Handmade Christmas baubles for Momentum

“Harry was a wonderful lad – he was outgoing, he loved adventures and being outdoors, he was sporty and sociable. He had an incredibly special bond with his grandad – they loved being around each other and enjoyed doing puzzles and going exploring.

Harry was also a keen reader. During the Covid-19 pandemic, and later when he became unwell, we found comfort in our shared story times over Zoom. We would each have a copy of the same book and take turns reading a chapter aloud – a simple but special way to stay close, even when we couldn’t be together.

Every moment we shared with Harry was precious. We made wonderful memories together on family holidays and loved celebrating birthdays and Christmases as a family. Even though we didn’t live close by, we always felt connected by sharing messages and photos.

In January last year Harry passed away.  It was an incredibly tough time for all of us, and we took each day as it came. What has helped me most has been keeping busy. I have always loved crafts, and during that period, I rediscovered my love of knitting. It gave me something purposeful to focus on. I am also lucky to have a close group of friends who have been very supportive.

When we are with Harry’s mum and dad, and his younger brother, we often go for walks together, collecting stones that we decorate and leave in special places. It is our way of remembering Harry and keeping his spirit with us wherever we go.

As a family, we have also done lots of fundraising for charities, including Momentum. Knowing that our efforts can help other families through their own challenging times brings us comfort.

Harry’s cricket club has also held fundraising matches in his memory, and his school has been wonderful, they even built a special hut in his honour.

For Harry’s funeral, everyone decorated jars which we put candles in. We light candles in the jars on Harry’s birthday and on his anniversary.

I have been knitting Worry Monsters for Momentum for a couple of years now. The idea first came to me because I wanted Harry and his brother to have a way to share and release their worries, by writing them down and ‘feeding’ them to the Monster. Each Worry Monster has a pocket for its mouth, ready to ‘swallow’ those worries away. They also serve as a cuddly companion, bringing comfort to children.

Momentum later asked me to make Worry Monsters for other children supported through their bereavement service, Echoes. With the help of my craft group, we have knitted around 40 Worry Monsters so far. This year, we have also been busy creating special Christmas baubles for families facing their first Christmas without their child. and each bauble is personalised with the child’s initials.

If these Worry Monsters and baubles bring even a little bit of comfort to others, that means so much to me. Knitting them not only supports other families, but it also helps me by keeping me busy and giving me a sense of peace as I remember Harry.”

Story taken November 2025