Western grief discourse remains shaped by modernist norms that individualise and internalise struggles with grief. This article proposes that grief-related symptoms often reflect resistance to cultural expectations that the bereaved should “let go” of the deceased and confine them to a static “museum of memories”. We argue that re-membering a deceased child – actively restoring their presence in the ongoing life of the parent – plays a vital role in supporting bereaved parents. Drawing on clinical case studies, we introduce a four-part framework for re-membering: alternative, ally, augmented reality and audience. This framework helps parents cultivate an active, present and physically felt relationship with their deceased child, offering a counter-narrative to dominant cultural norms surrounding grief.

Key words: continuing bonds, complicated grief, bereaved parents, relational grief, Four A’s framework, narrative therapy, narrative practice

Kristensen, H. G., & Kristensen, A.-L. G. (2026). Moving beyond the limits of grief. International Journal of Narrative Therapy and Community Work, (2), 1–14. https://doi.org/10.4320/GAJX8630