A Deluge of Feelings: Year 8 Memorial Date
A Deluge of Feelings:Year 8 Memorial Date, deeply personal and emotionally powerful, eloquently captures the author’s experience and emotions with her son’s 8th Year Memorial Date. The vivid descriptions of nature and the juxtaposition of beauty and pain create a poignant narrative. The inclusion of links to additional articles enhances the storytelling, inviting readers to further engage with the author’s journey.
The authentic portrayal of grief and longing is powerful and relatable, providing a sincere connection with the audience. The use of imagery effectively complements the emotional narrative, vividly illustrating the themes and enhancing the readers’ experience.
A Note from the Author
In 2015, three years into my journey of grief, I started this blog, My Forever Son, following the heartbreaking loss of my only child, Dylan, who tragically died by suicide at the age of 20 on June 25, 2012. During those years, I felt an overwhelming sense of loss that permeated every aspect of my life, leaving me to navigate a world that seemed impossible without him.
This blog became a sanctuary for my feelings, allowing me to share not only the profound sorrow that accompanied his absence, but also the cherished memories that continue to keep his spirit alive within me. With each post, I aimed to connect with others who might be experiencing similar pain, creating a sense of community where shared stories could bring solace and understanding amidst the chaos of grief.
In 2019 and 2020, I began to write and share my poems, a deeply personal journey that allowed me to express my emotions and thoughts during one of the most challenging times in my life. These heartfelt pieces reflect the complexities of grief, love, and hope, connecting with others who have faced similar experiences. Some of these poems are featured in Find Hope Here: Poems About Losing a Child to Suicide, a compilation where I strive to provide solace and understanding to those who are navigating through their sorrow. Writing became not only a form of catharsis for me but also a way to honor the memory of my loved one, sharing the message that even in the darkest moments, there is a glimmer of hope to be found.
I also published a poignant collection, available on Kindle, titled Bury My Heart: 19 Poems for Grief and Healing After Losing My Child to Suicide. This collection is not just a compilation of verses; it is a heartfelt journey through the darkest moments of grief, providing solace and understanding to those who have faced similar unimaginable loss. Each poem is crafted to resonate with the deep pain of losing a child to suicide, while also offering a glimmer of hope and healing. Each poem shares a unique perspective on grief, weaving together themes of love, remembrance, and the enduring bond that persists even after death. This book is meant to be a comforting resource, helping individuals navigate their emotions and fostering a sense of connection in a time when they may feel utterly alone.
I write to heal my grief. 11 Years After Suicide Loss: I Still Want to Believe reflects on my emotions as I marked my son’s 11th memorial year; I find myself in a vastly different place compared to those initial, agonizing years of sorrow. Carryi reflects on the author’s journey with losing her son to suicide, a deeply personal and heartbreaking experience that has forever altered her life. This poignant narrative delves into the profound sorrow she feels, capturing the relentless ache that accompanies such a tragic loss.
Carrying Ache and Love in Suicide Loss explores the complexities of grief and love in a world that feels irrevocably changed. The journey highlights her pain and the enduring love she holds for her son, showing how that love shapes her existence despite despair. As she navigates guilt, confusion, and memories, the author invites readers to reflect on the impact of suicide and the universal themes of love and loss.
Additionally, I share Songs of Hope: Healing Through Music in My Forever Son, where I explore how music can serve as a source of comfort and healing during challenging times. This collection emphasizes not only the emotional power of melodies and lyrics but also the profound connections we can build through shared musical experiences.
I have learned to embrace my son’s narrative, the brilliance of his life and the tragedy of his death, which I reflect on in Living in the Glare of Grief: A Mother’s Poetic Journey, for my son’s life bookends my own, chapters of love and loss I carry with me daily. Each page captures his essence—full of dreams, laughter, and light that brightened even the darkest moments. It reminds me of the fleeting nature of existence, urging me to cherish our memories while grappling with the sorrow of his absence. Through poetry, I navigate the feelings of profound grief, honoring his legacy and showing how his story influences my life, guiding me through shadows and illuminating moments of beauty amidst the pain.
Finding Hope, Healing, and Resilience in Nature is a captivating exploration that showcases the vibrant beauty of the diverse flowers blooming in my gardens, each one a testament to nature’s resilience. These blossoms, in their myriad colors and shapes, not only bring joy but also serve as symbols of hope. As the seasons change, the gardens transform, inviting meditation and reflection, while reinforcing the importance of nature in our healing journeys.
