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.

My Friend
My brother, he was my friend, my protector, father figure. When I lost him it felt like I lost everything, he passed away in September 2017. That day was the worst time of my life, it’s like I felt it. I felt it was coming, something inside me kept saying his name as I sat at my desk. I looked at his picture and just smiled. My mom called in the frantic, most hysterical mood that I have ever heard. All I remember are the words, “Marvin, your brother, my baby... gone."
By Drea Williams7 years ago in Families
Only the Strongest Survive
Imagine waking up in a three bedroom home, with two older brothers and two older sisters. That was my life when I was enjoying my adolescent years. My brothers were always out and about, as well as my sisters. Being the baby of the family was pretty chill... but it gets pretty lonely even though we had both parents in the home I still felt a bit, lonesome, if I can say.
By Isaiah Blount7 years ago in Families
24 Hours
It is every child’s fear; the loss of a parent. I don't think we lose that fear. I tried to push it aside often. The "what will I do? How will it feel? Will I survive it?"
By Ava McCoy7 years ago in Families
The Ghost of Mother's Day Past...
I'm awakened by the sounds of my brothers fussing over cereal and Saturday morning cartoons. I have to get dressed. I moaned, pulling myself out of bed. Today I'm going downtown to the 5 and 10 to buy my mom a gift for Mother's Day. I saved every penny, nickel, and dime to get her something. I loved my mom, I was the only girl among four brothers. She was so beautiful, small and petite. But her laughter could fill a room. See, some days she would be sad. On those days, she would just sit and stare out the window, smoking cigarettes and humming some inaudible tune. Other days, well, she laughed and drank with her girlfriends. She made dinner, cleaned the house. She might even play cards with us, Gin Rummy. My father worked out of town with a Persian Rug and Artifacts Dealer, so he would be away months at a time. My brothers and I loved when he would return... arms loaded with toys and treats. Beautiful trinkets and jewelry for mom. So I have to get her something special, my dad won't be able to make it in time to celebrate Mother's Day tomorrow. I don't want to see her sad, not on Mother's Day.
By Rosemary Roundtree7 years ago in Families
Angel in the Sky
I remember the morning I took the first test—I was shocked, amazed, doubtful, scared. I immediately ran into the living room where my boyfriend stood, showed him the test, and he said, “What is this?”
By Leah Marie7 years ago in Families
Everyone Is Dying!!
Since I was a little girl I can remember seeing my grandma wearing a beautiful red wig, doing her makeup and putting on her hot red lipstick getting ready to go to work at the hospital. I can also remember being startled because under that beautiful red wig was a perfectly round bald head. I remember her being a strong fierce woman who was fighting for her life, all while helping her daughters with babysitting her grandchildren on her days off, participating in the church events, attending her grandchildren’s events at school, keeping a very tidy house, and still cooking her amazing dinners, especially the ones on Sunday after church services and she held down working a full time job as a nurse.
By Kagan Clagg7 years ago in Families
Pregnancy, and Being High Risk Pt. 1
I know pregnancy is different for every woman, but I hope my story can maybe help someone out there who's been through something similar, and doesn't know how to deal with it, or if they feel they can't reach out to anyone.
By Sofia Maria7 years ago in Families
Miscarriage and Pregnancy Loss
I've been coming across more and more women opening up about suffering a miscarriage, still birth, or loss of a child. If you've ever experienced any of those tragic events, you feel SO alone because of how "taboo" the subject is. No one wants to talk about their miscarriage, and people don't know how to console someone who has suffered the loss of a child. That's where the problem lies. When this subject is brought up, it's usually quickly dismissed or made into an awkward moment when the other person doesn't know what to say. If you've ever been in that situation, you don't need to say anything! Just be there to listen. Listen to all the details the mother wants to share with you, listen to all the horrible parts that she can't get through telling without crying. Just simply, BE THERE. Before suffering a miscarriage, I was that person. I had no idea what to say (I'm horrible at finding the right words to say in tough situations). But upon having experienced that, I've learned that there is NOTHING you can say. Nothing will bring that sweet baby back, nothing will change the outcome of what the mother went through. She just needs your listening ear and support.
By Mar Ta7 years ago in Families
The Bird and the Pearl. Top Story - April 2019.
I had not eaten or drank anything all day. Yesterday was one month since my husband’s passing; food held no allure for me. A visitor stopped by in the afternoon, and it was probably the last person in the world that I wanted to see, yet in the queerest way I was thankful. I suddenly had the urge to lock-up the place I had been locked up in for three days, and go find something good out there. There must be a positive in this town, I thought.
By LP Steinbeck7 years ago in Families
The Story of My Miscarriage
I was looking forward to going out. I remember getting stomach cramps which I put down to period pain, because I always got them really painful and I usually bleed heavy. I stopped to go to the toilet, and I discovered a stain the color of a "show" that a woman normally gets before going into labour, and I thought nothing of it at all, as I had given birth to a baby not long before hand, so I ignored it, thinking it might just be a light period.
By Carol Ann Townend7 years ago in Families
Sometimes I Wonder If I'm Cursed
When you think of a family you see a mother and a father with their children. Be it they have one or six. They spend time together, laugh with each other. Make memories, and have great moments. They would go spend time with grandparents, or aunts and uncles, or cousins. Thats what I picture as a family. I had to picture in my head what a family is.
By Jayden Kamakeeina7 years ago in Families
"Laudatio"
"Give Thanks," proclaims the Vicar, from the front of the cavernous church. His loud and confident command, however quickly softens, perhaps in respect of the service he conducts, or embarrassment at the negligent faces of a congregation, who would rather do anything but 'give thanks' for something that has torn their hearts into shreds, and buried the fragments on some painfully distant desert island.
By Hannah Kawira Hartwell7 years ago in Families