How has Dad Always helped you redefine fatherhood after your loss?

Some moments break language and redraw our lives in an instant. "Dear Brother" is a raw, compassionate letter to men grieving the death of their child—a message that refuses easy answers and hollow comfort, and instead offers steady presence, honest words, and space to breathe. It highlights the questions that echo after loss—Why did this happen? Could anything have changed it?—and why resisting quick explanations can be an act of deep respect for love and grief alike.

The letter examines how unhelpful platitudes can wound, even when well meant, and what truly supportive language sounds like. It explores practical ways to hold space:

• Naming the reality without fixing it
• Checking in without pressure, and
• Showing up with specific, tangible help

The letter leans on the Kintsugi metaphor—the art of repairing broken pottery with gold—not to gloss over pain, but to honor how identity can be reshaped by absence, and how fractures can become part of a life that still holds beauty, purpose, and meaning.

Most importantly, "Dear Brother" gives grieving dads permission to linger in the dark. Grief has no timetable; sometimes the kindest act is to sit silently beside someone who cannot yet face the day. The letter promises presence even when words fail, and imagines a future in which memory softens from flame to light—the child’s light—guiding, not erasing, what came before.

If you or someone you love is navigating profound loss, this letter offers language, empathy, and practices that keep dignity at the center. If it resonates, share it with a friend who needs gentleness today, subscribe for more thoughtful episodes, and leave a review to help others find this space.

How has Dad Always helped you redefine fatherhood after your loss?

This is part 2 of my conversation with Michael Elliot. We resume from where we left off last week, and explore fatherhood after miscarriage through vivid memories, tangible rituals, and the everyday courage it takes to speak a child’s name that few got to meet. Grief is framed as love that changed color, sustained by community, storytelling, and symbols that keep a bond alive.

KEY TAKEAWAYS:
• the last of firsts and unrealized milestones
• identity as a dad after loss
• bracelets, tattoos, and wind chimes as anchors
• grief as a continuation of love
• breaking the silence and reducing stigma
• better questions for supporting grieving parents
• community care during and after a loss
• returning to work and navigating awkward spaces
• choosing to move forward, not move on

RELATED EPISODES

• Who Gets To Grieve When A Baby Dies? (part 1)
• The Elephant In The Room
• Reimagining Life After Loss

SUPPORT PATHWAY

If you are a bereaved dad who's quietly struggling to cope with baby loss and you'd like to talk one-on-one, request a private 20-minute conversation by emailing info@dadalways.com.

If you want to stay in the loop of what's going on at Dad Always, go to dadalways.com to join the email list to receive updates.

Theme Music: "Love Letter” was created using AI as a creative tool, with lyrics and direction shaped by the personal experiences and emotional intent of the host.

Show Music from Soundstripe

Love Poems by Lunareh

Time Shift by Reveille

How has Dad Always helped you redefine fatherhood after your loss?

In part 1 of my conversation with Michael Elliot, we trace Michael’s path from early joy and provider pressure to the ultrasound room where a missed heartbeat rewrote his future. He unpacks stoicism, the awkward retraction of public joy, and why men’s grief after baby loss must be seen, named, and supported.

KEY TAKEAWAYS:
• fear and motivation colliding during early pregnancy
• provider identity shaping choices and silence
• the ultrasound shock and immediate emotional response
• first private breakdown and redefining support
• telling people, then retracting joy online
• connection through shared miscarriage stories
• dads being asked about mom but not themselves
• first-year milestones
• men’s grief as valid and visible
• honoring both parents in baby loss

SUPPORT

If you are a bereaved dad who's quietly struggling to cope with baby loss and you'd like to talk one-on-one, request a private 20-minute conversation by emailing info@dadalways.com.

If you want to stay in the loop of what's going on at Dad Always, go to dadalways.com to join the email list to receive updates.

Theme Music: "Love Letter” was created using AI as a creative tool, with lyrics and direction shaped by the personal experiences and emotional intent of the host.

Show Music from Soundstripe

Apple Brandy by Midnight Daydream

Azul by Lunareh