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The Days are Getting Harder to Get Through

The Days are Getting Harder to Get Through

It's the first day of winter - lovely weather - and it's a lovely day today too - but I feel as if I am walking through deep water - or something very dense -

It happens every year - and this year I have done well - perhaps it has been unusually sunny and mild - and perhaps having joined this website - and throw in the psychologist - I have managed better - but yesterday - aaahh - that was a bad day and I am not sure if I turned my computer on - of if I did - I just wasn't capable of reading properly - I could not respond

It was not the best day of my life - but not the worst either

So it's all about my son dying and the circumstances - and I rang Life Line and talked to a wonderful woman there for quite a long time - and at the end I was exhausted.

I can't put the afternoon back together - it was too early for my medication but I stretched out on my bed and slept - at some stage I woke up and took my medication thinking I would not sleep - but did - and woke early which was fine - but it gave me a lot of time to think

What I had talked about with the lady at Life Line was the story I tell myself over and over - I did my best without support - and it the lack of support that made it all so hard. I would imagine that parents would care about their children having trouble with a badly-wired child who was always in trouble - and would care and follow through with all they could - and I have proved that I helped my son until he died - but mine didn't

It's terrible that my son died - it is terrible when any young person died - and I am pretty sure my son would not have lived a long life anyway - but the failure of family help - and the man I married who wanted a son so badly did not help - could not help - and the criticism of so many people - church people too - about this uncontrollable child - it tears me up -

This morning I wondered how I lived through each day - and I thought about my life now - and I live one day at a time - and these memories are so hard to live with. I understand people who have limitations - but I cannot understand how a whole family can turn on one member with a serious problem

They blamed me at the time - before he died Dad told me I had done something he could not have done - and except for a short time really Dad and I were always on good terms - and Dad has been gone quite some time

But still - I am outside of most things - I get on well with people - but alas - those memories curse me - and I don't want them - but they are here

And I am safe myself - but as the anniversary of my son's death gets nearer - I feel damned when I know in my mind and my heart - I did all I could for this damaged child - and I don't feel any guilt

After all - I have thought about it all these years - and of course - I think about him every day - why should I not

Decadian 😞

60 replies

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In response to: The Days are Getting Harder to Get Through

Re: The Days are Getting Harder to Get Through

Hi @Decadian,
I don't know what to say today that will make you feel better, if just briefly. It is a process i think & you're working through it.

With my mum's untreatable cancer spreading i rushed to spend time with her. It was bitterly disappointing though because nothing has changed there, i live away & my forgiving heart forgets.. One day i realised i was constantly living in hope that she would change & connect with me. A 'while there's life there's hope' thing i guess. But with you the door is closed, here in the flesh anyway. Perhaps you're coming to terms with that harsh reality.

As for the afterlife - i have given this much thought & research. I can honestly say i feel more connected there than the flesh. I use to wonder if my girl would WANT to see me for reunions as she was rather prickly with me that year she left us. Then i remember the bible says "there is no more sorrow or pain in heaven" & the best part - we will have 'fullness of knowledge' and understand all things. Of cause love is the guidepost there, the filter for all things, the garbage just won't be allowed in. So, what I'm trying to say is that you're mum gets it now. But you can still get it off your chest, they say its therapeutic.

Maybe pull out an empty chair & pretend your mum's sitting in it, sit yourself opposite & tell her... I prefer to write letters for long communication. I've Started a book to write to my girl. When something happens i want to tell her about or memories or dreams i pull out her book & write to her. Its covered in her favourite colour.

Just my thoughts, hope it helps.

Wishing you well. Stay strong 🌷

In response to: Re: The Days are Getting Harder to Get Through

Re: The Days are Getting Harder to Get Through

That's so beautiful @Former-Member. What a lovely way to honour your daughter.

And I love what you said about talking to the empty chair ........ I think we can all learn from that one.

