Finding Light in the Darkness: Reflections on Attending Bereaved Parents Conference

Every year, hearts from all walks of life gather under one roof at The Compassionate Friends and The Bereaved Parents USA national conferences—a place where grief meets grace, and strangers become family through shared stories of loss, love, and healing.

For anyone who has experienced the unimaginable – the death of an only child, or of all your children – these conferences offer something truly rare: understanding without explanation. No one needs to justify their sorrow here. No one is alone. Whether this is your first year attending or you return each year like a pilgrimage of the heart, the connection is instant and profound. Yes, there are many bereaved parents present who have other children, but both conferences have workshops for those with no surviving children. Members of Alive Alone will be at both conferences, and we will coordinate with you to introduce ourselves and our children, share stories, and share meals.

Workshops and keynote speakers offer tools for navigating grief, from coping strategies to creative expression. You’ll find everything from journaling and yoga to sessions on surviving the holidays, marriage after loss, and even finding purpose beyond pain. These sessions aren’t just informative—they’re transformative.

But what truly defines this conference isn’t found on the agenda. It’s in the quiet nods of recognition across the room. The tears shed without shame. The candles held high during the candle lighting ceremony. It’s in the shared laughter—yes, laughter—that rises when someone tells a story about the beautiful, vibrant life of a child gone too soon.

These conferences remind us that grief is not a journey to be completed, but a path to be walked with others. The conference is a resting place along that path—a sacred pause, a place to breathe, to remember, and to begin again.

If you’ve ever wondered if there’s a place for your grief, this is it. If you’ve ever longed to hear your child’s name spoken without hesitation, it will echo here. And if you’re searching for hope—even the smallest flicker—it lives in every hug, every shared tear, every lighted candle.

Come as you are. Leave with a little more than you came with.

We’ll be waiting for you—with open arms and open hearts.