In this post, Ruby shares the reality behind losing her dad at 20 during the pandemic, a time when others thought she was coping well, but she was quietly falling apart. She reflects on how, over time, Ruby began rebuilding.

Hannah Tyers shares how losing her mum in 2021 completely reshaped her idea of success. Questioning what achievement meant without her mum there to see it led her to create Soulful Co, a platform designed to help people feel seen, supported, and emotionally equipped for life.

In this piece, Jack explores the complicated question many grieving children face: what do you keep, and what do you let go of? Jack writes honestly about clearing most of his dad’s belongings, while also acknowledging the unexpected items that bring meaning.

In this post, Emma reflects on how losing her dad didn’t shatter her life all at once, but quietly and permanently changed the way she experiences it. Drawing on therapy and the Dual Process Model of Grief, Emma explores the balance between facing pain and continuing to live, studying, socialising, and moving forward without guilt.

In this post, Hollie shares what it was like to lose her dad at 21 to Corticobasal Degeneration. She reflects on the mix of relief and heartbreak when he passed, comforted that he was no longer suffering, yet left with a deep sense of absence. Hollie writes openly about the loneliness of grief, the importance of community, and the small things that help her stay connected to her dad.

In this post, Lesley-Anne shares the profound impact of losing both of her parents just 12 days apart, and how that double loss completely reshaped her world.

In this post, Luke shares what it was like to lose his dad, Angelo, at just 21 during his final year of university, and how that loss quietly shaped the years that followed. Luke writes about learning to sit with grief rather than outrun it, the importance of friends who stayed without trying to fix him, and his experience of creating the tooyoungtogrieve community.

In this blog, Chelsea shares her experience of losing both her parents at a young age and the profound impact it has had on her life. She reflects on the shock of her mum’s rapid cancer diagnosis and passing, the responsibility she took on as a young carer, and later losing her dad to dementia.

In this blog, Jack reflects on losing his dad as an only child and how that experience can intensify the isolation of grief. He explores the assumptions around sibling support, the uniquely personal nature of loss, and why having siblings doesn’t guarantee shared grief or understanding.

In this blog, Chris reflects on losing his mum to secondary cancer at the age of 24 and the unexpected ways grief affected his body, mind and daily life. Chris also writes about how conversations with others who are grieving helped reshape his relationship with loss, and how this led him and his partner, Emily Simpson, to create shared spaces for grief through food, music and art.

In this blog, Abi shares her experience of losing her mum suddenly and the impact this has had on her life. She reflects on the shock of sudden loss, the pressure to stay “productive” in grief, and the isolation that can come with being the eldest child after a parent dies.

In this blog, Nat reflects on how grief changes the meaning of “normal” after the sudden loss of his mum. He explores how, over time, life continues and others move forward, while grief quietly lingers beneath everyday moments and conversations. Nat shares how triggers can emerge unexpectedly, why the second year of grief can feel especially confronting, and the importance of communicating clearly with friends about what support looks like.

In this blog, Jack shares his experience of losing his dad to a rare, progressive muscle-wasting condition. He reflects on the concept of “trauma in slow motion”, the emotional toll of caregiving, and the complexity of grief both before and after loss.

In this blog, Freddie shares his experience of losing both his parents to cancer before the age of 23 and how his understanding of grief has evolved over time. He reflects on the differences between grieving as a child and as a young adult, the lack of support often available in your twenties, and the pressure to keep up with peers.

In this blog, Millie reflects on losing her dad to cancer when she was a child and growing up as a young carer. Millie also writes about carrying forward the lessons her dad taught her, finding joy amid grief, and how her experiences now guide her as she supports her partner through illness.

In this blog, Emily shares her experience of losing her dad suddenly while she was at university and learning how to navigate early adulthood without him.

“My mum and dad are so much more than cancer. They gave me life and I will strive to keep theirs alive.”

In this blog, Ellie reflects on “growing around grief” as she navigates a major milestone, starting a new job without her dad. She shares how big changes can resurface loss, why they can feel so triggering, and how grief has shaped her emotional resilience.

“I’ve learned that it can be isolating, and I don’t want anyone to feel alone in this pain like I did.  Growing around grief has been an emotional, chaotic, rollercoaster.”

Lea lost her mum, and with that loss came the feeling of losing half of her racial and cultural identity. Lea also reminds us that identity doesn’t vanish with the person who nurtured it. She dances like her mum, laughs like her mum, and carries her culture in the small, everyday things she continues to honour.