Related Reads
My Forever Son
My Forever Son explores the profound grief, hope, and healing that follow the tragedy of losing a child to suicide.
My Forever Son dovetails the author’s journey of descending into deep grief, searching for hope, and finding healing along the way.
Table of contents
- A Deluge of Feelings: Year 8 Memorial Date
- My Forever Son
- Resources for Support and Healing
- A Deluge of Feelings: Year 8 Memorial Date
- A Deluge of Feelings Rains Down
- Reflections on the Year 8 Memorial Date
- Even When the Rains Come
- Marching into Exile: Entering His Memorial Month
- Rain, Rain, Infinite Rain: A Day of Remembrance
- Celebrating Laughter and Cherished Memories : Year 8 Memorial Day
- Memorial Dates Keep Coming
- Professional Resources
Resources for Support and Healing
Key Resources for Understanding Suicide
Compassionate Guidance for Navigating Loss
These key resources for understanding suicide and coping with grief provide compassionate guidance for readers as they navigate the challenging landscape of loss. In particular, the “Rain Comes to Heal Us All” Poem: Finding Hope After Loss, offers solace and a new perspective. The journey of coping often means confronting feelings of stigma, guilt, and isolation, intermixed with a complex array of emotions, ranging from anger to relief.
Research compassionately underscores that suicide is not a conscious choice, emphasizing the importance of a non-judgmental approach to emotional healing. Engaging with support groups and educational materials can be a source of empowerment for survivors, nurturing community connections and facilitating a path toward healing and hope.
Included are the author’s personal story of losing her child, resources for emotional support, professional insights on suicide’s complexities, discussions on the duration of grief, and a selection of helpful resources for bereaved parents.
Healing After Suicide: Essential Books for Parents
Healing After Suicide: Essential Books for Parents is a comprehensive resource for parents grieving the loss of a child to suicide. The book offers a curated list of books, including practical guides, narratives, poetry, and novels, providing support and understanding for those navigating grief. The author, Beth Brown, shares her personal journey of loss and healing, emphasizing the importance of support groups and educational materials in the grieving process.
Understanding Suicide: It’s Not a Choice
Understanding Suicide: It’s Not a Choice presents a heartfelt exploration of the complex and deeply emotional subject of suicide. The piece invites readers to reflect on the harrowing question of whether suicide can truly be seen as a choice. Insights from Dr. John Ackerman, a prominent suicide epidemiologist at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, shed light on this critical issue.
Dr. Ackerman emphasizes the often-overlooked factors that contribute to suicidal thoughts, stating, “We often underestimate the multitude of factors that impact such a complex and irreversible outcome as suicide. Individuals grappling with the profound emotional turmoil that gives rise to suicidal thoughts typically do not wish to end their lives; they are, instead, yearning for relief from the immense pain often exacerbated by the absence of supportive resources and understanding.”
This poignant examination not only raises awareness but also fosters empathy and understanding, making it a must-read for anyone seeking to support loved ones in need.
Healing After Losing a Child to Suicide: Support, Resources, and Self-Care for Bereaved Parents
Healing After Losing a Child to Suicide, Support, Resources, and Self-Care for Bereaved Parents offers a comprehensive list of resources and support for individuals grieving the loss of a loved one to suicide. It includes personal insights, professional perspectives, and a curated selection of books and support groups. The author, Beth Brown, shares her own experience of losing her son to suicide and emphasizes the importance of seeking help and understanding.
Surviving Suicide Grief: Does the Pain Ever End?
Surviving Suicide Grief: Does the Pain Ever End? offers a compassionate look at and attempts to response to one of the most profound challenges of longterm grief after suicide loss: Does the pain of losing a child to suicide is profound and never fully goes away, but it does change and become a part of one’s life. Finding support through counseling, support groups, and connecting with others who have experienced similar losses is crucial for healing. Grief is a journey with seasons that come and go, and it is possible to learn to live with the pain while honoring the love for the lost child.
To those of you that still feel you aren’t even sure you want to be here and you can’t imagine ever being happy again. The pain does change, it softens. You will want to live again and be able to enjoy life again. It will never be like before but the crushing, all consuming pain you feel right now will soften. You will be able to live with it. It just becomes part of you.
A parent who lost their child to suicide
Understanding the Pain of Suicide Loss: “When Someone is Too Bruised to Be Touched”
Understanding the Pain of Suicide Loss: “When Someone is Too Bruised to Be Touched” features Ronald Rolheiser’s writings on suicide which offer a compassionate and spiritual perspective, emphasizing that suicide is often a tragic consequence of mental illness, not a voluntary act. He encourages loved ones to release guilt and second-guessing, understanding that they are not responsible for the person’s death. Rolheiser also highlights the importance of remembering the deceased’s life beyond their suicide, trusting in God’s infinite love and understanding.
