First Tears Over the Loss of Your Child paperback

There is a natural progression to life, certain events that are supposed to happen at specific times. The death of a child at any age, however, upsets that progression, leaving the bereaved to formulate a new normal. Linda Anderson has survived such a loss. 

In First Tears over the Loss of Your Child, she shares some of the wisdom she has learned, and she has collected words of comfort from people who have also experienced traumatic losses. The result is a timeless volume that offers commiseration, hope, renewal, understanding and love to anyone who has lost a child.

Knowing through first-hand experience that bereaved parents need to a safe place in which to share their own grief and beloved memories of their children, Anderson has created a book that gives parents that security during the tender times shortly after the death of their child. First Tears over the Loss of Your Child is grouped into the following sections:

• First Tears
• Grieving
• Grieving as a Couple
• Faith
• Memories
• Your Life to Come

On July 24, 1995, my youngest daughter took her own life. She was twenty-five years old. Her death was incomprehensible to those who knew her and loved her.

When Sally died, our friends and community asked themselves, "How could that have happened to her? Didn't her family love her enough? Didn't she realize she had talents? Didn't she realize how devastating her death would be to those who loved her?"

My husband and I had no experience with suicide, nor did we know anyone whose child had died in that manner. We were totally unprepared for the long journey we had to make. 

We were given several books about grieving and were grateful for the thoughtfulness of those who sent them. Each of the books had merit, but merely reading other people's stories was not enough to lift us out of our sorrow. I kept asking myself, "How can I go from where I am to living a meaningful life again?"

Over time, I came to understand that parents who have lost a child need more than other people's stories. They need to realize they are not alone. They need hope that things will get better. They need to be able to move forward, renew their spirits, and understand the steps they will likely take on their own grief walk. Most of all, however, bereaved parents need to feel loved.

This volume offers commiseration, hope, renewal, understanding and love to anyone who has lost a child.

My hope is that these pages will help you reach out to others, to share your sorrow, and to heal. I also hope this book will be of value to your friends and family who may not understand what you are feeling, or how to support you in your grief. May this book help them to be a loving and comforting presence in your life.