grief
Losing a family member is one of the most traumatic life events; Families must support one another to endure the five stages of grief and get through it together.
Coffee with Mom
If you ask someone what their favorite thing to do at the Disneyland Resort is, they will inevitably answer with some attraction like Star Tours, the Matterhorn, Haunted Mansion, or maybe even the Tea Cups—and that’s if they just stay in the Magic Kingdom without hopping over to California Adventure. Some might even answer with their favorite restaurant or a parade.
By Stephanie Hoogstad5 days ago in Families
Memories of mom
Posted this on Facebook a couple of days ago and have had the urge to share it here. To mark my mom and her tireless efforts to bring joy to the world. She wasn’t a perfect mom but who of us can say we were perfect or are perfect. Yet I can say that we should look at people more closely and see the them for the them that is them. So hold your love ones closer, tell them you love them, spend time with them and just enjoy life. Live life, be in the present.
By WrittenWritRalf9 days ago in Families
You Should Sleep Together Because You're Married.
"Do you love your husband?" This is a question I get asked by people who have known that we have been married since 1999. These people who ask, don't understand why I don't sleep with my husband, and personally it is none of their business, anyway.
By Carol Ann Townend12 days ago in Families
That Lump is Real
About the time we were packing up your boxes to move you from your home of fifty-five years to another part of the country, I felt a lump. In my breast. I told my sister about it, your older daughter, who was helping me pack all your dishes and tablecloths and mounds of linens and platters and purses and hats and oh so many books and all the things that made you, you.
By Marilyn Davenport14 days ago in Families
On Treehouses
To understand my dad, you have to understand that there was never a time in his life that he needed much to feel content, satisfied, or comfortable. He spent his youth hitchhiking, sleeping in tents, and living in treehouses, and did that until he got married and had kids and a suburban life. That he circled back to his youth once his kids were grown is not a surprise. He spent the last six years of his life traveling around in a camper van- a van that was his full-time home. And for roughly twenty years, long before he had the van, he spent his free time in a loft he built in his storage unit. It is in this loft that I sit and write this today. It is in this loft that I feel his absence so strongly that I am not sure I will ever be whole again. It is where I can stand in one place and see everything he needed as a man, and everything he felt was of importance. It was, I’m sure, where he considered home long before he had his van.
By Morgan Longford20 days ago in Families
For My Daughter
I felt as if there should be tears. I felt as if I should have grief or stronger emotions. It all felt incredibly mundane, however. It’s not that I wasn’t sad; I knew I’d miss her, but there was a strong sense of relief now that she was dead. I felt I could finally breathe. I felt like a pressure and a weight had been lifted off of me. I grieved more for the mother she never was, the one I always wanted, because now she’d never get the chance. I grieved more for the people whose lives she more positively affected, those who would be sad to see her impact on the world end. But my relationship with her, my real relationship with her, was always much darker, less loving than most people realized. There was so much about me that she made sure I knew she could not accept. That broke my heart every time I was reminded. I was sad and would miss her, but I felt I could be more myself than ever before.
By Leah Suzanne Dewey27 days ago in Families
The Things I Have Learned After 20 Years Of My Journey Of Child Loss
This for all the parents that just lost a child recently or Its been a few years. Let me start by saying I am so sorry you are having to experience this devastating pain and grief. I know personally how that pain feels. I lost my son Lucas 20 years ago this past January. I never thought I would ever experience this kind of deep pain and i wish no parent would ever have to experience it either. Not how its suppose to go, we aren't suppose to bury our children before us. That's something you cant prepare for. No matter if your child is ill or sick and doctors tell you that its coming. In my case my son died unexpectedly with no sickness or signs or hints that is was coming. He died from an AVM, i never even heard of that before back then and still dont know a whole lot now. I have researched it and stuff but still dont understand how he had it. Its like an aneurysm but his kind though was that it sent a chemical to his brain to make him go to sleep without any pain or suffering. He did say he had a headache and stomache right before he passed away. Only just a few minutes later he was gone. So he didn't suffer long thank goodness. You never know that level of pain untill it happens. Your world instantly gets crushed, your world gets turned upside down. Now what, how do i live life without my child. Its a very lonely & dark road at first, i wish i had someone like myself thst i couldve just reached out to back then. I didnt know anyone that lost a child to help me with what i was feeling or not feeling and if it was normal. That i wasnt losing my mind that it was just grief and heartbreak, your