Understanding Suicide: Why the Pain Matters
Understanding Suicide: Why the Pain Matters explores the pain and grief surrounding suicide, emphasizing that it is not a conscious choice but a desperate attempt to escape unbearable suffering. The article highlights current research, personal stories, and compassionate support for those struggling with depression and mental health, aiming to break the stigma surrounding suicide. It provides resources and insights into the complexities of grief and the journey towards healing.
The Backstory to My Forever Son: A Mother’s Grief
The Backstory to My Forever Son: A Mother’s Grief, recounts the author’s harrowing experience of losing her son to suicide. Her story highlights her grief, guilt, and the healing power of writing. The blog “My Forever Son” came about as a way for the author to work through this devastating grief that follows the loss of a child to suicide. My Forever Son blog serves as a platform for sharing experiences and finding healing and solace in community.
Helpful Resources for Navigating Guilt and Self-Blame in Grief
These Helpful Resources for Navigating Guilt and Self-Blame in Grief offer invaluable support for parents grappling with the profound grief of losing a child to suicide. Rich in compassion and understanding, they provide personal narratives, expert insights on grief, and essential strategies for healing.
Navigating Grief After Losing a Child to Suicide: Essential Resources
Navigating Grief After Losing a Child to Suicide: Essential Resources provides a compassionate guide to support parents through the pain of losing a child to suicide. It explores the journey of grief, the importance of support networks, and self-care during this difficult time. The guide offers suggestions for honoring a child’s memory, creating a meaningful legacy to provide solace amidst heartache.
Coping with Guilt After Losing a Child to Suicide
Coping with Guilt After Losing a Child to Suicide is a heartfelt exploration of the overwhelming emotions that parents face after the tragic loss of a child to suicide. It delicately unravels the deep feelings of grief, guilt, and despair that can engulf those grappling with such an unimaginable sorrow. Through intimate personal stories and touching quotes, it provides a compassionate perspective that aims to comfort and support parents on their difficult healing journey.
Self-Blame and Guilt: I Couldn’t Save My Son
Self Blame and Guilt: I Couldn’t Save My Son is a deeply emotional narrative that explores feelings of self-blame and guilt after the loss of a son. This poignant story guides readers through the tumultuous emotions parents face, sharing the author’s deep sorrow and questioning what could have been done differently. It emphasizes the need for support and understanding during the arduous healing journey.
“That All of Love Could Sweep Time Back”: Poem on Guilt in Grief
“That All of Love Could Sweep Time Back”: Poem on Guilt in Grief is a powerful poem that reflects the overwhelming “could’ve, should’ve, would’ve” guilt parents experience after losing a child to suicide. The poetic language directly addresses the haunting “What If?” and “Why Didn’t I See?” questions that plague those left behind, emphasizing the helplessness and regret that linger after such a tragic loss. The poem serves as a conduit for healing and self-forgiveness, exploring the possibility of moving beyond guilt and embracing acceptance, allowing love to shine through even the darkest of times.
Haunted by Guilt in Grief Poem: “Still from Sky I’m Falling”
Haunted by Guilt in Grief Poem: “Still from Sky I’m Falling” is a poignant poem that captures the intense emotions of grief and guilt after losing a child to suicide. The verses convey heartbreak and the struggle to find solace, using nature as a symbol for the grief journey. Vivid imagery of hawks circling above parallels feelings of despair, evoking a sense of helplessness in processing pain. Every line resonates with the weight of memories and the ache of loss, inviting readers to reflect on their own experiences with grief.
A Deluge of Feelings: Year 8 Memorial Date
Joy in the Offing
To those of you that still feel you aren’t even sure you want to be here and you can’t imagine ever being happy again. The pain does change, it softens. You will want to live again and be able to enjoy
A Bereaved Mother
life again. It will never be like before but the crushing, all consuming pain you feel right now will soften. You will be able to live with it. It just becomes part of you.
June in the Midwest
June in the Midwest can be gorgeous, the grandeur of spring flowers and trees still in full bloom cascading into the full blooming of early summer’s finest flowers. Roses of all colors. Tea Hybrids and climbing roses, ground roses and double-knockout varieties opening blooms. Flowers and magnolia blossoms wafting their perfume. Cottonwood trees sending forth wispy air balloons that look and sift like snow. Perennials welcoming summer sunshine. And finally, annuals can be planted without risk of a late spring frost.
