Grief in Three FormsPersonal Stories and Strategies for Coping
Jessa Carpenter, Amma Marfo and Sue Caulfield
Jessa Carpenter - @jessacarpenter
Amma Marfo - @ammamarfo
Sue Caulfield - @_suecaulfield
#dalton14
Grief:
noun
1. keen mental suffering or distress over affliction or loss; sharp sorrow; painful regret.
2. a cause or occasion of keen distress or sorrow.
—Idioms, come to grief, to suffer disappointment, misfortune, or other trouble; fail: Their marriage came to grief after only two years. Good grief, (used as an exclamation of dismay, surprise, or relief): Good grief, it's started to rain again!
—Related forms: grief·less, adjective, grief·less·ness, noun
Tragedy:
noun
1. a dramatic composition, often in verse, dealing with a serious or somber theme, typically that of a great person destined through a flaw of character or conflict with some overpowering force, as fate or society, to downfall or destruction.
2. a lamentable, dreadful, or fatal event or affair; calamity; disaster: the tragedy of war.
Coping:verb (used without object)
1. to struggle or deal, especially on fairly even terms or with some degree of success (usually followed by with ): I will try to cope with his rudeness.
2. to face and deal with responsibilities, problems, or difficulties, especially successfully or in a calm or adequate manner: After his breakdown he couldn't cope any longer.
“[E]very year 2 million people die in America. And if each of those deaths affects just five other people, at least 10 million people are affected by loss each year.” (Pearson, 2009)
Reasons for a lack of discussion about grief• Legality• Comfort• Know-how1997 Report by Field and Cassel
An Ethic of Care
Lawrence Kohlberg Carol GilliganMoral Development Theory Ethic of Care
Abstract Justice Relationships and ResponseCapacity for care is a human strength and should be expected of everyone.
We should value caring and caregivers publicly and privately.
1. Attentiveness2. Responsibility
3. Competence4. Responsiveness
• Strict following of the rules• Devaluing emotion and relationships• “Just get the job done” “It’s just a job”• Ignore injustice • Top down decision making
• “We know best”
Lack of Ethic of Care
Boston Marathon Bombing
Personal Loss
Do’s and Don’ts!
Do…
Reach out in meaningful ways.
Don’t…
Use platitudes or make bad copy/paste errors.
Do…
Give people a heads up where appropriate.
Don’t…
Lie to people about being told, expect my best work or avoid the subject.
Do…
Be flexible!
Provide alternative work situations.
Keep me in the loop.
Don’t…
Exclude me.
Reassign my work.
Most importantly!
Keep an eye on yourself and me.
Loss of a Student
Something Special
Illness & Student Affairs
Illness & Students
An Ending
What works?
Ethic of Care
What now?