Father’s Day in Grief: Loving Him for Loving Her

Losing a child is the hardest journey I’ve ever walked. It's a pain that reshapes your life, your perspective, your future. And while grief is always with me, I’ve learned that it shows up in unexpected ways—on days I never anticipated would be quite so hard.

One of those days is Father’s Day.

In the early days of loss, my thoughts were centered on surviving birthdays, holidays, and the date of my daughter Schuylar’s passing. I braced myself for those “big days.” But over time, I’ve realized that grief has layers—and sometimes the hardest moments are the ones you didn’t see coming.

This particular day hurts because of who she left behind—her husband and their sweet little boy.

My son-in-law is a wonderful father. He stepped into a role that now carries even more weight than it should have to. He’s not just a dad—he’s her son’s dad. He’s carrying the legacy of a mother who loved fiercely, lived faithfully, and left far too soon.

And every year on Father’s Day, my heart aches a little deeper for him.

He deserves to be celebrated. Not only because he’s a great dad, but because he continues to show up with strength and love, even in his own grief. He’s doing the impossible: raising a little boy while holding the memory of his wife close. He’s honoring her in the way he parents, the way he speaks about her, and the way he makes sure their son knows who his mommy is.

On this day, I think about how proud Schuylar would be of him—how grateful she would be for the way he’s loving their son. And I’m proud, too. Proud of the man she chose. Proud of the father he is. Proud of how he’s still standing, still trying, still giving his all.

Grief has taught me to look beyond my own pain. To see the others walking alongside me with broken hearts of their own. So on Father’s Day, I not only mourn what was lost—I also lift up the ones who remain.

If you’re walking a similar path, I hope you’ll take a moment this Father’s Day to honor the dads who are grieving, parenting, and loving through the loss. They are the quiet warriors, holding their families together through unimaginable pain.

And to my son-in-law: You are seen. You are loved. And you are doing an incredible job.