A Deluge of Feelings Rains Down
Cloud Bursts and A Deluge
And the rains come too. Sometimes in a deluge that can leave puddles and spit mulch from around the flower beds. Sometimes in short bursts—cloud bursts. Sometimes for days where all is amuck and even flowers cast their blooms downward out sheer pressure of the heavy pelting of rain.
Reflections on the Year 8 Memorial Date
Together in Symmetry
And both of these—the beautiful sunshine under blue skies and the rainy days filled with puddles and mud—work in symmetry to create the June landscape and backdrop I call home. Home where I live. Home where Dylan and I lived. Home that houses as much brilliance as darkness, as much joy as weeping.
Even When the Rains Come
The Deluge Descends
And maybe June is special because here in the Midwest, we have many more gray days than sunny ones. In June, we get drenched in sunshine, even when the rains come, because the gray is less than permeable. I wrote a poem about both the brilliance of June and the dread I feel approaching Dylan’s memorial date, If Earth Were Sky and Sky Above.
But mostly, I approach Memorial Dates with dread.
May and Mother’s Day begin my march forward toward a day I’d like to send into exile, a date in time I’d like to eradicate from the map of my existence and Dylan’s. A day I don’t want to happen because it means I have to lose my son all over again.
Beth Brown, My Forever Son, The Unbearable Ache of Memorial Dates
Marching into Exile: Entering His Memorial Month
Time Feels Suspended
It has been 8 years since I lost Dylan, yet June 25 now feels exactly like it did on June 25, 2012. It has since that fateful calendar date changed my life in 2012. June 25 probably always will feel harsh. May and Mother’s Day begin my march forward toward a day I’d like to send into exile, a date in time I’d like to eradicate from the map of my existence and Dylan’s. A day I don’t want to happen because it means I have to lose my son all over again.
The days leading up to June 25 feel both slowed down and accelerated all the while suspended. There’s no easy way to come down on his memorial date. (Read More: When Grief Lingers-A Letter to my Son)
There is only excruciating pain. Feeling overwhelmed. Wanting time to stop because then there won’t be a knock on my door at 4:00 a.m., a deputy sheriff and two others standing gawking, a plastic bag with Dylan’s cell phone and wallet.
Words Spoken that Cannot Be Taken Back
There won’t be words spoken that cannot be taken back: “Your son had some convulsions, and he didn’t make it.” A lifetime to make him and his death announced in less than a few seconds. Read More: About Dylan and Remembering Dylan: Twenty Years.
Wanting Desperately to Change the Outcome
Desperate dreams try to problem-solve: How can it be that my only child, my beautiful, barely but 20-year-old son is dead? How and Dear God why? Why did I let that happen? How did I let this happen? Is it something I made happen? Something I didn’t do?
And yet I know Dylan’s death wasn’t about me, that his last words to me on June 24, 2012 were “I love you too Mom” And yet—And yet— And yet—
The Deluge Pours Down on Me
I hate memorial dates. Didn’t want to wake up today. If I just don’t wake up on June 25th, then surely my son is, just as always, here. Here. With me.
I hate having to walk back through this flood of pain between June 25th and June 29th, the day of his funeral. After eight years, I want to find more hope and less pain. I wrote a poem about hope: Rain Comes to Heal Us All.
Rain, Rain, Infinite Rain: A Day of Remembrance
Year 8 Memorial Date Arrives with Much Consternation
Year 8 Memorial Date: I hate June 24th for being the last day I ever saw Dylan alive.
Living in the Surreal Beauty of June and the Sheering Pain of Losing My Son
June here today is breathtakingly beautiful. Perfectly temperate, mid 70’s, beautiful blue skies and sun. All is green and growing. Life vibrant and reverberating everywhere in the songbirds’ calls and the neighbors out walking. Everywhere there is life. But I cannot find my own.
I lost who I was on June 25th, 2012, and while I’ve sought so hard to redeem what is left of me, to live resiliently in the wake of my son’s death, I find myself paper-thin today, able to be whisked away on even the gentlest of winds, even in the kindest of days, even in the midst of brilliant blue skies and sunshine.
Pandemic Isolates in Year 8 Memorial Date
My heart breaks a million times over and over again, and in the midst of social isolation, not even being able to have the most precious connection of being able to receive hugs. My mother lives 2 streets away, but I haven’t hugged her since early March. She holds Dylan’s memories, knows the pain of losing Dylan, sees the ongoing struggles and grief of her daughter, and my sister lives a bit out of town, but still close enough for all of us to have gathered for lunch and to talk, and most importantly, to hug.
