Bonus: The Replacement Child Syndrome from the Perspective of a Bereaved Mom

Trauer Trauma Transformation

As a bereaved mother, grief counselor, and life coach for parents who have lost a baby, I approached a seminar by Kristina Schellinski on the topic of "replacement children and their paths to a new life" with curiosity but also some apprehension. Over two days, I had the opportunity to learn, ask questions, feel, and understand a lot.

The topic of having another child is difficult and filled with hope and anxiety for many bereaved parents, including myself. Sometimes, it seems like the only logical course of action is to close your eyes and try to forget.

It can be challenging for parents to hear that adult "rainbow babies" can suffer from replacement child syndrome. Questions such as "Is every subsequent child a replacement child?" and "Am I not allowed to have children anymore?" can trigger additional worries and grief.

Many bereaved parents feel misunderstood and unseen as parents who want nothing more than a (living) child.

After the seminar, I recorded a German podcast episode about the topic. Kristina listened to it and asked if I could record something similar for the replacementchildforum.com. In my role as a bereaved mother and counselor and coach for bereaved parents, this podcast episode is an attempt to bridge the gap and sensitively address this topic with affected parents.

Foto von Kelly-Ann Tan auf Unsplash

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