Remembering, Grieving, and Healing: "I Miss You Daddy"

Hello everyone,

I am coming to you with a heavy heart but also a sense of hope and healing. Today, I would like to talk about something very personal and close to my heart – the death of my dear brother three years ago. This was a profound and painful event in my life, one that deeply impacted our entire family. But as I've learned over time, grief, while overwhelming, can also be a powerful force for transformation and creative expression.

When my niece asked me for a story to help her understand and cope with her father's loss, I found myself at a loss for words initially. How do you explain the concept of death, an absence so absolute, to a young, innocent heart? Yet, I knew I had to help, I had to find a way to help her navigate this unfathomable pain.

That's when "I Miss You Daddy" was born. 

"I Miss You Daddy" is more than just a children's book; it's a labor of love, a tribute to my late brother, and a guide to help children come to terms with the death of a loved one. I wrote this story through tears and smiles, remembering the times we shared, the love he had for his family, and how he cherished every moment with his children. This book is a tender exploration of loss, love, and remembering, dedicated to my beloved niece and nephew, AJ.

Each page of "I Miss You Daddy" is designed to resonate with young readers, to offer them comfort, and to help them remember their loved ones in a positive light. It encourages conversations about grief and provides reassurances that it's okay to feel sad, to miss someone, and to keep their memories alive in our hearts.

As we approach Father's Day, a day of mixed emotions for many, I want to extend a personal invitation for you all to read "I Miss You Daddy". I am offering a free preview on my website to give you a glimpse into this heartfelt story. 

For those who feel this story may help their children, or any young ones in their life, the book is now available for purchase on Amazon. It is my sincere hope that "I Miss You Daddy" can offer solace and help start conversations that can guide young hearts through the process of grief, just as it has helped my niece and nephew.

In conclusion, I would like to say that grief is a journey, a very personal one. And while the journey is undeniably painful, it also opens up paths for healing, understanding, and, in my case, creating. It is my hope that "I Miss You Daddy" will light the way for others on this journey, just as the memory of my brother continues to light the way for me.

Stay strong, keep love in your hearts, and remember to keep the conversation going.

With love,
Joseline Hardrick​

Keywords: Children's Books, Bereavement, Grief, Parental Loss, Father's Day, Emotional Learning, Coping with Loss, Family, Love, Comforting, Memory, Dealing with Death, Understanding Death, Children's Grief.