Celebrating Laughter and Cherished Memories : Year 8 Memorial Day
Remembering Laughter
I remember General Tso’s chicken and fortune cookies. The Chinese Lantern restaurant with its cloth table cloth and ornate decor. Double Dragon restaurant. Seat-in or take-out in Styrofoam boxes. Cups of won-ton soup and Dylan laughing. Dylan with us. Dylan a part of us.
Dylan loved General Tso’s chicken. For each of these enormously impossible memorial dates I’ve had to travel through (2012 until now), my mom, sister, and I have gathered to eat at one of our local Chinese restaurants. In June of 2013, we gathered to remember Dylan by eating at his favorite restaurant. It was his first-year memorial date. Later that evening after a lengthy day of rain with the sun suddenly bursting though in the evening, my mom and sister called me to tell to look outside. I did and a gorgeous rainbow stretched across the sky.
On June 25, 2014, Dylan’s two-year memorial date, my mom, sister, and I gathered yet again to remember Dylan’s favorite restaurant. Again and later that evening, Mom and my sister called to tell me to look outside. A double rainbow arced across the sky.
Memorial Dates Keep Coming
The Years Churn On
The years continue to turn, sometimes predictably (spring, summer, fall, winter), sometimes completely off-course (pandemic during the winter, spring, summer, fall of 2020 and yet still into 2021), and always with preordained calendar dates (Easter, Christmas, Halloween, Labor Day, Memorial Day). I hate that my calendar now includes the memorial date of my son, but I can’t undo what’s already been done.
I am alone today. (June 25, 2020 and in lock-down during the pandemic). It hurts to be alone. I have a little white cat who adores me and keeps me going on the roughest of days, but oh how I miss hugs. And oh how terribly much I miss Dylan’s hugs. And Dylan’s love. And Dylan’s laugh.
I miss my son.
Professional Resources
Parents of Suicides: An Online Support Group for Parents Who Lose a Child to Suicide
Suicide is the anchor point on a continuum of suicidal thoughts & behaviors. This continuum is one that ranges from risk-taking behaviors at one end, extends through different degrees & types of suicidal thinking, & ends with suicide attempts and suicide.
Dr. Kay Redfield Jamison, National Library of Medicine
Parents of Suicides is a dedicated international online closed email group where parents who have lost a child to suicide come together to offer support, hope, and healing. Join a Community of Understanding. Parents of Suicides (PoS) provides a safe space for sharing experiences, coping mechanisms, and emotional support. You are not alone in this journey. Together, we can find strength and solace.
Professional Resources and Support
Parents of Suicides is a compassionate, international online community for parents who have tragically lost a child to suicide, providing a safe space for support, connection, and resources to aid in their healing journey.
American Foundation for Suicide Prevention is a compassionate nonprofit organization devoted to saving lives and offering hope to individuals and families impacted by the profound pain of suicide.
Alliance of Hope for Suicide Loss Survivors offers compassionate healing support for those navigating the profound shock, heart-wrenching grief, and intricate emotions that arise from losing a cherished loved one to suicide.
The American Association of Suicidology is a compassionate membership organization dedicated to deepening our understanding of suicide and working tirelessly to prevent it, fostering hope and healing for those affected.
Nationwide Children’s Hospital Suicide Research Center is dedicated to conducting compassionate research focused on understanding and reducing suicidal behaviors, as well as providing valuable insights to prevent the profound pain of suicide.
Mayo Clinic offers compassionate insights into the profound sorrow of losing a loved one to suicide, helping us navigate the complex emotions that accompany such grief and providing guidance on finding solace and support during this incredibly challenging time.
The Compassionate Friends provide invaluable Grief Resources & Support Groups for Parents and Families navigating the profound heartache of losing a child, offering comfort and connection during an incredibly difficult time.
Meet the Author, Beth Brown
Getting to Know the Heart Behind the Words
A Heart Unbroken: The Journey of Healing
Thirteen years ago, a heart-wrenching tragedy shattered the life of a mother when she lost her only son, Dylan, to suicide. I am that mother, and my beloved son had just turned 20 years old.
I loved my son fiercely, but love was not enough to save Dylan from his struggles with depression.
On an academic scholarship at a prestigious university, Dylan had continued his studies in art and music, choosing to major in Digital Media. I loved my son fiercely, but love was not enough to save Dylan from his struggles with depression.
