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.

Poverty
I received a George Orwell book for Christmas, a slim volume entitled Why I Write (1946) and I read it in a day. I was intrigued by this social -middle class- democrat Orwell who was genuinely interested in and improving the life chances of the poor working class. I’d read Animal Farm (1945) and 1984 (1949) before I was fifteen or sixteen, and perhaps briefly joined the socialist party on the back of that, but I’d not read any of his other works. I immediately down loaded a gratis copy of Down and Out in Paris and London (1933) from the George-Orwell.org website and was blown away even from page one in chapter one by his novel-esque approach to autoethnography.
By Ian Peter Loftus6 years ago in Families
All That Remains of Us
Here's a secret about me: I have no intention of getting old. As the Who once sang (and still do, man, are they old): Hope I die before I get old
By Grant Patterson6 years ago in Families
Gracious lessons
Have you ever felt the absence of graciousness? I know the feeling. Every January 7th, since 2005 I have felt the absence of the one person in the world who graciousness was a daily authentic lesson on how one should treat those that don’t even recognize the need for grace.
By Marcus R Holmes6 years ago in Families
Nights in the Hospital
I wasn’t prepared to see Dean, my brother, in a hospital gown with wires going through his sleeves and needles in his arms. He couldn’t bare to feel what he was feeling, the stress, the anxiety, the depression. He wanted it to stop. I judged him. Why would he do this to himself? What provoked him to do this? I thought the worst of my brother when I first saw him. I had many different emotions and I had so many questions. This was a traumatic experience not only for me but for my family as well. I walked out of the hospital with a new perspective of my brother, my family, friends, and everyone else who I’ve encountered.
By M. Nicole6 years ago in Families
I Wonder if You Know
A few days after my baby boy died, I had experienced so many emotions, had so many questions, and wanted desperately to be able to just talk to him. This was the first poem I had written in years, I just had to get some of the questions OUT!!! So, I put them on paper. I wondered if he could, in some way, see me. Did he know how much I missed him. There was never a thought as to if he knew I loved him. He knew!! I was looking for ways to cope with his eternal absence! I still have days that I wonder some of the same things.
By Jacqueline Murray6 years ago in Families
A Parent’s Mortality: The Day I Took Dad’s Keys
Ask an adult child to define their greatest fear. Among the most frequent answers is the decline and death of a parent. I’ve been through it too.
By Joel Eisenberg6 years ago in Families
When a Parent Dies and “Then” You Thrive
Introduction I’ve been there. You must stay forward, as the option is not nearly as promising. Since I was a child, my parents were my biggest supporters. When I was in junior high school, my English teacher threatened to fail me. That “F” on my report card would not only have led to me repeating the 8th grade, but would have postponed my entry into high school by a year, forever marking me, I believed, as ‘the oldest freshman in the universe.’
By Joel Eisenberg6 years ago in Families
Losing You
St.Lucia is a lovely island in the caribbean.I was brought up in St.Lucia and it was the best part of my life. I Built friendships, had trips to the seaside, ate delicious food, got married and had continuous love from my grandparents.
By Chantelle C6 years ago in Families
Still the Mother of Three
There are some things in this life that a mother should never have to experience, endure, or be forced to deal with. Here I sit, the first few hours of a new year, a new decade!! While it is an exciting time to look forward to, I can’t help but to look back and remember the sadness, the pain, the emptiness and devastation of having to plan a funeral for my son.
By Jacqueline Murray6 years ago in Families
A Caretaker's Really Rough Day
12:00 AM February 29, 2016 I was already up. I could hear him moaning in pain as he moved to get up. Granted I was up all night on my phone because I couldn't sleep. I get up, help him out of his chair, he hobbles to the bathroom. I fix his chair pillow and blanket and when he comes out he's almost in tears because his leg is so bad. He plops down, moaning in pain, and I administer 2 mg of morphine. He thanks me, I kiss his head, and linger until he's drifted off to a restless sleep again. Back to bed, I go.
By Hope Martin6 years ago in Families
A Unique Hero
“You smell like deodorant,” my cousin looked up at me and laughed with glossy eyes as we all gathered in a group hug outside my house. The three of us are like peas in a pod, we basically do everything together and in a time of need, there's nothing more important. We walked up the pavement that led to my house, my aunt following closely behind us. Walking through the front door felt weird and wrong,. It was as if a part of me was scared to be there.
By Lula McIntyre6 years ago in Families
Caring For The Grandpa I Never Knew
I would like to share my personal journal from a few years ago, of the feelings and thoughts I had when I was a caretaker for my grandfather. My job was simple and clear: Make him comfortable until he dies. I hope you enjoy the first entry.
By Hope Martin6 years ago in Families