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.

Holiday Without You
The tree is up, the fire is lit, the stockings are hung and if it were a picture, it would be the epitome of what a perfect Christmas should be. The holidays are a time of joy, love and laughter. A time where memories are created and traditions are born. Echos of the past that once brought smiles now bring silent tears. On the outside, all seems merry and bright, but when a loved one is missing on the holidays, pain and sorrow are all that's on the inside. How do you celebrate joy when someone you love is unable to celebrate too? And in the most permanent sense, they will never celebrate anything with you ever again. Before you get angry at me, and say “there is joy in heaven” or accuse me of being an atheist, I would like to say that I am a very Christian woman with a strong belief in life after death. God very much comes first in my life, but when grief takes over it is hard to feel anything else. It is hard to even be yourself. In the midst of your sorrow, life keeps charging on. You have no choice but to charge forward too. Putting on a smile when inside you are crying. Everyday you are going through the motions and just trying to get by from one day to the next, and with your best efforts facings all those “firsts” without them. You learn to master the art of looking OK and opening up just enough that no one questions what you are not telling. You learn to navigate with the pain hidden allowing just enough out to not look suspicious so that you can convince the world that you are healing. Heck, if you lie well enough you even began to convince yourself. And then, the holidays come. You feel lost, every decoration has a memory attached, every recipe, every song on the radio and every holiday movie. Suddenly, you are back at square one.
By Michelle Paiva5 years ago in Families
The christmas day horror
The following story is based on true events. Its a memory of a Christmas that I wont soon forget. It was a cold Christmas eve. I was about 9 or 10. My grandmother used to have family get togethers on Christmas eve every year. My mom and dad were divorced for almost my whole life, so I usually spent one or the other with my dad for the holiday. This year was Christmas eve. He was staying at my grandmother's at the time, Granny we all called her, after granny from the Beverly Hillbillies. There was a good crowd this year. Granny, Dad, me, my great grandmother, and some cousins. Granny had a finished basement with a bar and a pool table, so this is the area that the Christmas parties and just about any other function she would have would be held.
By Brad Souza5 years ago in Families
The bird that never flew
The morning after I took my life. The morning after I took my life. I woke with a warm kiss from the rising sun. He asked me what have I done, I looked up and saw his face, how sad he was, losing someone he can't replace. I cried out to him but it was too late, the rain clouds already covered his face. I ran downstairs down the hall, open my door, and ran out to the street. I saw my next-door neighbors dog, how he was so sad, laying by the fence, he looked right through me.
By S.M.King5 years ago in Families
The Bad and the Good
We’ve done this before, why would this one be any different? It was June in 1998 and Dad was all set to retire. Along with retiring, Mom and Dad had picked out a home for them to spend the rest of their lives at. Moving day was always exciting, Dad being a minister had moved a few times and this one was no different. Except this time, none of us kids were moving with them. We all had our own places but was there to help them. Mom was having some medical issues and was able to make an appointment on moving day. Dad took her to her appointment while the rest of us supervised the moving company. This was hard work, which was filled with drinking coffee, eating donuts and sharing stories with the family.
By Al Russell5 years ago in Families
The Great Awakening!!!!
12/20/20 was a beautiful day. The sun was shining, the wind was blowing lightly, just enough to feel the chill but not to feel freezing. If you are from Chicago or have been in Chicago in December then you know we appreciate days that are not freezing or snowy.
By Mecca C Eaves-Glass5 years ago in Families
How Complicated
Chapter 1 She was born in 2002 but its 2020 and everything is going to pieces. Her life has been a mess since she was a little girl and now she wants everything to change. Her name is Ney and she's a 18 year old trying to change her life for the better.
By Genesis Gonzalez5 years ago in Families
Kaleidoscope Dream
Part Two: Chapter Nine : Kaleidoscope Dream June 2018 I am emotionally, physically, and mentally exhausted by two in the afternoon, so much so that I can barely keep my eyes open. I figure a nap may help, and I fall asleep within minutes of my head hitting the pillow.
By Stefani Milan5 years ago in Families
Survival Instincts
Survival Instincts is the story of Sophia Vega, a feisty Filipina who refused to give up on life despite the hardships and tragedies she faced. Far from a fairytale, Sophia's journey took her from a small village in the Philippines to an underground world of gambling, assassination attempts, and exploitation where she witnessed and experienced the darkest sides of humanity.
By Maria Jessica Herrero Ryerson5 years ago in Families
If this Town could Talk
I started collecting houses and businesses for my perfect little town about 20 years ago. It has been named Pihotaville, where all the people no matter race, religion, sex, mental or physical disability are all welcomed and loved the same. They are some of the most loyal citizens and neighbors any where on earth. How do I know this you ask? Well, because they have kept many stories to themselves. Never have they told of what it is they have witnessed through out the years.
By Tina Pihota5 years ago in Families
My Amish father was paralyzed when I was a teenager
My father and I worked at several places when I was growing up. and one of the jobs I had was at a chicken place, feeding 1000's chickens. Earlier in my life, mom had this business of butchering 100s of chickens a day, with all of us kids chipping in to pluck them.
By Joseph Slabaugh5 years ago in Families
You Didn’t Deserve to Die
On the evening of Labor Day September 7, 2020, I lost my one and only sister. Prior to her death in the summer of 2020, she learned she had Stage Four Breast Cancer. I wondered when was she ever in the earlier stages of the disease? My sister was living a wonderful and happy life with her new-found love. She had her 59th birthday party on Facebook Live and we had thanksgiving dinner with her last year. We didn’t know that we would spend the last holidays with her. She didn’t know she was celebrating her last birthday. I wonder if she had some type of inner warning that she wouldn’t be here for the holidays because my sister never had a birthday party via any social media platform.
By Jacqueline F Wilson: The Morning Brew!5 years ago in Families
Cancer Sucks
The Day we lost our dad was the worst day of our lives. Stage 4 liver cancer and any other cancer for that matter can SUCK it! Mind you, the hospital he went to, told him, the cancer was a HERNIA!!
By Brittnee Beth5 years ago in Families