When a Mum or Dad dies they leave a Mum- or Dad-shaped space in your heart that no one else can ever fill. It's like an empty room. You can cover it with metaphorical dust sheets, lock the door and never go in there again or you can walk in there whenever you like and relive the family holidays, the celebration when you got your first job or your wedding day, the endless kindnesses and thoughtful moments, the love, the happy memories, the laughter and the tears. You can cry and laugh, feel sad and rejoice.
Immediately after they have died the pain is so acute that it feels as if you will never be yourself agin, but you will. If you loved them, they will always be a part of you – and if you are a parent and grandparent – part of your present and future family and you will rediscover the special joys you can still find in your empty room.