"Do you have any brothers and sisters?", the other mom asked nicely and politely. Several shock waves traveled through me. Within seconds, I underwent numerous emotions; disbelief, anger, sadness, fear. How do I answer?

Child Loss Newsletter

We can think of so many questions to ask ourselves why we didn’t do more to prevent our child’s death. We can very often ask these questions and blame ourselves for what has happened.

I find myself feeling less and less like I fit in to the mainstream world. After my daughter died, my reality capsized. I now look at life through a dark set of glasses. It’s not rosy. It’s not happy. It’s not balanced.

Going back into the public domain can feel terrifying after your child dies. Will I bump into someone I know? Will a stranger know how sad I am? Will I burst into tears? These are some of the questions you'll ask yourself before you venture out again.

How on earth do I get my living child (children) back to school after their sibling has died? Ideas to help you prepare for getting your loved one(s) back to school after their brother or sister has died.

I don’t seem to have a sense of control, pinging from one emotion to the next, feeling and unfeeling all at once. It is an uneasy, disturbed sensation in the background of my emotions that makes me feel unmanageable. I’ve been trying to put my finger on it and it has eluded me. Until today.

I write to today for the surviving children, to honor their grief, to acknowledge their pain and to bring recognition to their plight.

The local community has showered us with ongoing support. Here's a story of how they continue to honor our daughter and her life.

This grieving parent doesn’t want to be asked what I'm thankful for.