This holiday season, take a minute to reach out to a recent widow. This time of year is very difficult for women as they recall fond memories with their late husband. A lot of widows have a difficult time for the first couple of years especially around the Christmas season but you can help make it a little brighter this year.
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While I have a lot of fun ideas to share, the best gift you could give is your TIME. Can you take her out to lunch? Join her to do Christmas shopping together. Invite her to see a movie or show with you? Maybe a girls weekend or overnight in New York City or on a cruise! I do get carried away but doing things with friends and acquaintances that first Christmas really helped me.
Helping a friend create new traditions while incorporating old ones can be a great way to help them enjoy the holiday season. My first year I refused to decorate for Christmas. I felt it would be too painful with all the ornaments that held special significance.
Instead, my neighbors and their daughters pitched in and used some of my old decorations along with some new ones to decorate the inside of my home while Hallmark movies and Christmas carols played in the background. What a fun memory that became and the start of a new holiday tradition.
After experiencing a very difficult first Thanksgiving with out Mike, I made a plan to take a cruise with my two sons for Christmas. On Christmas morning, I did not have any Christmas presents for my kids. Instead, I booked us an excursion to swim with dolphins. This took my mind off the memories of past years on Christmas day, and instead our focus was on making new memories together.
If your time is limited or you live far away, sending a thoughtful Christmas card where you actually hand write inside some kind words or share a fun memory is a great source of comfort to the grieving widow. And who doesn’t like getting a small package in the mail?
Here are some thoughtful gift ideas to spread that holiday cheer.
- Personalized Memorial Bird Feeder
2. Personalized wind chime with name and date of deceased
3. A good book from my list Best Grief Books
4. Gift certificate to a local nail salon for a manicure / pedicure
5. Gift certificate for a Massage
6. Mail a care package in a shoe box
7. Personalized angel Christmas ornament
8. Gift card to a local or online Yoga class
9. Gift card to a Grocery delivery
10. Door dash gift card
11. A photo book or picture frame
12. Gift basket – candle, socks, candies/treats, gift certificate, lotions, good book
13. Invite her to the movies / a play
14. Movie gift certificate
15. Beautiful Plant
16. Memorial garden rock
17. Cremation Jewelry or cremation art gift card (or even a memorial diamond from the ashes)
18. Stress relief and healing stone Amethyst bracelet
19. Journal and pretty pen
20. Soft blanket
21. Soft sweatshirt
22. Burt’s bees lip balm and lotions
23. Cozy or Funny Fuzzy Slippers
24. Cross body bag
25. Fanny pack
26. Bandolier Emma Cross Body phone case and wallet
27. Bath bombs
28. Silk eye mask for sleeping
29. Variety pack of Teas
30. Pretty colored Tea Kettle
31. Jigsaw Puzzle
32. Handmade Vegan Natural Bar Soaps
33. Variety pack of Joe Malone Perfume
34. Baked goods (Xmas cookies yes)
35. Offer to gather old videos and photos and send to imemories and digitize for streaming on a SMART TV.
Don’t forget that it is OK to say his name and maybe take a walk down memory lane with your widowed friend. One of the hardest things is when everyone tries to avoid getting her upset by putting on a happy face and ignoring old traditions.
Once again spending TIME with a grieving widow is the best way to help them through this difficult time, but everyone appreciates a little gift now and then too.
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3 Responses
Can’t see the ‘like’ button for your blog story
Great ideas.
Thank you!!