From the monthly archives:

January 2010

GriefNet.org

Thumbnail image for GriefNet.org January 27, 2010

GriefNet provides email support groups for all areas of grief. There are thirteen groups listed for loss of a child.
GriefNet asks for a $10 per month donation to be part of a group. They say no one is turned away for financial reasons. They do offer a one month free trial so you can try [...]

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The Grief Roller Coaster

Thumbnail image for The Grief Roller Coaster January 19, 2010

Life after lossing a child has been a big roller coaster ride.
There have been a lot of deep plunges into the unknown.
And then there have been times the track has leveled out, maybe even climbed a small hill or two.
But the ride continues and the path ahead is uncertain.
Right now the track has smoothed out [...]

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It Seemed SO Real

Thumbnail image for It Seemed SO Real January 14, 2010

Since Richard’s death I haven’t dreamed about him. There was the one weird dream about him making comments on Facebook. But he hasn’t been in my dreams in person.
Until last night.
It was one of those incredibly vivid dreams. The kind that seem so very real. Intensely real. And Richard was there. Alive.
I was standing there [...]

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Footprints

Thumbnail image for Footprints January 13, 2010

I was in town this morning, so I went to the cemetery.
The cemetery had been closed on Sunday because of the snowy weather. Today it was open again.
As I left my car and started walking down the hill to Richard’s grave I looked out over the snow covered ground. There was one set of footprints. [...]

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Ambush

Thumbnail image for Ambush January 9, 2010

Debbie needed something for show-and-tell time at the next Compassionate Friends meeting. She was supposed to bring something that was important to Richard or something he was proud of. The idea was for everyone to show their item and tell the story about what it meant in the life of their child.
She asked me to [...]

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You Have No Idea How Much

Thumbnail image for You Have No Idea How Much January 7, 2010

Got snowed in today.
Debbie took the occasion to clean out the drawers in the kitchen cabinets.  In one of the drawers were many old greeting cards.
She handed me one.
It was a birthday card from Richard to me. The front of the card is above. The inside is below.

Yes Richard, it does get me right there.
I [...]

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On Grief and Grieving Book Review

Thumbnail image for On Grief and Grieving Book Review January 5, 2010

Dealing with the loss of a child is exhausting. After reading On Grief and Grieving by Elizabeth Kubler-Ross and David Kessler I understand why. Grieving is hard work.
I never knew there was so much to deal with.
First the authors outline five stages of grief:

Denial
Anger
Bargaining
Depression
Acceptance

I think that last one is misnamed. I would call it Resignation. [...]

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