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.

Life and beyond
From the very beginning, this life force inside of us so small and so fragile makes us often feel like a once crumpled piece of paper finally ready to write a story. A blank slate is presented, one so precious and unable to unfold on its own.
By Jordan Sophia Thomas4 years ago in Families
Another Tragedy: Another Day in America
I found myself reading an article yesterday that listed the 19 children and two teachers that tragically lost their lives this Tuesday in Uvalde, Texas.
By Test4 years ago in Families
I think I knew you were going to die
Dear Mama, I think I knew you were going to die. Okay, hear me out, I know it sounds absolutely ridiculous, but a month before it happened, I had a dream that all my teeth were falling out. Each and every one of them. One by one, they would slip into my hands. I would try to shove them back in, anxiously trying to put together an undone puzzle. In the dream, my gums gushed raw blood. My hands dripped with the aftermath of loss. I screamed for hours. At the time, I thought my biggest issue was going to be, how will I chew my food? When I woke up, I wrote it all down in my silly notes before, of course, texting my friend.
By mak 4 years ago in Families
Creative Conspiracies
Time seems irrelevant. Daily I think of you and memories of standing over you in the hospital while you took your last breath seem like yesterday. 2022 is such a different world. I cannot fathom what you would have done or instructed me to do if- during your time, schools were being taken over by shooters with no motive other than to soothe their own delusional semblance of ways to combat their mental health challenges.
By Deirdre Berry4 years ago in Families
Meri Jaan. Top Story - May 2022.
Dear Mama, I think I knew you were going to die. Okay, hear me out, I know it sounds absolutely ridiculous, but a month before it happened, I had a dream that all my teeth were falling out. Each and every one of them. One by one, they would slip into my hands. I would try to shove them back in, anxiously trying to put together an undone puzzle. In the dream, my gums gushed raw blood. My hands dripped with the aftermath of loss. I screamed for hours. At the time, I thought my biggest issue was going to be, how will I chew my food? When I woke up, I wrote it all down in my silly notes before, of course, texting my friend.
By mak 4 years ago in Families
Speaking Into The Ether. Top Story - May 2022.
Dear Mummy, You’ve been gone a long time. Far too long in my opinion. But that’s the weird thing about life and death isn’t it? There is not enough time in life; we will always say that we wish we could have longer with our loved ones before they depart. Yet when the time does indeed arrive, the aftermath seems to last far beyond what seems bearable; there is too much time in death. That’s my takeaway from the past 13 years without you anyway.
By AM4 years ago in Families
I’m the reason he’s dead….
Dear Mom, I can’t sleep, I haven’t slept fully through the night in almost 4 years. But you know that already, you seem to always know everything one of your kids is going through. Usually you have some magic words of wisdom that makes everything seem a little less scary, a little less painful, magic words that conquer the monsters in our brains and fills our hearts with love and protection. Isn’t that what a mom is supposed to do? I know bc of you and how I grew up, I’ve tried to be that kind of mom to my own kids- I’m hoping I’m doing an ok job. I want them to alway know they can tell me anything and writhing and it doesn’t matter what time of the day it is. Us Richardsons have this weird habit of epiphanies showing up at around 2-4am when when the rest of the sane world is asleep. This time though I don’t think it’s anything I can share with you. This time the thoughts I have aren’t anything your magic words can fix. This time you might never talk to me again if I share this with you, and still I have to tell you bc it’s eating me up inside and my life is slowly unraveling. I thought this would be my secret that I took with me to the grave, that no one ever had to know about, that I could just swallow and go about the rest of my life But I’m not sleeping even more than before, I’m probably going to lose my job soon bc I can’t keep my eyes open during the day, but if I try to sleep at night I’m met with horrific nightmares of the last thing he said to me. Of the last choice I made, the choice that ruined our entire family. The choice that left blood in my hands that I cannot wash off. The blood red mark that will forever be all over my palms, engraved in my heart, burned into my soul. I killed my brother mom, I am the reason that he is dead. I’m sorry I couldn’t tell you sooner, I’m so sorry that I didn’t save his life.
By Jessica Richardson4 years ago in Families
Dear Mommy
Dear Mommy, The glare in your eyes scares me. Is it because I left the broccoli on the plate? Is it because I told you I hate your always-too-salty cooking? Is it because I jump out of the chair, run around the table, and feel disgusted by the salad you’ve put together?
By Deborah Angevin | Story Writer4 years ago in Families
A Message for Noah
Once upon a time, there was a little boy, Noah, and his sister, Faith, who lived in Heaven a very long time ago. They lived there with their family waiting for the day when they could be born and live on earth with their mom and dad.
By Rebecca A Hyde Gonzales4 years ago in Families
Letter to the woman that use to be my mother
Happy Mother’s Day, Mom, It has been a few months since we last talked. I hope wherever you are, you are doing well. I know things between us have never been perfect, but I still miss you despite everything that has happened between us. I miss your hugs, smiles, laughter, and questionable taste in television shows. I miss talking with you, getting advice from you, sharing stories, and hearing about Grandma. I miss having you around, but I know that woman is gone, at least for now.
By Jackie Mallery4 years ago in Families
Escaping the Un-home
She and he laughed together as they bought unvarnished, un-sanded pale pine furniture at the end of their lack lustre honeymoon.
By Daniella Libero4 years ago in Families
Sometimes I Cry
Hey Mom, I never told you this before, but sometimes I cry over you. Sometimes when I am holding one of my babies in my lap, stroking their hair back from their forehead, I cry. Tiny, wispy hairs, slightly curly, which we inherited from you. I look at their face, their tiny nose, their pursed lips. I dot my finger in the little hollow between lips and nose, soft soft soft, like the petal of a petunia. I look at their perfect fingers, their chubby toes, their clear, trusting eyes. I whisper, “I love you big and big.”
By Ferne Pierre4 years ago in Families