Weeping Even in My Sleep
- Grief exhausted all of me. Who I was went away, or at least lived suspended from the depths of what seemed bottomless grief. In early grief (for me the first three years after losing Dylan), my life felt impossible.
- Tears everywhere. Weeping even in my sleep. Unable to function in my professional life, I found everything in my life had changed. I couldn’t meet the challenges of everyday life. I was consumed with grief and mourning.
- I knew nothing about suicide, only what I’d read about or what I’d seen in movies. I began to search for books and resources. I knew I needed support; I just didn’t know where to turn.
My Sanctuary and Saving Grace
- I began blogging in 2015. My sanctuary and saving grace, writing/blogging was a place where pain and love could coexist. Little did I know that as grief settled in for the long haul, my pain and love will always coexist for my son.
- I carry both ache and love, for they both are my love for my son. The pages of my blog were extended journal entries, filled with original poems, songs, and narratives from that deepest place of ache and love, my grief and my healing.
- Before losing my son, I had thrived as a writing and literature teacher, inspiring students with the power of words and the strength of their voice. Now my own story was unfolding, filled with sorrow and strength, ache and love.
Discovering My Voice Once More
- Through my writing, I discovered my voice once more; although irrevocably transformed by the profound loss I experienced, my words captured the gradual journey of learning to navigate life with both grief and love.
- As the seasons changed, so did I, embracing healing in its many forms, writing poems, songs, reflections, stories, and articles.
- Though the pain of losing Dylan remained, I learned to celebrate his life through memories and stories told. I found joy in small things—a warm cup of tea, the rustle of leaves, a good book—each moment a reminder of the love that still lived within me.
I found joy in small things—a warm cup of tea, the rustle of leaves, a good book—each moment a reminder of the love that still lived within me.
- And so I continue to write, to heal, and to love—my heart unbroken, forever carrying my son with me in this wilderness of life.
Bury My Heart: 19 Poems for Grief and Healing After Losing a Child to Suicide
I’ve created a poignant collection of poems, Bury My Heart: 19 Poems for Grief and Healing After Losing a Child to Suicide, that explores the profound journey of healing after the heartbreaking loss of a child to suicide. This collection is now available on Amazon Kindle, offering heartfelt comfort and solace for those navigating their grief.
The Story of My Forever Son
What Happened? The Backstory to My Forever Son: A Mother’s Grief
I started this blog, My Forever Son: Healing After Losing a Child to Suicide in 2015, three years into my journey of grief. You can read more about what happened here: The Backstory to My Forever Son: A Mother’s Grief recounts the author’s harrowing experience of losing her son to suicide. Her story highlights her grief, guilt, and the healing power of writing, especially through works like the “If Earth Were Sky (And Sky Above)” poem: reflections on love and loss. The blog “My Forever Son” came about as a way for the author to work through this devastating grief that follows the loss of a child to suicide. My Forever Son blog serves as a platform for sharing experiences and finding healing and solace in community.
Find Hope Here: Poetic Reflections on Grief and Healing
Find Hope Here: Poetic Reflections on Grief and Healing offers a heartfelt collection of poems that deeply resonate with the profound sorrow of parents who have experienced the unimaginable pain of losing a child to suicide. These poignant verses navigate the intense emotions of this tragic loss, beautifully capturing the stages of grief while gently guiding readers towards hope and healing on their journey through grief.
The Magnolia Tree: A Symbol of Grief and Resilience
The Magnolia Tree: A Symbol of Grief and Resilience, explores the author’s journey of grief through the metaphor of a Magnolia tree’s cyclical seasons. The author uses photography to illustrate the parallels between nature’s cycles and the seasons of grief, finding hope and healing in writing, gardening, and nature’s resilience. The Magnolia tree’s resilience symbolizes renewal and the possibility of finding joy again despite profound heartbreak. After reflections on nature’s resilience, the author reflects on grief and healing (echoes of joy and shadows of loss) after losing her son to suicide.
Navigating Grief After Losing a Child to Suicide: Essential Resources
Navigating Grief After Losing a Child to Suicide: Essential Resources offers an extensive collection of resources aimed at helping parents understand the complexities of suicide to help with their profound grief. This invaluable guide not only provides insights but also connects parents with supportive communities, fostering a sense of belonging and emphasizing gentle pathways to hope and healing during such a heartbreaking time.
