“Woman must not depend upon the protection of man, but must be taught to protect herself.” — Susan B. Anthony
Grieving parents—especially grieving mothers—often feel stripped of identity. The world once offered a fragile sense of safety. That illusion shattered with the loss. Many mothers once leaned on others to feel secure, to feel seen, to feel held together. After the death of a child, protection feels like a myth. The strength we need must now rise from within. Inner resilience does not mean we stop needing love. Inner resilience means we begin to trust our own ability to stand, even in the aftermath.
Loss rewrites everything we once believed about safety. No one could protect us from this kind of pain. Some people disappeared when our sorrow became uncomfortable. Others tried to fix us with empty words. Many grieving parents learn the hard way that comfort does not always come from outside. The heart of a grieving parent learns how to shelter itself. Protection no longer means avoidance. Protection now means learning how to breathe through heartbreak and still rise in compassion.
The journey of grief reshapes every role we ever held. Mothers often find strength they never asked for. Fathers often search for purpose inside unspeakable silence. Every grieving parent must learn to live in a world that keeps moving without our child. That learning takes time, and it takes courage. With each small act of care toward ourselves, we claim our place in the world again. We protect our healing by refusing to vanish inside sorrow. Grief does not erase our voice. Grief reshapes our strength.
Thought for today: Protect your healing with tenderness. Strength does not mean silence—it means showing up with courage, even when broken.