Friday marks the first anniversary of my Mother's passing. It's surreal in so many ways - time truly does fly. But, this past year has been full of teachable moments for my children and myself. So, in honor of my Mom, I'm sharing my Top 5 Things I've Learned In A Year Without My Mom.
8/24/15 - #5 - Grief is A Sneaky Son-of-a-B%$@#
8/25/15 - #4 - Stuff is Just Stuff Until It Is A Memory
#3 - I Get By With A Little Help From My Friends and Family
I owe my sanity to my friends and family. These people, my village, have surrounded me with love and support from the day my Mom was diagnosed through her battle and her death until right now this minute (thank you for the perfectly timed card, Connie Cagle). My friends and family are a ginormous part of the reason that I'm standing upright today.
To all of you THANK YOU! Thank you for all of it - the cards, texts, Facebook messages, phone calls, gifts, flowers, food, hugs, tears, laughter, concern - everything. Thank you for propping me up and taking care of my kids and packing boxes and checking-in and letting me cry and making me laugh. To my neighbors and my Circle and my school Moms and my besties and my church congregation and my professional peers - thank you, thank you, thank you for making me feel loved and supported, and showing me grace after losing my most enthusiastic cheerleader.
8/24/15 - #5 - Grief is A Sneaky Son-of-a-B%$@#
8/25/15 - #4 - Stuff is Just Stuff Until It Is A Memory
#3 - I Get By With A Little Help From My Friends and Family
I owe my sanity to my friends and family. These people, my village, have surrounded me with love and support from the day my Mom was diagnosed through her battle and her death until right now this minute (thank you for the perfectly timed card, Connie Cagle). My friends and family are a ginormous part of the reason that I'm standing upright today.
To all of you THANK YOU! Thank you for all of it - the cards, texts, Facebook messages, phone calls, gifts, flowers, food, hugs, tears, laughter, concern - everything. Thank you for propping me up and taking care of my kids and packing boxes and checking-in and letting me cry and making me laugh. To my neighbors and my Circle and my school Moms and my besties and my church congregation and my professional peers - thank you, thank you, thank you for making me feel loved and supported, and showing me grace after losing my most enthusiastic cheerleader.
But there is another set of friends who have become truly like family that have been a saving grace. And they have saved me by their gace. These people are ones who I can talk to from a place of experience resulting in a deeper understanding of what the last year has been like. And most of these are newly acquired friends.
There's the amazing mama who is fighting her own battle with ovarian cancer and inspires me with her strength, courage and faith. There are all of the others who have lost a parent somewhere along the way. And there are my "soul sisters" who are card carrying members in this crappy sorority of women who have lost their moms. These people get me - my moods, my tears, my "I'm fines", my anger, my joy, my happiness, my moving on, my standing still - because it is a reflection of their own experience.
Grief should never be handled alone. And really, neither should life. We all need each other to show love and kindness and compassion and patience. I've learned this year that I cannot do it alone and I am grateful that I didn't.
There's the amazing mama who is fighting her own battle with ovarian cancer and inspires me with her strength, courage and faith. There are all of the others who have lost a parent somewhere along the way. And there are my "soul sisters" who are card carrying members in this crappy sorority of women who have lost their moms. These people get me - my moods, my tears, my "I'm fines", my anger, my joy, my happiness, my moving on, my standing still - because it is a reflection of their own experience.
Grief should never be handled alone. And really, neither should life. We all need each other to show love and kindness and compassion and patience. I've learned this year that I cannot do it alone and I am grateful that I didn't.
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