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.

The Truth About Postpartum Depression: From a New Mom
The "Bad Mom" Stigma "Postpartum Depression," the F-bomb of the mom world until now, also known as P.P.D. Did you know, suicide is the second leading cause of death in Postpartum women? "Suicide," yet another taboo word when talking about depression after birth. Suicidal thoughts and thoughts of self harm are a side effect of depression, and it does not make you a bad mother to admit that you suffer from them. "Bad mom" stigma can be a deterrent for getting help to avoid judgement from uninformed family and peers. I'm here to tell you from experience that seeking help from a medical professional makes you no less a mother than any other mother. Finding treatment allows you to soak up that precious time with the baby without the worry of depression or anxiety.
By Lauren Audelo8 years ago in Families
Abandoned Homes
I can’t be the only person who looks at an abandoned house and wonders what the story behind it is. Did this house once belong to a happy family? Could some tragedy be the cause of the home’s emptiness? The world of possibilities is endless. There has to be more to the home than peeling paint and overgrown lawns. At one time, someone moved into that home with dreams and ambitions. They dreamed of the life they would live in that home. A home in which they would create memories. As they unlocked the doors for the first time, they unlocked all the possibilities. The person who lived there could have been anyone. They could have chosen to live in any house and they chose this one. Why did they leave? Was it their choice or were they forced?
By Veronica O8 years ago in Families
To the Drunk Driver and His Wife Who Killed My Sister
My name's Anna Holt. I don’t want to come out harsh, but you killed my sister. The exact person I need today. Idk if you & your husband set off that day and intended to kill someone and it so happened or your minds just aren’t right and you have a cold heart. I look at pictures of her today and I see how calm and perfect and amazing she looked. Y’all took something away from me that I will never get back and I absolutely can’t stand you or your husband for that. This whole thing disgusts me. Life after her is a blur knowing I never met a sibling who could’ve changed me life for the better in many of different ways. How could a kid and a family friend walk across the road after my mom's car broke down end up killed with no one answerable for it besides you, too bad you acted like it wasn’t your fault. This could’ve been avoided. Every time we drive by the spot she got killed at, it gets a little hard to breathe. Before she passed away, the household then was happy and truly amazing. Then y’all threw a bomb right into my family’s and friends of family’s life. When I look at my dad, you can see the sadness in his eyes. When you look at my mom you can see how broken she is. When you look at my brother that knew her personally you can see that he lost not only a sister but a best friend. And when you look into mine and my other brother's eyes, you see part of us, that’s missing, that could’ve been there, and everything would’ve been fine. I break a little more whenever I hear her name. Losing a child is an unimaginable loss. I will never be able to forgive y’all for what you did that night on June 28th, 2003. I don’t hate you, but I hope you have conscience so you think about the impact of what you did. I hope you will one day feel the pain I have been feeling ever since I was able to understand that she’s gone. You stole events like Christmas, Halloween, her birthday, and much more away from us. Even small things like watching a movie as a family or going out to eat. 15 years have passed and the pain still hasn’t passed for anyone and I don’t think it ever will, we just have learned to live with it. I ask myself why every night. Why couldn’t have she lived? Why couldn’t she just have had a few injuries? I believe that everything happens for a reason, but this? There is not an explanation. I hope one day you’ll realize how bad we are hurting. You’ll probably look at this and roll your eyes, but I hope I just hope it hurts deep down. I pray for y’all every night. I still got out the violin she had and look at the strings and stroke them even tho half of them are broke off, I still look at the scrapbook filled of her pictures, I still have the poem she wrote hanging up on my mirror, and I still have the box she had that played music. On a holiday like mother’s or Father’s Day or my siblings and my birthdays that box plays music out of no where, and I truly believe it’s her. Thank you, thank you for making me experience true hurt and brokenness.
By Anna Holt8 years ago in Families
My Mother
I can't ever forget that tragic day. I can't ever forget the sound of the rain, the voices of the people around me, the feeling of the tears running down my face. I can't ever forget he regret I had, the sight of her lifeless body. It's like a nightmare. I wanted to wake up. My whole world changed on that tragic day. The day everything changed. The day I lost my dear beloved mother. If you ask me to explain what happened, I can easily tell you everything.
