CNN Interview

Circle of Solace
for Those Without Parents
For people struggling to keep family traditions going and helping their families adjust after the loss of grandparents, Parentless Parents support groups have sprung up in the last two years in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Florida, California and Rhode Island.

A Mother's Legacy
On this Mother's Day, Allison Gilbert of Irvington will celebrate with her family the same way she always does. She'll get breakfast in bed and hand-made cards from her husband, Mark Weintraub, and their children, Jake, who's 8, and Lexi, who's almost 6. But the holiday will be different in one way, a way that Jake and Lexi are too young to understand.

Are You a Parentless Parent?
If so, there's a new support group for you. The group, which is still in its infancy--and about to have its second meeting--is an offshoot of Always Too Soon: Voices of Support for Those Who Lost Both Parents. Written by Irvington resident Allison Gilbert, the book is an intimate collection of interviews with celebrities and ordinary folks about the emotional impact of losing both parents.

Parentless Parents
The holidays are approaching, and if you're a parentless parent, that means celebrating without your parents. It also means your child will celebrate without their grandparents. Parentless Parents, a community of adults who have experienced the loss of their mother and father, is gathering for mutual support and understanding.

Being a Parentless Parent
As a parentless parent, you become solely responsible for giving your children a sense of family history. Your kids no longer have grandparents to tell them stories and important facts and dates... That's why it's so great that a new network of informal support groups has started to appear all over the country called Parentless Parents.

Missing Mom & Dad
Gilbert has solved part of her parenting puzzle by telling her children lots of stories about her parents, ones that appeal to all the senses, from smell and sound to taste... As a result, her kids have learned things about their grandparents that they can share. "There's always going to be a milestone that you'll want to share," she says. "It's always too soon to lose your parents."

For More Help & Information
After a family death, it is normal to feel a range of emotions, including shock, relief and anger. There can be physical symptoms, as well, including fatigue, chest pains and insomnia. You can find excerpts, online discussion and informal support groups on the websites www.parentlessparents.com or www.alwaystoosoon.com. They are based on "Always Too Soon: Voices of Support for Those Who Have Lost Both Parents" by Allison Gilbert, whose parents died before she turned 32.

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