As time goes by, a young child’s memories of his/her father can begin to fade. Read how these widows are honoring their late-spouses and keeping their legacy alive:
“I went through my husband’s clothing, matched clothing of his to pictures, then had special quilts made for each of our children. I then added an album so they could reference the pictures to the clothes. We still eat cake on my husband’s birthday—we actually ate it ‘Golden Girl’ style and giggled! We all shared special memories too. I’ve made certain we’ve kept our family rules pretty much the same to honor my husband. We do lots of little things that add up to be big game players.” – Katey
“When my husband passed away, I was faced with what to do with his clothes. To help my children (as well as his parents and siblings) keep his memory alive, I took all of his shirts and ties and had patchwork quilts made. My children were 10 and 14 when my husband died. As a tradition on their birthdays, when they reach milestones and for Christmas, I always make sure I give them a gift that is from their dad (I do this for his mom too)—something that’s personal that belonged to him. My husband was a coin collector. He brought home a coin and was so intrigued by it because there was a cross cut in the middle. For my daughter’s 16th birthday, I had it made into a special necklace for her.” – LaTisha
“They each have a framed picture with their daddy on their dresser. We talk freely and openly. I’m also collecting more of my husband’s favorite teams so we can add it to our new bonus room that will be completed in a few months. We have a framed football jersey from his high school as well. A new tradition will be to go on a family vacation every year, no matter what. Life is too short.” – Cari
“My boys are 4 and 5 and I do my best to keep my husband’s memory alive. We talk about him every day. When we take vacations, the boys will hold his picture and I take a picture of them. I compiled a book of stories/memories from his friends, family and coworkers. I included all his acknowledgements and awards from the community. He also had a library named after him and I included that. My mom made each of them a blanket using his t-shirts, so they feel close to him. I have jewelry, ties and dress hats that I will pass on to them when they get older. I help the boys write quick notes or they make pictures and we place them in the vases on his headstone.” – Erica
“For Father’s Day and my husband’s birthday, we send balloons off to heaven. My boys were 10 and 3 when he passed away. I had my sister-in-law make them a stocking and pillow out of his shirts. We talk about him all the time and I still have pictures of him everywhere. When we hear his favorite songs come on my son says that it’s his daddy’s song!” – Deedra
“Before my husband died, he and I would make up bedtime stories about the Three Princes….our three boys…and King Matt and Queen Stacy. Even when my oldest son who was only 8 when his dad died didn’t want to talk about his dad we would tell stories about the three princes and King Matt. I had an artist on Etsy draw a rendering of us to go along with the stories.” – Stacy
“A friend of mine took a shirt and made a pillow with a note on it saying, ‘When you miss me, hug this pillow and I will always be with you’. She used a shirt that still has his smell on it.” – Kathy
“We had a quilt made of his t-shirts and some pillows made out of his sweatshirts. I also made a shadow box of photos which sits next to his urn.” – Donna
“On my husband’s birthday, we ‘recreate’ the last birthday we had with him. I’ve also been catching up on all the albums I meant to make while he was alive—the kids love looking at them. I ordered refrigerator magnets of the funny album “outtakes” as well.” – Danielle
“My girls are 9. My husband, Mark, passed away a month after they turned 8. We have an annual (2 so far) fundraiser in his honor at a minor league baseball field and it’s a pretty big deal. His family and friends are the players and we provide lunch, raffles, etc. We go to dinner with his family and mine on his birthday and have a cake for him that the girls pick out and blow out the candles. After his birthday dinner, the girls and I write on and decorate a lantern that we then let go of and watch our words/wishes/thoughts go up to daddy in heaven. I also have a “Markstrong” banner that we use when I have my company vehicles in our towns parade.” – Autumn
“After my husband died, I had jewelry made with his ashes in it. I used beautiful lockets for the girls. Some of the kids wear them all the time. We always wear them for special events. I love having that small thing to remind us that he is a part of all we say and do.” – Michelle
“We have pictures up everywhere. My children are small but I plan on introducing them to all their daddy’s favorite things—comic books, Star Wars and baseball—and making sure they are exposed to things he would have taught them.” – Kristin
“We talk about Daddy all the time. My 5 year old has a lot of questions since she was only 4 months old when he passed. We look at pictures. We listen to his favorite songs. The one thing I have made a priority is visiting with his family as much as possible, both immediate and extended.” – Trypheena
“My son is almost 19 but I found he had created a little nook beside his bed. I also got him a dog chain with his dad’s face engraved on one side and print on the other. In addition, we visit some memorial trees that were planted at his work. It’s early for us but I hope to find ways for us to celebrate him together. We will never forget.” – Karen
Mom to a feisty preschooler, Kerry Phillips became widowed at age 32. She runs an online support group for young widows and widowers venturing back into the world of dating and is a blogger for The Huffington Post.
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