Father's Day Reflections...Healing from Loss

For many, Father’s Day brings backyard barbecues, cards signed with love, and moments of celebration. But for those of us grieving the loss of a father—or navigating the absence of one—it can be a tender, complicated day.

As a self-proclaimed "Daddy's girl", losing my Dad left me with all of this messy grief bubbling up inside of me, but I was too afraid to face it...so I tried to bury it and compartmentalize it in a nice, tidy box sealed shut with a neat little bow.

What I didn't know back then was that grief will always find its way out, no matter how deep we think we bury it, and that grief needs to be witnessed in order for the griever to start their healing journey.

Your grief journey is hard.

Trying to avoid the emotions that grief brings to the table is also hard.

We have to pick our hard.

Whether your dad died decades ago, recently passed, or was never truly present in your life, this day can stir up a wide range of emotions: longing, gratitude, sadness, even relief or guilt. Grief doesn't wear a calendar. It shows up in our hearts in ways that are deeply personal and often unexpected.

As a grief coach, I often remind my clients: you have full permission to feel what you feel today. There’s no “right way” to grieve on Father’s Day. Some people light a candle, visit a grave, or scroll past every Father’s Day post on social media with a lump in their throat. Others celebrate the father figures who showed up in loving ways, or take the day to simply rest and breathe.

---

Grief doesn't wear a calendar. It shows up in our hearts in ways

that are deeply personal and often unexpected.

---

Whatever your relationship with this day looks like, here are a few gentle reminders:

• Grief is love with nowhere to go. Missing your father deeply is a reflection of that love. Let that ache be a sign of how much he mattered.

  
  

• If your relationship was strained or painful, grief can still show up. This often surprises people. Please know that it's okay to mourn what never was—the paternal relationship you needed or wished for, but did not get. That loss is valid, too.

  
  

You have the freedom to create new meaning. Perhaps today is a day to pay tribute to someone who guided you. Or maybe it's a day to care for yourself with the compassion you needed in your childhood.

Healing doesn’t mean forgetting. It means learning how to carry your love and your grief side by side, with tenderness and care.

So if your heart feels extra heavy this Father's Day weekend, know that you’re not alone. Your grief is valid. And you don’t have to try to “fix” it or rush through your journey, remember, it's a marathon, not a sprint. Just showing up for yourself today—with honesty, care, and maybe a few tears—is enough.

From my heart to yours: I see you. And I’m holding space for whatever Father’s Day brings.