Navigating Guilt in Grief: A Parent’s Guide
Navigating Guilt in Grief: A Parent’s Guide offers a gentle and understanding perspective on the complex emotions that emerge after the devastating loss of a loved one through suicide, particularly from the vantage point of parents.This guide thoughtfully addresses the overwhelming and often contradictory feelings of grief, guilt, and sorrow that can envelop parents navigating such profound heartache.
Healing After Losing a Child to Suicide: A Guide for Parents
Healing After Losing a Child to Suicide: A Guide for Parents gently supports parents navigating the profound sorrow of losing a child to suicide. This heartfelt article acknowledges the intense grief that such a tragedy brings and offers compassionate guidance on finding a way forward. The healing strategies shared emphasize self-care and the importance of seeking professional help, while inviting parents to connect with others who understand their pain.
Carrying Ache and Love: Healing Longterm Grief in Suicide Loss
I have shared my grief journey on this blog, My Forever Son, reflecting on those painful early years and sharing glimmers of hope along the way. Through sleepless nights and tears, I found that my deep love for my son sustains me through his absence.
Carrying both ache and love after losing my son to suicide has been the crux of my grief journey these past 12 years. I share insights into healing from deep grief in the article, Carrying Ache and Love: Healing Longterm Grief in Suicide Loss, where ache for his absence and love for my son walk together in my heart. Holding hands, one is never without the other, but ache and love have carried me—and carry me still.
When Love Isn’t Enough: “Ode to Suicide: That We Might Understand”
When Love Isn’t Enough: “Ode to Suicide: That We Might Understand,”explores the complexities of suicide and includes a compassionate treatise written by the author, “Ode to Suicide: That We Might Understand,” challenging the notion that it is a choice. The treatise, “Ode to Suicide: That We Might Understand,” emphasizes the inevitability of death, regardless of the cause, and the limitations of love in preventing it. The author of the treatise “Ode to Suicide: That We Might Understand” and this article, “When Love Isn’t Enough,” Beth Brown shares her personal journey of grief after losing her son to suicide, finding solace in writing and nature photography.
Meet Dylan, My Forever Son
Twenty Years of Love: Dylan
“Twenty Years of Love: Dylan” offers a poignant exploration of grief and loss, weaving together cherished memories and reflections on Dylan’s life. The emotional resonance of this piece is deeply felt, beautifully portraying both the love and sorrow that the author carries in their heart. The thoughtful inclusion of links to further readings about Dylan and resources for support is a compassionate touch that adds immense value to those who may be navigating similar journeys.
Walking Through Shadows: Surviving the Unthinkable Loss of a Child to Suicide
Walking through Shadows: Surviving the Unthinkable Loss of a Child to Suicide offers a deeply moving and heartfelt narrative that illuminates the unimaginable pain of losing a child to suicide. The personal stories shared create a sincere and unfiltered glimpse into the heavy journey of grief and the gradual path toward healing. Through poignant reflections and a poetic exploration on grief, the author navigates the chaotic emotions that accompany such a catastrophic event, revealing both the struggles and the moments of unexpected solace that can emerge even in the darkest times.
I Want It All Back: Remembering Dylan, My Forever Son
I Want It All Back: Remembering Dylan, My Forever Son lovingly encapsulates the profound heartache and cherished memories tied to the author’s beloved son, Dylan. Through heartfelt imagery and poignant personal stories, it invites readers to share in an emotional journey that resonates deeply, fostering a compassionate understanding of loss and love.
I Want to Believe: Searching for Hope After Losing My Son to Suicide
I Want to Believe: Searching for Hope After Losing My Son to Suicide is a heartfelt collection of personal reflections and cherished memories that navigates the profound journey of grief and hope following the heartbreaking loss of a son to suicide. The rawness of the emotions is deeply felt, drawing readers into a shared space of empathy. Through vivid descriptions and nostalgic elements, the work evokes a sense of connection and understanding, while the stunning images inspire hope and healing amidst the sorrow.
Dylan: Forever Loved and Remembered in Our Hearts
Dylan: Forever Loved and Remembered in Our Hearts invites readers into the heart/h-wrenching yet beautifully profound journey of a mother’s grief after the devastating loss of her beloved 20-year-old son, Dylan, who tragically died by suicide. Through a heartfelt collection of original poems and personal reflections, she courageously shares the painful complexities of her sorrow, the small moments of hope that emerged, and her ongoing path toward healing.
