grief
Losing a family member is one of the most traumatic life events; Families must support one another to endure the five stages of grief and get through it together.
I Tried To Text My Dead Mother
A few days ago, I walked into a store here in London for a bit of shopping and the sound that came over the radio immediately caught my attention. It was ‘Sound of Thunder’ by Duran Duran. A non-single, album track off of their 1981 eponymous debut album. I was stunned. Not 'Girls on Film' or 'Planet Earth'. 'Sound of Thunder'! It could only mean one thing: they were playing the whole album in its entirety. I started singing along while I was doing my shopping, and when it was over, I wanted to hear what would come next. It should be ‘Friends of Mine’. A few seconds went by and, sure enough, the opening beeping sound of ‘Friends of Mine’, the next track on the album, started. They were indeed playing the whole album! Hearing my favourite band’s debut album in a shop was quite the experience, and so I reached inside my bag for my phone. I just had to text my mother.
By Carol Saint Martin5 days ago in Families
Beloved
Flowers cascade down the aisles of a quiet church, the pews filled with friends and loves ones. At the alter stand the largest of the arrangements, fragrant flowers wafting their perfume, through the chapel, certain to create and evoke scent memories in future recollections of this day. The parishioners file in and will soon file out, with whispers of, “It was a beautiful service,” “The flowers were so lovely,” and “I’m sorry for their loss. His passing was long in coming, but so sudden.”
By Alexandra Grant6 days ago in Families
A Flight With Grief.
I stared up at the sky yesterday. It was blue, empty of clouds, and the sun was shining bright. Far above me was an airplane. I realized how much I miss being on them, how much I miss going somewhere new. I wondered where they were going, or if they were coming home. I could see the plane easily, but I know that if they looked out of their window, they wouldn’t have seen me—just a simple country girl with dreams that stretch far beyond the town she feels stuck in.
By April Kirby.9 days ago in Families
The Stench of the Silence . Content Warning.
The stench of the silence is what angers me the most. The void that is left deep within your soul and it seems like no matter how much you try to prepare you never truly are. Closest thing that I can thing of is having a baby, but I lost my baby. I was supposed to take care of you when you got old, at least that's what you told little me. This grief has brought about a sense of anger that worries me. It's the type of anger that calms me, the type of anger that would have the audacity to control me. But daddy can I ask you a serious question? I don't want to know why you left, this earth ghetto as hell and I get your heart was broken in ways we weren't exposed too.. But why did you go by yourself? Why wouldn't you want someone there to go down that journey with you? You were loved by so many in ways I don' t think you understand...Why you have to leave alone, was that the place you were mentally in? I just wish we could've talked one last time. To hear your voice and your laugh, I would've never imagined that I would have to open up the box of memories in order for you to be here with me.
By Mother Amaru 10 days ago in Families
Do I Have To?
Tuesday was a “national” day of celebration, but not all were in celebratory mode. While our nation and other nations were partying and engorging themselves on corned beef, potatoes, cabbage and an over abundance of beer, one person was grieving and going down a rabbit hole of sadness, over the death of a parent.
By Alexandra Grant12 days ago in Families
The Baby No One Saw
The night was quiet, the kind of quiet that presses gently against the walls and settles into every corner of a house. Emma sat on the bathroom floor, her back resting against the cold porcelain of the bathtub. The small yellow light above the mirror hummed softly. In her hands was her phone, its screen glowing with lines of poetry about grief.
By LUNA EDITH19 days ago in Families
A Heavenly reminder of an important date
I woke up a little earlier than usual this morning and was editing some Vocal articles at 3:40 a.m. When I came across My Heart Still Beats for You I realized that it would soon be five years since my husband passed away. I decided I would re-share this story on March 21st, and as I saved my changes, I had a supernatural encounter.
By Cheryl E Preston24 days ago in Families
Love That Acts, Not Love That Speaks
When Love Became a Language Instead of a Practice In modern parenting culture, love is increasingly defined by what is said rather than what is done. Emotional affirmation, verbal reassurance, and constant validation are treated as the primary evidence of care, while less expressive forms of love are often overlooked or misunderstood. A parent who says “I love you” frequently and validates feelings consistently is assumed to be providing something essential, while a parent who demonstrates care through sacrifice, consistency, and enforcement may be perceived as distant or emotionally limited.
By Peter Thwing - Host of the FST Podcast24 days ago in Families