By Sammy Armstrong8 years ago in Families
My Abortion at 17 Weeks
Some of you have come here with pitchforks in hand, let me tell you they are not needed. This was out of my hands, something none of us had any control over this.
By Camille Ballentine8 years ago in Families
She Died of a Broken Heart
Hello reader! I’m going to tell you a story about me losing my grandma and hopefully you can relate. I’m hoping this will help someone on their journey to healing their heart. Losing someone who’s so close to you is very hard, and when you’re continually sad about it, you don’t want to talk about it with anyone because you just feel annoying. When I tell people I’m sad, I never say why because I’ll just sound like a broken record player.
By Rachael Cox8 years ago in Families
Dad... A Daughter's First Love
As I'm sitting here, trying to figure out how to start this off, I'm almost at a loss for words. Not because there's nothing to say about my dear old dad, but because there is so much to say about him, that I don't even know where to start. His name was Roger Whited; he was 57 years old, living his life to the fullest. He was a proud father to three beautiful daughters, an ecstatic grandpa, and an affectionate husband. A loyal friend, a beloved brother, a faithful son, and so much more. On August 15, 2018, this amazing man was taken away from us. The man who in my mind, would've lived until he was nearly 100, left this world so unexpectedly. At this time, I don't want to share the details of what was wrong with my sweet daddy, I just want to reminisce about the good memories for now.
By Kristen Burgess8 years ago in Families
Dear Old Dad
You gave me quite the scare, there. It’s not your fault, I know. I wasn’t expecting it- and that’s the real issue, I guess. Nobody ever is- or maybe they are, but are we ever truly prepared for the bad news? That trembling voice on the other end of the line, that shocking conversation that leaves you speechless? I don’t think we are. I’m certainly not. I remember when you called me and told me grandpa had passed. It made me hate my phone, made me not want to touch it. This was a close second. I now look at it with trepidation.
By Olivia Petras8 years ago in Families
Goodbye Angel
Dear Aunt Janice, I have always loved you, you were always my favorite aunt. You were fun and we had a good time together. I will miss all the times we had together at family events. If not for your cheery face I may not have gone to any events at all. Being around family I barely knew or didn't know at all was always very uncomfortable for my sister and myself. I always had a great time with you. At Christmas time you always made it enjoyable, and I loved your cash present more than something I couldn't use you always knew what I needed. Thank god you never gave me ugly weird sweaters with Santa or kitty cats or dogs that bark. you had better taste than that you gave me money.
By amanda j mollett8 years ago in Families
Knowing You're Losing Someone
I burst into tears every time I hear the song "Supermarket Flowers" by Ed Sheeran. It hits me deep. I lost my mom to cancer, but I don't think that's why it hits me so hard. I was only three when she passed away; I didn't understand what was going on. Don't get me wrong, I miss my mom, but I don't really remember her being sick. But, since then, I've lost a lot of people very close to me. We've all had to experience losing someone, and if you haven't, I consider you very lucky. My friends and family told me during a particularly rough few months after a close family friend was diagnosed with cancer that I should be grateful that I knew what was coming and that I had time to mentally prepare myself for it. However, I honestly don't think there is any way to prepare yourself to lose someone that's close to you. In my personal experience, the knowing almost made it worse.
By Michelle Schultz8 years ago in Families
The Day My Life Changed Forever
Sunday, March 19, 2017. It was a gorgeous sunny day and my boyfriend and I decided to spend the day together out of service in Port Renfrew, British Columbia exploring and having fun. I had no idea that my life would forever be changed when I woke up that morning to the sun shining through my window. I distinctively remember seeing the time at 11:06 that morning when I got in the car to leave. That number forever edged in my mind—also happens to be my dads birthday. I remember the day so vividly. We visited a few beaches and hiked up Avatar Grove. We collected rocks and shells that until about two weeks ago I left sitting in the corner of my bedroom, untouched since that day.
By Kirsten Mackie8 years ago in Families
Adventure for Us
Ever since we were little, my sister, Mackenzie, and I went on adventures. We went everywhere together and were considered to be inseparable by most. With only a years difference between us, we were closer than any of our other siblings, and we knew it. Of course, we fought, but it wasn’t often.
By Will Jackson8 years ago in Families