Coffee and Sweats

  • Home
  • About Me
  • Shop
    • Shop Coffee and Sweats Liketoknow.It
    • Nordstrom Anniversary Sale
    • Nordstrom Half Yearly Sale – Beauty Wish List
    • Nordstrom Half Yearly Sale – Shoe Wish List
    • Nordstrom Half Yearly Sale – Clothing Wish List
  • GIFT GUIDES
    • For the Coffee Addict
    • For the Gamer
    • For the Movie Buff
    • For the Fitness Fanatic
    • Gift Guide for the Baker
    • For the Globe Trotter
  • Disclosures

August 16, 2020 by: Nusrat

Nordstrom Anniversary Sale

#NSale #Nordstrom

Quick story time. I haven’t been sleeping well and have been cleaning excessively. Clearly something was bothering me and I couldn’t make sense of it. The #Nordstrom Sale is coming up (Aug 19 – Aug 30) and it took me a few days, but I’ve figured it out. Shopping is an activity my sister and I did together – iced coffee and the mall. We would get excited about the #NSale. I realized the last time I posted about the NSale on this blog was in 2017 when she was still around. She helped me pick out the clothes and I haven’t posted about it since.

I miss my stylish, fashion loving sister. I miss the time we spent together combing through the NSale and grumbling about never shopping with her again because she makes me spend too much money. I’m doing the work and facing all the nuances of grief that randomly pop up and destroy my peace. Cardholders get early access to the sale so I’ve already dropped a ridiculous amount of money on the preview and I know I’ll be spending some more.

I’ve picked out all my favorites in every category and linked them for you below. All are affiliate links and the blog may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. It’s a monster post and it brought me a lot of joy but it was also emotionally exhausting. Happy shopping and if you buy something, take a picture & tag me on Instagram – it would make my heart so happy.

Tops & Sweaters

Jackets, Coats & Cardigans

Shoes

Denim & Bottoms

Dresses & Jumpsuits

Loungewear

Accessories

May 1, 2020 by: Nusrat

5 Tips for Helping Children Grieve

My children have lost two close family members within the last two years. Their Aunt (my sister) to cancer and their Grandfather (my father-in-law) to the Covid-19 virus. Explaining the loss of a loved one to a child can be overwhelming, especially when you are also dealing with your own grief. Here are five tips to help your child understand their grief be it for a friend, a family member or even a pet.

Tell them the truth

Be straight forward when you explain the loss and present facts in an age appropriate language. Children understand a lot more than we give them credit for. A clear statement like ‘Grandpa’s heart stopped and his body is not working anymore’. If your child is older they will need more details like the name of the illness. Your children will be looking to you for emotional cues so it’s alright to say you are sad but assure them that you will be OK.

Acknowledge your child’s grief

It is important to recognize that everyone grieves differently. Allow them to grieve in their own way. Your child may have more meltdowns than usual, or lash out in anger over the smallest inconveniences. Some children become overly clingy and feel very insecure if someone needs to leave the house to run errands. They may feel sadness, anger and fear all at once and these are big emotions to feel. Give them all the time, space and love to allow them to grieve how they need.

Be prepared to answer a lot of questions

As your child processes the loss in the first few days (and even months and years later) as life begins to normalize, be prepared for a multitude of questions. These questions will pop up in the middle of play time or when you are least expecting it. They will catch you off guard and perhaps break your heart. It hurts to know that your babies are hurting but answering as truthfully as you can will help them build a new normal.

Months after my sister’s death, my 4 year old suddenly asked me ‘Can we give her a potion to bring her back to life?’ I braced myself, apologized and explained that unfortunately no, there is no potion that can bring her back. There may be questions about where the loved one is now? Can they see us? Do they miss us? Whether you take a religious, spiritual or factual route is up to you but be prepared for the hard questions.

Share the memories

As a family come up with ways to remember your loved one. It could be as simple as eating at your loved one’s favorite restaurant and sharing happy memories. You could plant a tree or create a photo book. On my sister’s birthday the children insisted we buy a cake like we would if she was still with us. They blew the candles out and then released balloons for her. Now it’s become an annual birthday celebration for her. Choose anything that serves as a connection to your loved one who has passed.

Reach out

You don’t have to do this alone. Find a children’s group therapy program in your community to connect your child with others who have also lost loved ones. It may help them heal to know they are not alone and others their age have also experienced loss. If that is not an option, do activities together like reading books and watching movies that will help both of you through the grieving process. This will initiate conversations and give them the opportunities to express their feelings into words. Always reassure them that you are here to listen.

I wish we could all protect our children from the pain of loss but it is something we all experience at some time. What we can do is help them express their feelings and remember, don’t ignore your own grief.

Have you helped a child through the loss of a loved one? Do you have any additional tips?

I’ve listed a few books below that have helped my family. If you click through and make a purchase this blog will earn a commission at no additional cost to you.

     

  • Home
  • About Me
  • Shop
  • GIFT GUIDES
  • Disclosures

© 2023 · Fun Genesis WordPress Theme by, Pretty Darn Cute Design