Lithuanians Criticize Grief Display of Jurgita Kierė: 'People Think I Recovered Too Quickly'

Nine months after the tragic death of her husband, former Lithuanian ice hockey captain Mindaugas Kieras, Jurgita Kierė finds herself navigating not only her grief but also public scrutiny over her mourning process.

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Time, of course, heals. I prayed for time to pass faster, and for it to be even a little easier.

Kierė, a business expert and mother of two, has spoken out about the criticism she faces on social media. Followers have questioned why her grief does not seem to be consumed by tears and why she openly shares her experiences. Her husband died last year in a drowning accident while on a family outing, an event witnessed by Kierė and their son.

"Time, of course, heals. I prayed for time to pass faster, and for it to be even a little easier," Kierė shared in a sensitive interview. She acknowledges the individual nature of grief but feels she is coping reasonably well. "I am very happy that I can live, take care of my children, and work. Because my husband probably wouldn't want to see me broken and just crying. And who would take care of the children then?" she asked rhetorically.

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I am very happy that I can live, take care of my children, and work. Because my husband probably wouldn't want to see me broken and just crying. And who would take care of the children then?

Kierė also noted the stark difference between raising children as a couple versus doing so alone, especially when there is no one to lean on for support. She credits her strong social network, built over years with her husband, for providing crucial assistance with practical matters like household chores and car maintenance. "We were always people's people, and in difficult times, you can't buy that with any money," she stated.

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We were always people's people, and in difficult times, you can't buy that with any money.

The timing of Mindaugas Kieras's death, just a day before their son started first grade, presented additional challenges. Kierė expressed disappointment with some educators' lack of empathy, contrasting it with the more supportive approach she observed at her daughter Marcelė's school in Sweden. There, her daughter was given six months off from studies without pressure, a measure Kierė believes is vital for psychological well-being during such difficult times. "You are trying not to break, and you are being pressured from all sides, demanded. That's how you can break completely," she observed.

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You are trying not to break, and you are being pressured from all sides, demanded. That's how you can break completely.