body goes through a process. Your body lets you know way before your mind does that their birthday is close or that anniversary date is coming up. It is a wild feeling. You get physically sick, upset and cry, get irritable. I have done alot of things that im not proud of to try to numb my pain and fill that void in my heart. Only untill i got tired of getting high, and still being miserable, sad,depressed and lonely that i got on my knees & begged God to help me. Cried out and surrendered my all back to him, to take my pain away & heal my heart. To help me get off drugs and stay sober. He Healed my heart and ive been clean & sober for 5 years now. I promised God I Would Live The Rest Of My Life Serving & Worshipping Him. I would make it my passion & mission to help other parents get to know Gods Love & Strength & Goodness. I wish I had a magic wand i could just wave for other parents experiencing this devastating pain. Unfortunately I dont, what I can do though is give you some hope or advice or encouragement & motivation that could ease your pain a little or help you process this whole thing with some clarity. God is the answer to all your pain and grief & worries. All you have to do is ask, he will give it to you. If want to know anything at all know that im here for you. Im on your team. We are in this journey together and while it may have been 20 years for me, I still have my good & my bad days. Think of it this way, We are just on different levels of the journey. If this resonated with you or you know someone going through this and needs a friend not a therapist or counselor you can give them my info. Reach out to me by email, [email protected] .
By Candice Holtabout a month ago in Families
To the parent that has lost a child. You are not alone!!❤️❤️
Im candi and just wanted to write to all the parents out there that may be struggling from the grief and pain they feel from losing a child or children. I know personally how hard and painful your journey is. I lost my son 20 years ago at age 7 from an AVM, it stands for atrial Venus malformation. It's like an aneurysm but this kind sends a chemical off in the brain so they dont suffer. I never thought i would experience anything like this in my life. It is definitely not a club i wanted to be in thats for sure. I wouldnt wish this on my worst enemy. I was angry for a long time when people would say, just get over it or they are in a better place. I finally came to understand that they dont know how we are feeling because they have never experienced such loss and pain and it wasnt their fault that they hadnt and that it was ok. Im glad they havent. It took years to feel that my son is in a better place than being on this earth in a world were people are cruel,mean and full of hatred. They dont have any love and compassion like they used to. I know it has turned your whole would upside down and leaves you in a deep dark place in life. I used to call it my black hole. Its a pain and helplessness that you cant just switch off,even at times I wished I could have. I just want to follow my heart and the Holy Spirit to write a short story and maybe help someone that is hurting and let you know I'm here just to encourage you that your not alone and there is some that is on the other side of that pain and despair. I was tired and miserable of being depressed and feeling my life was over, even though I had two other children that was depending on me to be a mother. I stayed secluded and isolated myself in my room for months without ever wanting come out. I didnt want to be around anyone,talk to anyone and i was just existing, i was physically there but mentally i wasnt. There was so many triggers that would set me in a crying mood or panic mood. I couldnt drive for along time either. I didn't want to live anymore because that pain was great and I didn't know how to control it or make it ease a little bit so I tried drugs,alcohol and whatever I thought that would numb that pain or fill that void so I didn't feel it anymore. Of course doing things my way,of the flesh didn't work. I got on my knees one day and cried and begged and pleaded to God to heal my brokenheart and fill that void because I knew He was the Only One that could. Im 5 years clean and sober now and living the best version of myself I possibly can. So if your tired and miserable and want a way to peace and comfort then I would say pray to the God of the universe, The One who Loves You unconditionally. His word says in Psalms 34:18 "The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those crushed in spirit". Jesus loves you. Never give up. There is a light at the end of this life and we will see our sons and daughters again. God has a plan and purpose for us all and we just have to surrender our all and follow the Holy Spirit and obey the Word of God. If this has helped please leave me a comment, I personally read them all and will write you back. I pray whoever reads this that God will give you Peace and Comfort and Happiness and Love
By Candice Holtabout a month ago in Families
Blame and Shame
I never thought I would ever be ashamed of my daughter. I've seldom been more wrong than I was about this. I've never been more ashamed of anything in my entire life than I currently am of her. What's the cause, aside from the blatant disrespect of her calling me a whore on social media? She convicted me and handed down a mandatory sentence without even listening to my side of the story.
By Harper Lewis about a month ago in Families
