I started hearing it almost immediately. Even before I got discharged from the hospital. Even before I had recovered enough to return to work. Even before I brought my son home in an urn. “You’re so strong.” In the earliest months, these words held very little meaning for me. Strong? Me? I could barely… Continue reading Strength in Pain
It’s true what they say about grief: once you’ve lost someone, your life will always be separated into two categories. It will have a Before and it will have an After. It’s a strange separation. It’s hard to remember things clearly from before I lost Lincoln. Things feel a little fuzzy, including my pregnancy. It… Continue reading Before and After
It can happen anywhere, at any unexpected time. There are a number of things that can alter my mood, bringing me to a sad, dark place; but the biggest is the sound of a newborn cry. It was a perfectly pleasant day. I was out with my husband. Sunday is our Together Day. We… Continue reading The Trigger
A couple weeks after I got out of the hospital, I started hearing this question a lot, “Is it going to be hard to go back to work with all those kids?” I am a preschool teacher, but I work in a small childcare with a couple of babies and toddlers in the other… Continue reading Ms. Janelle’s Baby in Heaven
If you could change one thing about your grief, what would it be? Last month I attended my first grief support group. I was incredibly nervous. It wasn’t specific to baby loss and I wasn’t sure if I’d feel comfortable airing out my feelings. I was in tears before even walking inside. That day,… Continue reading What I Would Change
How much should I share with strangers? How honest should I be? Should I spare them the awkward moment and spare myself the looks of pity? I’m faced with this decision on a regular basis. Teaching preschool requires some professional development. It has never been my favorite way to spend a Saturday morning,… Continue reading The Ever-Awkward Icebreakers
I was still at the hospital when they asked me… “will you choose cremation?” The question left a ringing in my ears. I felt panic rising in my chest. My tears instantly spilled over. My baby’s perfect little body was to be reduced to ashes….. It was the morning of Christmas Eve when I was… Continue reading Bringing Home Baby