Have you seen a movie called Shirley Valentine ? She turns to talking to her kitchen wall. She turns and talks to the camera and explains that she figured out she might as well be talking to the wall because her family weren't paying attention to anything she had to say - it's really satirical - I know exactly what she means and might do that in front of my family one day to see what their reaction is ❣

But the idea is great. How often do we rehearse what we would like to say to someone, or would have liked to say to them in hindsight ? And it's often when we are relating a story to someone else that we hear something new in what we are saying out loud, so your suggestion makes perfect sense, as does Shirley Valentine's humorous take on it.

@Decadian Here is the Marmoset I promised you .....

@Former-Member You might like it too. I go to the zoo to visit these guys and the otters.

In response to: Re: The Days are Getting Harder to Get Through

Re: The Days are Getting Harder to Get Through

Decadian

I hope you are feeling a bit better today. You do write well about grief, like one who has truly walked that path. I guess few counsellors can walk paths with their clients unless they have actuallly been there ... there is lies a big problem for the industry ... I am glad we can do it for each other.

Tawney

your experience with your daughter is unimaginable for me ... you show such strength ...

I too have sent a lot of my life being in communicado with "the other side" but blessed or cursed with a stubborn scientific streak .. I havent found the right words to navigate my grief experiences yet .. still working on it..

In response to: Re: The Days are Getting Harder to Get Through

Re: The Days are Getting Harder to Get Through

OMG how adorable - I want one!!

In response to: Re: The Days are Getting Harder to Get Through

Re: The Days are Getting Harder to Get Through

@Former-Member @Decadian @Former-Member @Appleblossom

I have often thought about how gorgeous it might be to own a Marmoset monkey. I bet I'm not the only one. They are kept under pretty heavy guard at the zoo ❣

My D3 (daughter 3) Came up with another gorgeous thought the other day ......

My husband doesn't like cats, but with the amount of time he is spending away at the moment, she raised the suggestion that we could have a secret cat - just put it into a kennels for the few days or weeks that hubby is at home, then bring it back to the house when he goes away again ...... 😊

I like her thinking (just making light if our situation - it helps us to cope).

The same could work with a Marmoset, I'm sure 😆

In response to: The Days are Getting Harder to Get Through

Re: The Days are Getting Harder to Get Through

Hi @Decadian

We lost our twins at 5 months and 5 months and 2 days. Our experience was different in that we new from birth that their life expectancy would be very short.

Their Dad refused to acknowledge that they were ever born after their birth. My way of coping was very different. I made the most of every day I was blessed to have them with us. Following their deaths I chose to be grateful for the joys they had given me in their short lives. My other children don't remember them.

I cherish my memories of these weenie girls and believe my life is all the better because they lived.

It is rare for me to even think about the anniversaries. Instead I go out for a special meal on their birthday and buy me a gift for them suitable for the age they would be now which is 34 this year.. I celebrate their lives.

I hope this different way of looking at your loss might help you a little.

Huuge Hugzzz
Kurra

In response to: Re: The Days are Getting Harder to Get Through

Re: The Days are Getting Harder to Get Through

Beautiful..thanks for sharing 🙂

In response to: Re: The Days are Getting Harder to Get Through

Re: The Days are Getting Harder to Get Through

Hi @Kurra

That is so moving, and such a beautiful way to hold your gorgeous girls in memory. Thank you for sharing it with us. It's very special.

We came close to losing one of our twins at 7 months. She had open-heart surgery, and it was touch and go.

I will remember your girls, and @Former-Member's daughter, and @Decadian's son.

Bless you all ...

💗💐💗💐💗💐💙

In response to: The Days are Getting Harder to Get Through

Re: The Days are Getting Harder to Get Through

@Kurra, buying gifts 🎀🎀, lovely. I often bring home things my girl might like & put them on her bed, or something for me in her honour. Feel for you, we're not alone 👣

In response to: The Days are Getting Harder to Get Through

Re: The Days are Getting Harder to Get Through

Thank you @Appleblossom & @Faith-and-Hope, for your compassionate comments & empathy, means a lot. So many beautiful souls here 💜
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