"Grandparents Cry Twice: Help for Bereaved Grandparents" is a book about grandparents' dual sorrow when a grandchild dies. They cry for their lost grandchild and they also cry for the terrible grief they see their own child having to bear. The author, Mary Lou Reed, writes of her experiences when her beloved grandson, Alex, died. Through her personal story she touches the universal in all grandparents' grief.
Chapter One
My Grandson’s Life and Death describes the joy felt from the birth and life of a beloved grandchild, and the agony of his illness and death at two-and-a-half years.
Chapter Two
Our Family’s Grief tells of the grief, confusion, anger and family’s struggle to continue functioning following a grandchild's death.
Chapter Three
My Search For Help documents the author’s frustration with the lack of applicable information for grandparents’ grief.
Chapter Four
The Grief Process summarizes theories of various authorities about grief and how relevant they are for parents and grandparents.
Chapter Five
Helping Myself presents information the author learned from experience, study, and correspondence with other grandparents.
Chapter Six
Helping Our Grieving Child suggests the needs of, and various methods of helping the grieving parent, child of the grandparent.
Chapter Seven
Sibling’s Grief and Needs discusses the multiple and diverse needs of, and how to help a family's surviving children.
Chapter Eight
In Memory: Memorials and Healing Rituals offers suggestions and examples of memorials and personal rituals.
Chapter Nine
How Others May Help/Hinder gives examples and ideas of how those surrounding a grieving family may assist or harm.
Chapter Ten
Finding My Way summarizes the author's travel through, learning from, and the outcome of her grief journey.
Epilogue
Appendix I: Selected Poems
Appendix II: Resources
Bibliography
Index
Biography
Mary Lou Reed
