Stepmothering and The Grieving Child: Our Interview With Diane Ingram Fromme by Heather Hetchler, MA
Losing a parent is one of life’s biggest heartaches. When a parent dies, loss is felt and grief begins.
Grief is part of the healing process and anyone who does life with a person who is grieving is along for the journey, including a stepmother. Whether the child grew up motherless or mom passed away after Dad remarried, a stepmom is wise to seek tools that help her navigate the loss and grief which encompass the experience of motherless children.
In her new book, “Stepparenting the Grieving Child,” Diane Ingram Fromme speaks directly to the heart of stepparents and shares how they can cultivate connections with children—of all ages—who have lost a parent. The author, writer and speaker has filled her book with practical tips, insightful revelations, real life stories and lessons which Diane learned personally as she walked that same journey. It’s a must-read for anyone who is stepparenting a grieving child.
Here, long-time StepMom Magazine Contributor Heather Hetchler discusses the book with Diane, who tells us what it’s like to stepmother a child of loss and provides tips for building bonds and a sense of caring between stepmother and child. Diane talks candidly about what surprised her most about stepmothering motherless children.
She also offers strategies for helping stepchildren manage their grief (and subsequent re-grief experiences), walking alongside your partner during this difficult time and getting help yourself.
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