Leeds Hospice gives advice to those spending Mother's Day without their mum
As we celebrate Mother's Day, a hospice in Headingley has dedicated round the clock staff to try and make sure today is for happy memories - even for those living out their final days.
Sarah and Jenny's mum passed away almost three years ago and was treated at Wheatfields hospice. They told us what Mother's Day is like for them:
"Some days we'll be fine, but then other days it'll be like 'bam' and it hits you full throtal," says Sarah, 35.
"It still doesn't sink in. It's still like 'oh I'll ring my mum' - and that's when it tends to hit you when you want to speak or you want a phone call and it's not there. That's when it sinks in," says Jenny, 28.
"It is a weird little day... It's very difficult to see the social media posts of people celebrating their mum and families out together enjoying the day. Something I wish I had appreciated more when mum was alive and made more of a fuss over her."
Greg O'Sullivan is a psychologist and bereavement counsellor at Wheatfield's and has been offering his advice on how to spend the day if you find it difficult:
1) Buy a card - write a message that you wish you could say to your mum. Sometimes to put your thoughts on paper can help you feel closer to that person.
- Do something special - Something to celebrate the life of your mum. Maybe go to a place that was special for both of you, or if you used to have a tradition that only you and your mum used to share like buying a box of your favourite chocolates or cook a special dinner.
- Listen to a special song - Listen to songs which make you remember happy memories which you shared with your loved one.