Mental Heart - Supporting Infant Afterlife Bonding & Youth Grief Support

01/31/2026

01/30/2026

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A flyer arrived in my mailbox this week, announcing the opening of a second location of a child care center.

The photo used to capture the attention of parents?

Three very young children in graduation caps and gowns. 🤦🏻‍♀️🤦🏻‍♀️🤔

WHAT ARE WE DOING?!??

WHY are early childhood programs marketed with GRADUATION CAPS AND GOWNS?

Parents! Please listen to me:

The early childhood program you want to be seeking should be marketed with:

❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
It should contain the words
"your child belongs here"
or
"your child will be welcomed, just as they are" or
"we look forward to meeting each child where they are"

Look for the words:

"open ended opportunities"
"child-led" then ask "How will my child be allowed to lead?"

The schedule should contain at least 2-5 hours of complete child-led play (depending if it is a 1/2 day or full day situation). This does not mean "learning centers".

The absolute least important points to look for are:

ABC's and 123's
Academics

Look for words like:

perseverance
independent thinking
curiosity
ownership of discoveries
open-ended
unfenced
emotionally-healthy
safe space
dirt!!!
mud!!
sand!!
grass!!
fresh air
outdoors
confidence
empowered
cozy
meets needs
risk
loved
belong
child-led play
child-led play
child-led play

Get your free copy of my new guide: "Denita's Top 5 Play Opportunities Every Child Needs":
https://mailchi.mp/1b5fecf26f42/denitas-top-5-play-opportunities

01/29/2026

Where do we come in?

Bedside Respite. It's one of our main services so parents can go home and shower, eat a good meal I had delivered, and sleep in a clean house, I had organized to be cleaned prior to the parents return.

This also helps parents connect with the child's siblings for a bit and gives their buddy we assigned to the family for the year, a break to go home as well.

Supporting the infants and youth by supporting their circle.

The WHOLE family is supported through grief in Arizona and San Diego.💙

01/27/2026

Book pick of the week 💙

01/27/2026

Siblings being involved in saying goodbye is healing, healthy and meaningful. Make sure they have support to process the death afterwards. 💙 Prayers for this family

01/27/2026

This is not a nice to have. It is a choice.

A choice a facility makes about how it cares for families after loss.
A choice to give time, not rush.
A choice between immediate transfer to a morgue and dignified time together.
A choice between clinical, outdated methods like ice, and gentle cooling that allows a baby to remain with their family in any bassinet or trolley.

CuddleCot is chosen by leading organizations that are committed to providing compassionate, dignified care after loss, because how families are supported in these moments matters.

To learn more and invest in compassionate care for families, read parent and clinician testimony at cuddlecot.com, or request information by contacting info@cuddlecot.com

01/27/2026

💙Great advice from Sue Ryder

The start of a new year is often linked with hope and fresh beginnings. But when you’re grieving, January can bring waves of sadness, anxiety or overwhelm. Moving into a year your person isn’t part of can feel incredibly hard - and that’s okay.

If you’re finding this time difficult, here are some gentle ways to look after yourself.

Be honest with yourself and others. It's ok to be finding grief difficult, put you and your mental health first - you don't have to feel or behave in a certain way.

Plan your days. Knowing what is happening next in a world that has changed can give you a sense of predictability back, particularly when you are feeling helpless or like things are beyond your control.

Take time away from social media. Try to go for a walk by the sea, visit a park, or explore the city while it’s quieter instead. Be present in the moment and focus on what’s around you.

Reach out for help. No one who considers themselves a friend will mind if you call them to talk about how you’re feeling. If you don’t feel comfortable reaching out to someone you know, try visiting our Online Bereavement Community.

Some moments might feel harder than others, but with each day that passes, you are growing around your grief and finding ways to cope - whether you realise it or not.

Read more on how to cope with grief in the New Year here: sueryder.org/grief-support/helping-you-cope-with-grief/grieving-on-special-occasions/grief-new-year/

01/27/2026

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01/27/2026

Thank you so much for your patience as we continue on our journey.

After years of intentional, behind-the-scenes work, we are proud to go all-in on the heart of what we have always loved and have done best. Thank you for your patience while we continue getting our proper clearances and support. We officially completed the copyright for Mental Heart, Ever After Institute and The Mobile Healing House L.L.C. and Grief Crisis Last Responders Team.

Please like, share and consider giving to Ever After- Adult Storytelling & Grief Play Training and Mental Heart - Supporting Infant Afterlife Bonding & Youth Grief Support we are privately owned, self funded, community supported.

Mental Heart’s Whole-Family Bereavement Program has successfully completed its first year with trial families for data on how effective this is.

I'm also being so careful when I select our final grief crisis team and teen interns over the next year.

What do we do?
1. The last responders support grieving infants, children, families, with immediate youth stabilization, miscarriage and infant Afterlife support within the first 24-48 hours.

2. We offer Emergency 90 day support for grieving families while they are searching for a provider or on a waiting list or yearly check ins.

Our Traveling Grief & Life-Transition Team (Buddies) come to you, they go with your family offering whole family all inclusive, non medical, non clinical support throughout the first year after the death or tragedy.

What does this mean?
Our families are paired with their own dedicated buddy for each stage. Before (funeral), During (grief), After (life transition)

The funeral, grief/life transition buddy, offers personalized whole family holistic support, grief respite, individual sessions and bonding moments to keep the family connected during this season.This is support that goes beyond talking for each individual family member's needs. Helps with, isolation , su***de risk, depression and frustration from having to find support during your unique family situation for all family infants 4 months and under through adults at all stages during that first year.

We also host monthly gatherings every 4th Saturday 8:30-10:00 am to connect providers and communities through art and grief play brunches.

Applications are now open for families entering care during:

The first 6 months following a death or life-altering transition

Or the second 6 months, for families seeking structured support, connections , dating ECT after the initial shock

Also, applications are open for July - December youth grief storytelling and speed play co-healing group and 6 month teen internship.

We are honored to walk with families through the hardest seasons, from crisis through reconnection.

Call if you desire more information or would like to give to our ministry.

Thank You!!!
928-371-PLAY (7529)

01/25/2026

Tell me a story about your daughter. Let's talk about her 😍