Episode 29 - When Men Grieve: A Father's Journey Through Loss and Creating Community
In this powerful episode, Jason Tuttle shares his journey as a stay-at-home father of two children with special needs, and his path through grief after the unexpected loss of his son Zachary in January 2022. Jason discusses how this experience led him to create "Letters to Zachary," a community focused on supporting men in grief while helping women understand male grief patterns.
About Jason Tuttle
Former elementary school PE teacher
Stay-at-home dad for 12 years
Creator of Letters to Zachary community
Advocate for male grief expression
Author of the Letters to Zachary grief coloring book
Speaker and community builder
Journey Through Special Needs Parenting
Navigating rare medical conditions
Building community in isolation
Managing complex medical care
Creating structure and routine
Balancing care responsibilities
Finding support systems
Understanding Male Grief
Jason shares vital insights about male grief, including:
How societal expectations shape male grief expression
The importance of creating safe spaces for men to be vulnerable
Ways to support grieving men effectively
The "Male Grief Commandments" for partners
Breaking generational patterns of emotional suppression
The health implications of unexpressed grief
Key Insights on Supporting Grieving Men
Listen to understand, not to respond
Don't downplay emotional vulnerability
Create space for authentic expression
Understand generational influences
Recognize the importance of shared experience
Allow grief to unfold without time limits
Connect with Jason
Website: www.letterstozachary.com
Facebook community: Letters to Zachary
Instagram: Letters to Zachary
TikTok: Letters to Zachary
Resource: Letters to Zachary Grief Coloring Book (available on Amazon)
Notable Quote
"The only way to get through grief is to grieve. There's no way around it... You just got to rip the bandaid off and deal with it."
