Bereaved Parents
The Beginning of Grief
By: Elaine de Leon When you say it out loud, it sounds unreal: I have been pregnant twice. I have never felt a contraction. I have never taken a baby home from the hospital. We lost our two babies – Francis and Zoe – 11 months apart. I was only 16 weeks pregnant with Francis…
Read MoreLet Loss Guide Your Parenting
By: Shannon Duke As I write this post, I just finished up the day packing up items from Gracyn’s 1st birthday party. It was a great day filled with a hard’s day work of set-up, great music, delicious cupcakes, and wonderful friends. As I savored the time with those I cherished most, I couldn’t help…
Read MoreTo The Mom Learning to Parent After Loss
By: Kelley O. You should be enjoying life as a new parent but you can’t. You feel guilty about being happy since you’ve lost so much in the past. The joy you feel about your new baby is in competition with the sadness brought about your past losses. As if being happy about a new…
Read MoreHelping My Sons Grieve
By: Robyn Busekrus I wish loss wasn’t a part of our journey. When we found out we were expecting, we had this vision of what our family would look like. It had been some years since having our boys, and we always had wanted another child. One of the hardest parts of this journey is…
Read MoreFather’s Day and Miscarriage
By: Tiffany Elder I remember looking at the screen and waiting. Waiting for the technician to zoom in on the baby so we could see her for the first time. My husband was off to the side holding our three-year-old son on his lap. When the baby finally made her appearance on the screen, I…
Read MoreA Father’s Loss
By: Matt Busekrus My wife Robyn has been writing on her blog at www.robynsnestofhope.com and for Sharing Magazine. I have been proud of her efforts and am glad she is using her writing as a platform to help others that have experienced loss. This month, for Sharing Magazine the topic is Father’s Day and Robyn…
Read MoreMy Most Favorite Father
By: Amber Mangrum He made all the phone calls. He sent all the texts. Over and over, he repeated to family and friends, “Our girls are here.” We knew going into the hospital that it was not going to be sunshine and rainbows for us; our identical twin daughters were already gone. Giving birth was…
Read MoreDear Grieving Mother,
By: Sabrina Ivy Dear Grieving Mother, First, let me tell you I am so sorry you carry this weight of baby loss. With Mother’s Day just around the corner I understand some of the thoughts that are taunting you. I have them, too. This day looks nothing like it should for us. Whether you held…
Read MoreWhat I Want For Mother’s Day
By: Nora LaFata My first Mother’s Day was as it should be. Breakfast in bed and fingerprint flowers. All of my problems, diluted with brunch. All of my children, alive. I’ve had exactly three Mother’s Days like this, and I will never have another. In late February 2014, my daughter died. She died on a…
Read MoreWhen You’re Not Feeling Well on Mother’s Day
By: Brooke Taylor Duckworth In the months after my first daughter was unexpectedly stillborn, I began to get used to the weight of grief. I became familiar with that sense of stumbling around in a fog, the air around me feeling thick with my own unshed tears. I grew accustomed to the way my throat…
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