Resources For Grieving Dads

Dads are often overlooked or forgotten in the aftermath of baby loss. We typically emphasize support for the mom who has physically endured the unimaginable and at times fail to recognize that dads grieve too. They experience the same loss but may work through the grief differently.

I remember years ago feeling like there just weren’t enough resources for grieving parents. When I would stumble across a resource like a blog post, article, book, or podcast,10 times out of 10 it would be geared toward a grieving mother. But I often wondered, what about dads?

Yes, women and men grieve differently and experience the loss in their own unique way, but we cannot forget about the dads who have walked alongside us in our darkest days. They, too, need support, acknowledgement, and encouragement.

Men already have to deal with the societal expectation to "be strong" or "get over it". They carry the weight of their entire family. At a loss for words, they hold our hands, they serve us, and pick up the pieces all around us. They love us in sickness and in health, in life and death. They are asked, "How is your wife doing?" when all the while, they are left in the dust grieving in isolation. They may feel helpless when they are unable to fix what's broken.

Staying strong with an outward appearance of resilience, they may feel the pressure to be privately working through their sorrow in whatever way feels right to them. Maybe what feels right is doing something with their hands, like a project, or something productive that can help ease the unbearable nature of not being able to fix this. Maybe they are able to process in written form more than verbal. Do what feels right. There is no single correct way to grieve.

If you are a grieving dad whose baby is in Heaven instead of your arms, I want to offer you some encouragement from the bottom of my heart. I am so sorry you know the pain of loss firsthand.

You are not walking this path alone.
It will not always feel this suffocating.
There is hope to be found.
Your story is not over.
Your fatherhood matters.
Your baby matters.
Your grief matters.

Your grief may look different, and that’s okay.

It’s okay to grieve. To ask for help. To show emotion. To lean on your wife. To cry out to God. To wrestle with tough questions. It's okay to not be okay.

To the grieving mom,

If you are a grieving mom who stumbled across this blog post in hopes of finding ways to encourage your grieving husband, I want to give you the biggest virtual hug. I’ve been in your shoes and the weight you’re experiencing feels unbearable at times. You look to your spouse and in his strength and grit he carries what he can. He wasn’t meant to carry it all on his own. He is not designed to know and meet each of your needs (spiritual, physical, emotional). The only One who truly knows your every thought is the One who created you. Lean on Him. Full-sprint run to the one who creates and sustains each of us.

Pray for your husband. Ask that God would meet him right where he’s at. That God would bless him with strong and supportive friendships that can care for him. We weren't meant to walk this road alone. Be patient with him, be a safe space, check in with him, pursue him, and remind him he is not alone.

Lamentations 3:20-25 (NLT) “I will never forget this awful time, as I grieve over my loss. Yet I still dare to hope when I remember this: The faithful love of the Lord never ends! His mercies never cease. Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning. I say to myself, “The Lord is my inheritance; therefore, I will hope in him!” The Lord is good to those who depend on him, to those who search for him."

Resources For Men Grieving Miscarriage

Books on Grief for Men:

Ours: Biblical Comfort for Men Grieving Miscarriage By: Eric Schumacher
Grieving Dads: To the Brink and Back by Kelly Farley
Fathers Speak: On the Death of a Child by Emily R. Long
From Father to Father: Letters From Loss Dad to Loss Dadby Emily R. Long
Men and Miscarriage: A Dad's Guide to Grief, Relationships, and Healing After Loss By Aaron Gouveia
Holding on to Love After You've Lost a Baby: The 5 Love Languages for Grieving Parents by Gary Chapman
Suffering by Paul David Tripp

Podcasts on Grief for Men:

Men on Miscarriage Podcast with Tobias Haglund

The Joyful Mourning Podcast:

Footprints on Our Hearts Podcast:

Through The Lens Podcast:

Episode 27- For Better or Worse

Help and Hope Podcast:

Biblical Comfort for Men Grieving a Miscarriage with Eric Schumacher

Guys and Grief Podcast:

Guys & Grief Podcast:
Guys and Grief is geared toward fathers that have experienced pregnancy or infant loss. The Podcast is meant to provide a platform to talk about the under-resourced, and often undiscussed, perspective of men that have experienced child loss.

Support Groups for Grieving Men:

blogs for grieving mens

Helpful Websites & Blogs for Grieving Men

Encouragement for Grieving Dads:

Gifts for Bereaved Fathers:

Care Package for a Grieving Dad

My husband and I created this intentional care package with a grieving dad in mind. We desire to help send love and encouragement to dads who have experienced unimaginable loss. We hope and pray that this gift makes them feel less alone in their grief.

Gift Set Includes:

Journal - "Yet I still dare to hope" hardbound journal with elastic band and accordion pocket
Leather Bookmark - "He gives strength to the weary" bookmark with suede tassel
Watercolor Hymn Art Print - “Farther Along”
Hand-Poured Soy Candle - Sandalwood Vanilla 4oz.
Resource Cards - Book Recommendations, Encouraging Bible Verses for Grief, and online resources
Pour-Over Latte - Copper Cow Coffee Premium Vietnamese Coffee: Flavor: Salted Caramel coffee with latte creamer packet
Ghirardelli Milk Chocolate Caramel Square

Care Package Add-on Options:

Ours: Biblical Comfort for Men Grieving Miscarriage By Eric Schumacher & Paul Tripp
Citrus Pinch Me Therapy Dough: a professionally developed, soft, pliable dough infused with calming aromatherapy

More Gift Ideas:

Seed Keychain

seed keychain