The holidays are here… As a parent who is grieving, thinking about the holidays may seem ludicrous, and yet your children will not let them pass without celebration. Children naturally need to find the joy in the season. But it is an overwhelming time with demands that might cause unmanageable stress. It’s helpful to consider how you can ease the demands of the season and still honor your missing loved one. Below are some suggestions about how to manage your holidays.

Timothy Swenson, age 13, of Humble, Texas, shares his story of coping with the death of his dad, to help other grieving military children. Swenson was six years old when his father, Army Specialist David Paul Swenson, Jr. died by suicide. Timothy has found help at TAPS.