Hummingbird Centre for HOPE
65 Hanson Ave N2C 2H6 Kitchener, ON, Canada

Just a reminder that our Virtual Widowed Parents group meets weekly on Thursdays from 7-8:30 pm EST. Registration is required if you haven't attended any of our groups before. https://bit.ly/3ofrEZU Topics for the month include... Jan 7 - Welcome back and how did the holidays go Jan 14 - Alyson Schafer will join us for parenting wisdoms... Jan 21 - Courtney from Edgewater Wellness will help us create a vision board for 2021 Jan 28 - discussion around what we would like society to know about widowed parent grief See more

2020 is almost doneand most of us will be glad to see it go. Right now there is so much focus on gratitude, making resolutions for 2021 and starting the new year fresh. I agree with all their suggestions, but I also say, lets keep it real. 2021, as with any year, brings the unknown. No one could have anticipated how 2020 would unfold and unless you have magic powers, no one can predict what 2021 will bring. I think I can safely say that we hope for health and safety for all.... If you are one to create New Year resolutions good for you! I do try, but often find myself falling behind by the end of January if I even make it that far! But each year, I do try and am ever hopeful that this year will be different (one day I will learn!) So, this year my plan is to take care of me. I don’t exactly know what that will look like but figure it is generic enough that I can mold any way as the year unfolds!!! It gives me grace to focus on different parts of me as I feel inspired! If you are making resolutions, be realistic. 2020 has taught us a lot about ourselves. What we are capable of. What is important to us. It has brought as back to basics. Base your resolutions on what you want. Be kind to yourself and that might mean not making any!! However and whoever you are with as the day changes from Dec 31 to Jan 1, my wish for you stays the same. Peace

WE DID IT! Believ Gala was a success. Thank you to everyone who helped, viewed and shared. We couldn’t have done it without you! Amy and I are basking in the love!!!

2020 has brought so many changes and continually made us pivot to new and wonderful ways! But the one thing it hasn't changed is our mission. We have stayed strong in our goal of building a community of support for widowed parents. The realities of the world have allowed us to expand our reach and we have welcomed parents across Canada and outside our borders.... We are excited for 2021 and continued growth. We ask, if you are able, to please consider a year end donation or perhaps setting up a monthly donation for 2021. Your support and belief in what we do gives me the drive to continue doing the work I love. Thank you https://bit.ly/3nWjq8K

The Hummingbird Feeders were out tonight delivering our gala dinners!! So excited for our event tomorrow

Sometimes you don't know what you want to do, until the moment you do it. Give yourself permission to change your mind!

Have you checked out our silent auction? Lots of great options for Christmas presents for yourself or others! How about a pair of wireless headphones!! Auction closes Nov 19th at 10pm - don't miss out https://bit.ly/2IQwayv... #hchbelieve See more

Great selection of activities that kids can do to honor and remember their parent...and they are easy for them to try on their own! https://bit.ly/3f9E6Xl #ChildGriefDay

Tomorrow is Children's Grief Awareness Day In support of our grieving kids, lets all wear blue!Tomorrow is Children's Grief Awareness Day In support of our grieving kids, lets all wear blue!

Love this! Non linear - absolutely

Today is National Bereavement Day https://www.chpca.ca/campaigns/bereavementday/ Take a moment today to reach out to someone you know who is grieving and check in with them to see how they are doing or offer some practical help. Being there for someone doesn't have to be hard. Drop off a coffee and a note that says "Thinking of you"... #Grief2020 #GriefJourney #SharedJourney

Last night at our Widowed Parent's virtual group we talked about Parent Guilt vs Survival. There is a very thin line between the two. Sometimes the decisions and choices we make or our behaviors are made out of the need for survival. But then these can lead us to feeling guilty. Lack of patience, not being the fun one, being our kids punching bag, yelling, not have the energy to enforce discipline, making decisions that make our life easier are just some of the things that we... feel guilty about. The conversation slowly turned into the importance of taking care of us -the parents - and then we began to recognize how survival can influence our decisions. Some of the best words of wisdom from our parents last night were... "I'm changing the term selfish to self care" "I am taking time for myself to invest in my children's future (if I am healthy, than my kids will be)" "I am modelling to my children the importance of taking care of myself" If we change the lens that guilt creates, to one of survival, we can see how our choices and actions truly become necessary to promote the brain health of our entire family. Mom, Dad - you got this. You are doing the absolute best for your family. Hold true to you! Reach out or better yet, join our group to feel completely normal in your widowed parenting strategies!! You are not alone!

Love that we are seeing more Dad's come to us seeking support. Widowed Dad's have two options Our weekly virtual group on Thursdays OR... Our Dad's specific group that meets the 3rd Wednesday of every month See more

Austin is sending a reminder to get out for some sunshine and oxygen today! Feel your bare feet in the grass Great self care!

Some days we try so hard to make those little changes for better. Some days its all about the butter, sugar and cheese

This photo makes me laugh - taken by my kid from the upstairs landing. Interesting perspective of my work space! Spending my days working on building awareness of what Hummingbird is all about. Building a community of hope for widowed parents. Help me spread the word and lets reach as many widowed parents as we can. No one should grieve alone.

Check out our weekly message that includes extra resources and updates on our programs. https://bit.ly/2FY5ycU

Today's best quote about grief and its only noon "Overwhelmed doesn't even begin to describe itToday's best quote about grief and its only noon "Overwhelmed doesn't even begin to describe it

Tomorrow is our virtual Widowed Dad's group - Wed Sept 16 from 7-8:30 pm EST. You must register so we can send the link. Tim & Greg are looking forward to welcoming you to this group. https://bit.ly/3kk9QKO

September's Newsletter with our weekly message included. Check it out https://mailchi.mp/hummi/hummingbirds-september-newsletter

Excellent Resource for all our parents out there

Participated in Bereaved Families of Ontario - Midwestern Region Butterfly release today. Due to COVID, BFO's normal memorial event was changed, so some of our Hummingbird families came together to release their butterflies. So wonderful to see everyone and we even got to meet some of the kids!

