The loss of a parent profoundly affects the child, the surviving parent, and their relationship. Such loss may promote dependence, interdependence, alienation, and/or new forms of autonomy and growth for the surviving parent and child. Relevant findings from the psychoanalytic and experimental literatures concerning the death of a parent are explored and utilised as are anonymised clinical presentations throughout this article. The difficulties of grieving parents and children are outlined as are the changes that occur in their relationship with each other. Possibilities for growth following loss for parents, children, and in their relationship with one another, are also described.