Parenting while grieving is complex. You’re trying to hold space for joy because your children deserve it… whilst also honouring your sadness, your memories, and the traditions that once anchored you. You might find yourself triggered by moments you didn’t expect: a smell, a Christmas song, a familiar dish, or the sight of other families sharing moments you wish you still had.

This blog explores how grief shows up in the festive season and offers strategies to manage your emotional wellbeing whilst parenting young children. You are not alone in navigating this bittersweet time.

Every year, as Christmas approaches, many parents begin to feel a familiar tightness in their chest. The lists, the school events, the costumes, the presents, the food planning, the wrapping, the endless remembering – it all piles up.

In this blog, we’ll explore the invisible load of Christmas, why it feels so intense, and offer 10 psychologically-informed strategies to help you navigate the holiday season.