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.
Growing Up Without A Mom Pt. 2
As an adult now, I feel lost and I feel like my life was built around lies. Those lies might have been to keep me safe so that I wouldn't get hurt, but did it really? If you read my previous story, you'll understand.
Krista NakanoPublished 4 years ago in FamiliesComing to Terms With the Death of My Family
Coming to terms with the death of my family (Part one) Trigger Warning:Family Trauma This idea has been in play with my life since before I knew what my childhood trauma looked like. During my parent’s divorce, I felt as if my mother handled it poorly. I saw the reaction from my dad and it hurt more than the split. Throughout their divorce process, my mother treated me poorly. Don’t get me wrong, I was absolutely an angsty teenager and like always, I spoke my mind. When I found out about my mother’s affair, it was no secret that I disapproved. I remember one day, during court mandated therapy, I was asked to describe my mom in one word and I chose “home wrecker”. I’m sure this hurt her, but it was an honest description of how I felt. I mention this moment because it marked the beginning of the end for our relationship as mother and daughter. This seemed to be the moment she decided that I was too much trouble and not worth the hassle. Perhaps this sounds a bit dramatic, but this is coming from retrospective and not immediate feelings towards the matter. I remember the day I stopped loving her like a mom. She and I were fighting and to be honest, I don’t even remember what about. As we were walking up the stairs to her apartment door, she stopped me on the narrow stair riddled hallway, and slapped my face so hard that my braces went through my lip. She slapped me. I was a child, having a hard time coping with all of this new information in a short amount of time. Some people may read this and think about how the time was different or perhaps I really was such a pain in the ass and she snapped. To be honest, I don’t know if these were the case. All I know is that I was a child in pain. I was trying to cope with ideas way beyond my understanding and at that moment more than ever, I needed a mom. She started dating the man she cheated on my dad with and as you can imagine, I did not approve or take it lightly. My dismissal of this relationship provoked the first abandonment of me by my mom.
Tawny SkyePublished 4 years ago in FamiliesAn Update on My Open Letter
TW: Update on my open letter: I wish so much that I could report a positive reaction from my family. I wish I could tell all of you that they decided to believe and support me. That is not the reality though and I want to be transparent for those of you wanting to speak your truth because of me. You need to know of the worst case scenario before you do. Please read through all of this because it’s going to start off sad but end on a high note, I promise.
Tawny SkyePublished 4 years ago in FamiliesA Letter To, X ♡ Selfishness + Forgiveness
TRIGGER WARNING: This letter is dedicated and intended for my baby brother who committed suicide. I miss him every single day. Please know grief is not easy and it comes in different waves, forms, and has no filter. If you are grieving.. please give yourself grace. If you know someone needs help—do what you can to help them. If you have ever been in a situation of wanting to take your own life, please know you are loved. Life is tough, unfair, and just out right hard to handle. But—Please get help. Don’t be afraid or embarrassed. Please reach out to someone. We want you here. I want you here. I send you so much love and so much light—and so many prayers.
Deziree BryantPublished 4 years ago in FamiliesDear Death
Dear Death, You really messed me up. You really messed me up when you took my Dad. Our Dad. Husband. Brother. Would-be Grandfather. You left us all groping around for footing.
Ampersand EssentialsPublished 4 years ago in FamiliesAve Maria
We played all of your favorite songs and some of our own softly by your head all night. I laid by your side in that little hospital bed, my hand resting gently on your little chest. I wanted to feel your heart beating as much as I could before it was given away. The sound of beeping varied on the machines and the medication was altered more than a hundred times to keep you going, but only to make sure you could save the lives of others. We were far past the point of saving you. You were somewhere else, somewhere far more beautiful and serene than that tiny room, but we were here with just your little body, trying to keep your organs going.
Emily FreshourPublished 4 years ago in FamiliesLosing My Dad
I remember like it was yesterday. It was a Friday and I had just dropped off my son at daycare because my unit had a training holiday. I just got home and went to my room to relax a little bit before I went to go run errands. My dad was in the back yard mowing the lawn and my mom went to go outside to check on my dad because she didn’t hear the lawnmower anymore. I went to the back to see if my parents needed anything before, I went to go run my errands. I saw my dad lying on his hip on the ground.
Salamasina MatavaoPublished 4 years ago in FamiliesThe Five Hearts
Have you ever had a life-changing moment in your life that just leaves you breathless? So deep that when you think of it, your hear skips a beat and it takes you just a moment to gather your thoughts? Your stomach does a flip, you may feel a bit shaky and thinking is just something that you cannot do, let alone speak.
Bridgette KovacevichPublished 4 years ago in FamiliesMy grief observed: the imminent milestones
I wrote these words on my blog (here) four years ago; but they still ring true. I was reminded of this piece because a friend of mine is coming close to her own first anniversary milestone. We all get to a point in life when we grieve someone, when we have to face big life occasions without them. If you're there, I hope you find comfort in knowing that you're not alone - our journeys and timelines may be different, but the landmarks can be the same.
She was, and then she is no more.
Iqiaqtiq had a favorite pass time for the cold dark winter nights. She and her mother would sing together while cleaning up the house. This helped her forget the bad things that happened to them all too often. "Mother has a voice like angels"- thought Iqiaqtiq, and she wished that when she grows up, that her voice would be just as beautiful. She and her Mother would recite the scriptures and sing till the house was clean.
Oeta SanchezPublished 4 years ago in FamiliesI Still Love Fall
Ever since I was real young and the first time I've ever went trick or treating on Halloween, I've always adored the season. Putting on costumes, gathering with other kids and walking door to door collecting treats while seeing other kids going around in their costumes always brought such festive joy. The fireworks, festivities, pumpkin carving and those tasty roasted pumpkin seeds are always just a few more things to look forward to every year.
Stacey SikoraPublished 4 years ago in FamiliesI can’t find a heartbeat!
You never think of researching something until it has happened to you or a loved one. This has been the case when I was diagnosed with narcolepsy, when I came out as transgender, and now. How many of you honestly knew October 15 is Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day?
Bryce and Val Marie HendersonPublished 4 years ago in Families