Sharing Meetings

WELCOME...

We know how difficult it is to walk through our doors the first time. You have just begun the journey through grief that we all must make. We cannot take away the pain; we cannot change what has happened; we can only stand as mute testimony that one does survive, and life does go on, and we do learn to laugh and love again. We hope you will find with us a safe, accepting place to do your grief work. You may find that you feel worse after your first meetings. This is a normal reaction when one begins to face the pain and the reality. We ask you to try three meetings — it does get better — and to keep in contact with a Telephone Friend between meetings or feel free to drop in at the TCF Office (9am - 3:00pm Tues - Thurs.)

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In remembering our children,

In sharing with each other,

In supporting each other,

We ease our pain,

We share each step,

We help smooth the road,

And we serve as witnesses to

The fact that we can make it

Beyond grief…

 

Roy F. Peterson

TCF/Lexington, KY

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For a list of future meeting topics, please check the "Chapter News" page in this site

	Welcome
	Reading of the Credo
	Lighting of the Memory Candle
	TCF Family Introductions
	‘Reflections’ — i.e. Readings, guest speaker, video, audio tape, special presentations
	Sharing Circles
	Closing

THE SHARING CIRCLE is a very important part of our meeting. Many professionals and thanatologists believe it is beneficial, perhaps necessary, for bereaved parents to talk about their loss, to recall the events surrounding it, to express their feelings and to share their memories. It is thought that if emotions are held back and feelings are not expressed, the progress towards a positive reconcilication of grief is delayed or prevented. For these reasons we encourage bereaved parents to talk about what happened, to express their feelings and to acknowledge the reality of their loss.

We are not counselors or therapists. We are people who have journeyed (in varying degrees) the same road you are now traveling.

In the SHARING CIRCLE we give every person an opportunity to speak in turn. In order to feel free and safe to do this we must have some ground rules. Our basic rules are:

1. A parent is free to share or not to share. Sometimes just listening to others is helpful, and it is important to know that there is no pressure to talk.

 2. When a parent is sharing we just listen. We do not touch them or do anything that might distract them (even to hand them a Kleenex); if they cry or are silent for a time, we wait. This is their time to get in touch with their memories and feelings. When they are finished sharing, they are to touch the next person in the circle.

3. We try to be non-judgmental when others are sharing. There is no right or wrong feeling, we do not criticize others for what they are feeling or the way in which they are approaching their grief. WE NEVER MAKE COMPARISONS re: the severity of our loss.

4. Our meetings are not a time to preach. Each member is free to have a philosophy of life which may or may not be in agreement with our own belief system.

5. Lastly, we remind those present that what is shared in the Sharing Circle or in small groups is confidential. We are sharing a precious part of our lives, and we need to know that our right to confidentiality will be respected.

PERFECT PEACE

by Charles Allen

Once there was a little child who went on an errand for her Mother. She was late coming home and her Mother asked for an explanation. The child explained the playmate of hers down the street had fallen and broke her doll and she had stayed to help her. But her Mother wondered what the child could do to help mend the broken doll. The little girl make a marvelous reply: “I just sat down and helped her cry.”