As a grandparent, you will grieve for many reasons.  Your expectations and hopes for the future are linked to your grandchildren.  Grandchildresn are a continuation of the family tree!  You are comforted at the thought that your family legacy will live on through them well after you're gone.  When a child dies, this is jeopardized.

Grandchildren are a major source of joy, which is now gone.  You do know have pictures to show your friends or planned shopping trips with your daughter to fill the baby's closet.  You are needed in a special way that a grandparent is needed.  You cannot hear that child call you by name, "Nana" "grandma" "granny"  When you loose a grandchild, all of this is lost too!

Today's families are smaller than that of your generation.  Many couples only have 1 or 2 children and others are getting educations and waiting to start their families later in life causing fertility problems or miscarriages from being higher in age.  As a grandparent, all you can do is be there for your child and

Very real!

This would-have-been grandchild carried a great deal of meaning and legacy for you as a grandparent.  The same kinship bond in nature that ties parents to their children also ties you to your grandchildren.

Grandparent grief is not always recognized when your son or daughter loses a child, but it's very real!  You will have your moments of grief, tears and questions of why?  The loss of a grandchild leaves you with your own pain in addition to the sorrow that your son or daughter carries.  You hurt for your child but you also hurt for yourself, and that's normal! 

Take time to grieve, for you child and that never forgotten grand child!