In their mutual grieving, the parents discovered that by listening to each other, by crying together, and by understanding how each felt, their grief was lessened. Parents of Murdered Children has expanded to include other family members and friends who are survivors and now has chapters and contact people through out the United States and abroad.

Thoughts on coping.
As parents and other family members who have also survived the violent death of a son, daughter, or other loved one, we wish to share some thoughts on coping that you may find helpful.

First, don't be surprised at the strong emotions that come: shock, disbelief, anger toward the murdered, frustration with the justice delayed or denied, seeming loss of faith in God and People.

Second, expect to be numb, confused, depressed, or unable to stop crying.You may feel as if you are going through a nervous breakdown, but you are probably not. These are normal reactions.

Third, it is natural to experience a kind of primal fear.Some find themselves suddenly afraid of everything and nightmares begin to interfere wih sleep. Yet, others will say they no longer fear anything; their worst nightmare has come true so what is there to be afraid of?

Fourth, be kind to yourself and others. Give yourself permission to grieve, to do your "grief work." It takes much longer than most people realize. Grief affects the body as well as the emotions.

How can we help?
Every survivor has days that are worse than others. If you need to talk to someone who understands what you are going through, please call. Our Contact Persons, and Grief Counselor is available to listen and to assist you with specific problems. You can reach someone 24 hours a day or your call will be answered within 24 hours. Your call is important to us and we wll return your call as soon as possible.