I’ve failed. Life seems fractured. Daily events feel insurmountable. Relationships are strained and unstable. Work is challenging. Motivation to care, about much, is gone. I’m sharing this deeply personal post because I know for sure that I’m not alone. That out there are other mothers, in mourning, trying to hold it all together, being strongContinueContinue reading “My failures as a grieving mum”
Tag Archives: Death
In pursuit of happiness (while grieving)
As I was waiting for my son, I stood next to another mum with a young boy. She laughed and smiled as she tickled her toddler’s tummy and said cheerfully to me, ‘Doesn’t this good weather make you feel so much better!?’ I gave one of my template smiles in response. She was a lovelyContinueContinue reading “In pursuit of happiness (while grieving)”
How TV alienates the grieving
I saw a trailer on Sky the other day for the next big thing in hospital drama – Critical. A fictional series based on saving (or not) the life of a patient filmed in real-time (over an hour). The filming looks slick and the actors serious. It’s sold as being ‘ground-breaking and the most realisticContinueContinue reading “How TV alienates the grieving”
Children’s books about death and dying
There are numerous children’s books out there which focus on death and dying. I thought it would be useful to share our favourites with readers. We have always loved reading to our children, it’s a part of our daily bedtime routine. When Abi died, we turned to books as a way to share our feelings,ContinueContinue reading “Children’s books about death and dying”
The significance of memorial flowers
Today is Remembrance Day and war memorials all over the country are displaying poppy wreaths in memory of those who lost their lives serving our country. The Tower of London featured a magnificent and moving poppy tribute this year. It got me thinking about the symbolism of memorial flowers and what that means to meContinueContinue reading “The significance of memorial flowers”
For instructions on grief, please read this leaflet…
Dear Doctor, You’ve stood with me on this journey You saw my daughter being rushed into your ICU You stabilised her You kept her young body going Gave us hope after hope that she might wake up You showed empathy when that hope was gone We’re sat together in the treatment room Now so largeContinueContinue reading “For instructions on grief, please read this leaflet…”
Halloween just got scary
[I didn’t post this blog about Halloween at the time, I suppose to avoid offending anyone or to put a damper on the fun, but reading back on it, it’s certainly worth sharing. It’s not a major worry for me now, and who knows how I’ll feel about it in the years to come, butContinueContinue reading “Halloween just got scary”
Attending a first aid course as a grieving parent
This weekend was stressful and emotional, as well as coming down with the obligatory back-to-school cold. I finally plucked up the courage to attend a first aid course and it’s taken me some time to process what I learnt, and to deal with the memories and emotions that it stirred up. After Abi died, IContinueContinue reading “Attending a first aid course as a grieving parent”
There’s no such thing as a ‘simple’ gesture
When Abi died, we were overwhelmed by the support we received from the community, from friends and strangers alike. The attention quite naturally faded away in time, but we still have moments where people go out of their way to help us in some way. These days, it seems the world is a more cynicalContinueContinue reading “There’s no such thing as a ‘simple’ gesture”
The reality of performing CPR on my own child
When Abi died, it was very peaceful and controlled. But when she collapsed at home, in our bedroom, we went from calm to extreme panic in a matter of minutes. I was reading to my other daughter, my son was lying in his bed drifting off. My husband was looking after Abi in our bedroom,ContinueContinue reading “The reality of performing CPR on my own child”
Chasing Dragonflies 