Heartfelt Stories and Poems of Love and Loss
“On Baby’s Breath and Angel Wings” Poem: Grieving a Child’s Suicide
“On Baby’s Breath and Angel Wings” Poem: Grieving a Child’s Suicide delves into the deep, heart-wrenching sorrow of losing a child to suicide. This poignant piece not only articulates the immense pain of such a loss but also provides vital resources to navigate the challenging journey of grief. With tender personal reflections and thoughtful coping strategies, the post and poem, “On Baby’s Breath and Angel Wings” serves as a compassionate companion for those who are enduring similar heartaches.
A Grandmother’s Love Held Together the Family Table
A Grandmother’s Love Held Together the Family Table chronicles a family’s journey through the loss of their beloved son, Dylan. This tragedy alters their connections, turning a joyful gathering space into one of reflection. The narrative captures the struggle between despair and acceptance, underscoring love’s enduring power amidst heartache. In honoring Dylan’s memory, they find unexpected joy in their grief, illustrating the resilience of the human spirit in the face of loss.
Grandparents’ Double Grief: Losing a Grandchild to Suicide
Grandparents’ Double Grief: Losing a Grandchild to Suicide gently delves into the profound and heart-wrenching sorrow experienced by grandparents who endure the unimaginable loss of their grandchild. This painful journey envelops them in a dual mourning, as they grieve not only the precious life that is gone but also the shattered dreams and cherished memories that will sorrowfully remain unrealized for their own child, the grieving parent.
Memorial Day: A Mother’s Reflection on Loss, Love, and Unbearable Tragedy
Memorial Day: A Mother’s Reflection on Loss, Love, and Unbearable Tragedy beautifully captures the deep sorrow and unwavering love a mother feels for her son. The author bravely shares her heartfelt journey, navigating the immense pain and heartbreak tied to her son’s fourth suicide attempt on Memorial Day. Through her poignant narrative, she reveals the complex layers of a mother’s grief, intricately woven with fleeting moments of hope that resonate powerfully with anyone who is facing loss.
“Shaped by Love and This Grief Come to Stay”: A Poem on Suicide Loss
“Shaped by Love and This Grief Come to Stay” A Poem on Suicide Loss explores the profound sorrow a parent endures after losing a child to suicide. It addresses themes of grief and guilt, highlighting the heavy shadow such a tragedy casts on life. This poignant narrative captures a parent’s transformative journey in the wake of their child’s absence, revealing emotions of shame while confronting societal stigma surrounding suicide. With compassion and insight, the poem resonates with anyone who has faced similar heart-wrenching experiences.
11 Years After Suicide Loss: I Still Want to Believe
11 Years After Suicide Loss: I Still Want to Believe powerfully conveys the depths of my unyielding grief and a relentless yearning for my beloved son, Dylan, whose vibrant spirit was tragically stolen by suicide eleven heart-wrenching years ago at merely twenty. As my only child, his absence has carved an immense void in my soul, reshaping every facet of my life while perpetually stirring the cherished memories of the beautiful moments we once savored together.
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My Forever Son, My Beloved Dylan: Just Breathe
My Forever Son, My Beloved Dylan : Just Breathe: My Forever Son: Grief and Healing After Losing My Son to Suicide A mother’s reflections on losing her only child–her 20-year-old son–to suicide, this blog (My Forever Son: Grief and Healing After Losing a Child to Suicide) includes messages of hope and healing amidst acute, complicated,…
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Understanding ‘Once Upon a Blue-Sky Moon’ Poem’s Heartfelt Message
Understanding ‘Once Upon a Blue-Sky Moon’ Poem’s Heartfelt Message Summary Understanding ‘Once Upon a Blue-Sky Moon’ Poem’s Heartfelt Message explores the profound grief and regret of losing a child to suicide through the poem, “Once Upon a Blue-Sky Moon,” by author Beth Brown. Through vivid imagery and heartfelt repetition, the poem captures the enduring love…
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Holding True to My Son’s Narrative: “Shaped by Love” Poem Analysis
Holding True to My Son’s Narrative: “Shaped by Love” Poem Analysis Summary Holding True to My Son’s Narrative: “Shaped by Love” Poem Analysis by Beth Brown explores the profound connection between love and grief following the loss of her son to suicide. The poem emphasizes the author’s refusal to change her narrative of grief, asserting…
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Grieving a Child’s Suicide: “If Only a Mother’s Love” Poem
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“Falling Stars in a Moonless Sky”: Poem on Child Loss
“Falling Stars in a Moonless Sky”: A Poem on Losing a Child to Suicide Summary The poem “Falling Stars in a Moonless Sky”: A Poem on Losing a Child to Suicide is a heartfelt piece on losing a child to suicide that explores the profound grief and longing experienced after such a tragic loss. The…
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