do be gentle with yourself and protect yourself.
Don’t do more than you want, and don’t do anything that does not serve your soul and your loss.
Do allow time for the feelings.
Don’t keep feelings bottled up. If you have 500 tears to cry don’t stop at 250.
Do allow others to help. We all need help at certain times in our lives.
Don’t ask if you can help or should help a friend in grief. Just help. Find ways; invite them to group events or just out for coffee.
Do, in grief, pay extra attention to the children. Children are too often the forgotten grievers.
Do check in on your children- spend one-on-one time with them and allow them to express all they are feeling. Not big talkers? Allow them to draw, journal, or find music that represents what they are feeling.