A great reminder for all of us

Working at Bingo on our birthday raising money to continue to be able to support our amazing widowed parents!

Today is Hummingbird's Birthday This picture of Marny & Beth was taken the day we found out we received our charitable status and the real fun began. To help us celebrate, please share how Hummingbird has impacted your grief journey. Everyone who has come to us holds a special place in our hearts. We want to thank you for trusting in us and helping us build a community of hope for widowed parents.

Last night during our #virtual #widowedparent group We welcomed a new Mom to the group We talked about returning to work and how to manage everyone asking How are you?... We lit candles in honor of #SuicidePreventionDay and remember all those who have died by suicide We brainstormed future topics we can address in group All this in 1.5 hrs

Today we remember Today we honor Today we hold close all those who are missing their people

Thanks to our friends at @cryingoutloudto for this on #WorldSuicidePreventionDay and every day after. #Repost @cryingoutloudto In honour of World Su...icide Prevention Awareness day we wanted to give a friendly reminder to everyone (including ourselves) to check in on your friends and loved ones - even those who seem to have it all together. If you or someone you know is struggling, please seek professional help (we can provide a referral if need be) or reach out to a local crisis hotline (416-408-HELP in Toronto). Let’s take care of one another. No one should have to suffer alone. *** Crying Out Loud, the shop formerly known as Lost + Found *** #hereforthefeelings #itsoktonotbeok #suicidepreventionawarenessmonth #notsuicidenottoday

Excellent resource - thank you

Lets all light a candle for those who are loved and missed

This week's widowed words from Hummingbird https://mailchi.mp/hummingbirdcentreforh/welcome-september

If you don't follow the Cincinnati Zoo, I highly recommend it. If for nothing other than seeing pictures of Fiona the Hippo. She always makes me smile!!!

Excellent resource for supporting loved ones. Thank you for putting this together

Holding all the families close who have had a loved one die by substance use.

Love be able to sit outside while I support grieving people...and if I’m really lucky a hummingbird stops by to say hello (not quick enough to get a pic)

Today is Grief Awareness Day. For many, we don’t need a day to remind us of our grief. For others, this can be a day where you can reach out to someone you know who has had a loved one die and tell them you care. (although, I would encourage you to reach out every day!!) Grief is not something we get over or move on from. We learn to live with it. But this is like learning to live with a gremlin in your house. Never to sure of the destruction it may cause or when it will appe...ar but learning to let it live in your home. So maybe for those who are grieving, it isn’t grief awareness day, but a day to be aware of your grief. Be aware of its impact and what it wants from you. Be aware of what it is trying to teach you about yourself and your family. Grief is directly tied to love. The harder you love the harder you grieve. You can’t have one without the other. Sending everyone who is missing their person, love and hugs and strength. #nationalgriefawarenessday

Let’s rename the anniversary of death day to Be nice to me day!Let’s rename the anniversary of death day to Be nice to me day!

Sending energy to our teachers. These are good questions to engage

Check out this week's newsletter about Befriending Anger https://mailchi.mp/hummingbirdcentreforh/befriending_anger

Love Megan’s thoughts about about holding comfort and pain together. For those who were in our virtual group last week - I encourage you to read her post

Our Widowed Dad's virtual support group is this Wed Aug 19 from 7-8:30 pm EST. Registration is required so we can send you the link to join. Remember this group meets on the 3rd Wed of every month - if you can't join now, mark your calendar for future! https://bit.ly/2EghK7W

Check out this weeks newsletter and meet my dog Austin He sends you a smile! https://mailchi.mp/hummingbirdcentreforhope/austin

Last night's conversation during our virtual group touched on having confidence in making decisions. Grief has a staggering impact on our thinking patterns and our self confidence in many areas of our lives, but especially when it comes to making decisions and trusting ourselves. These days we are living in a world where decisions are huge and there are no real easy solutions. Lack of confidence combined with no clear answers has only magnified the stress we are feeling and... heightens our distorted thinking patterns. When we are grieving, we tend to focus on all we can’t do. We compare ourselves to who we were before our person died. This is a completely unfair comparison. The death of our person has 100% transformed who we are. We are not the same how can we be? Part of the grief journey is to recognize and acknowledge the new person you are becoming. But this can be the hardest part as well. Last night one of our parents was struggling with the decision of return to work. They bravely made the decision a few months ago to step away to take care of self and now it is time to explore what going back could look like. Understandably anxiety kicked in. As the group rallied around our parent, we helped them to start seeing things differently. In my opinion, setting boundaries and changing expectations are the farthest thing from a fail as it can be. Boundaries are essential to success in all areas of life. Changing expectations helps us to maybe approach a situation a little more realistically or helps to recognize what we truly can and can not do. To me, these are signs of strength and growth. But on the flip side, it is really hard to create a boundary and then to maintain it. For this parent, creating a boundary felt like a failure. Through conversation the group helped them to see the amazing win they did have. And when I say amazing - truly truly an impressive win! My Dad taught me that there is no right or wrong decision, you make a decision and then you make it the right one. I don’t think this is 100% true, but there is a lot of merit to it. At some point we need to take the leap. Trust our gut, trust in ourselves and our abilities, leap and hope that the landing is soft-ish!! The best part of the discussion is our parent beginning to realize they already knew the answer. They just needed the cheerleaders and sounding boards to help them trust in what they knew.