When I was little, I dreamed of having a family of my own. I would get married in my early twenties, and we would have at least three kids by the time I turned 30. My husband and I would live close to my family, and my mom would have an active role in my… Read More When You Find Yourself Avoiding Mother’s Day
I had the privilege of always having a piano in the house when I was growing up and I had taken lessons from a young age. When I was in high school, my parents replaced our upright piano with a baby grand piano. My mom and I were ecstatic and eager to play the piano… Read More When A Piano Offers A Lesson in Grief
I remember our first Thanksgiving without my mom 11 years ago. We invited her family like we did every year, and we tried to keep the celebration the same. My dad and I were asked to make the mashed potatoes. We peeled ten pounds of potatoes and started boiling them in hot water. But after… Read More Navigating the Holiday Season While Missing the Ones You Love
It seems that fall finally fell upon us this past weekend. And as I was sitting outside with the neighbors watching the kids run in the street, I was filled with joy that the air was crisper and colder. As we later enjoyed pizza, I received a text from my husband, who was out of… Read More When loss comes suddenly
When I went to my son’s end-of-the-year kindergarten play, I did not anticipate missing my mother-in-law. I sat joyfully watching my son participate in a short play and in name games. As we sat together on the colorful rug, he said, “If my nana was alive she would have been here. She would have loved… Read More Summer: a time to rest
I don’t remember celebrating Mother’s Day when I was growing up. I’m sure we did. I just can’t recall how we honored my mom. It wasn’t until my mom passed away 11 years ago that I suddenly became aware of Mother’s Day. When we were struggling with infertility, it felt as if Mother’s Day was… Read More When Mother’s Day Brings Joy and Sorrow
My 3-year-old daughter awoke in the middle of the night sobbing because she missed Nana. After a long hug, we talked about what we missed most about Nana – her laugh and the way she sang songs to my daughter. We then prayed, and I laid down next to her until she fell back asleep.… Read More Navigating grief: When a grandparent dies
I’m realizing lately that I’m in a pattern of avoidance. It’s easier to read a good book or watch a good movie or go for a great run than it is to stop and face the grief, face the fear, face the loneliness. I’d rather feel good and productive than stop moving and face emotion head… Read More An uneven exchange
It’s been a long few weeks full of emotion and heartache. Our circumstances haven’t changed or become worse but yet our grief has seemed to increase. I think the reality that my mother in law is actually gone sets in as time continues to pass. Almost daily my kids tell me that they miss their Nana.… Read More Comfort during a grief filled Holiday season
Grief snuck up on us today when we were least expecting it. We witnessed joy expressed between a little girl and her Nana whom she hadn’t seen in a while and instantly the tears started to flow. I had often thought about the day when my son’s Nana would be at the bus stop. I… Read More When your heart breaks again – love pours in