Grief groceries.
Earlier this week I popped out to pick up some grief groceries.
And, I’m likely to be doing another grief grocery shop in the coming days.
Now, you might be wondering what grief groceries are?
So let me share a little bit of wisdom from those grieving.
One of the many things that are said to a griever when their person has just died is “Let me know if you need anything” or “How can I help?”
But here’s the thing, when folks are grieving making decisions or even knowing what they want or need can be just far too difficult.
And this is where grief groceries comes in.
It’s not that they can’t get to the shops (some grievers are high functioning) and it’s not that they have nothing in the house.
But…
Changes in appetite are a universal component of grief, particularly in those early days.
People can lose their appetite completely or over-eat.
Keeping it simple can be helpful to the griever when the physical, mental and emotional capacity to cook diminshes.
So picking up some groceries, food that is easy to cook, some healthy goodies and practical stuff like tissues, lip balm (lips can dry and crack so easily when people are grieving, stressed and crying a lot), hand cream as a treat and for a special touch, a candle to light.
Perhaps add in a precooked home-made meal or two.
Let’s not forget some things they can snack on too and that might include some healthy and some not-so-healthy snacks.
Let us not judge their choices or impose on them what WE think they should be eating. In those early days of grief it is sometimes all a person can do to function.
If you are unable to get them any groceries how about a voucher for a takeaway that can be delivered direct to their door?
Grief groceries.
Just a little way of showing that we care at a time when we can feel so helpless.
With love
Nancy xx
HELD 