Comments on: an open letter to my children about suicide

By: Living in the Gray » Blog Archive » On the Eve of the New Year

Living in the Gray » Blog Archive » On the Eve of the New Year — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 14:05:26 +0000

[...] No Wonder I’m So Cranky [...]

By: Living in the Gray » Blog Archive » It’s our party and we’ll cry if we want to.

Thu, 14 Aug 2008 13:01:38 +0000

[...] the fact that we had weathered two extremely traumatic events in a very short period of time (the death of a brother and the loss of our home to a fire). I wanted to congratulate ourselves. I wanted marital bliss, [...]

By: shannon

shannon — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 17:07:10 +0000

We have struggled with how to best communicate this to our children. Right now they are too young to know anything other than that Daddy’s brother died. We hope to have an open dialogue about the circumstances surrounding his death as they grow older. Especially to help them understand the implications of suicide and it’s affect on the people that surround them. And also to help them recognize factors that lead to suicide so that they can be aware of changes in their own lives that may be starting down that path. We truly hope that we can be open enough with our kids that they will be able to talk about things with us and we will have the opportunity to get them help and to show our love and support for them, should they ever need it.

By: Black Hockey Jesus

Black Hockey Jesus — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 14:22:46 +0000

Tough stuff. But a good exercise to ask one’s self: how might I communicate this to children?

Sorry to read about E. So young to make such a choice.

By: darla

darla — Thu, 01 May 2008 04:54:28 +0000

Your kids are lucky to have a mom like you who is already so open with them about such a hard reality.

By: Oliver

Oliver — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 13:15:40 +0000

powerful & eloquent.

I am comforted with the thought that others have a grasp of the same emotional issues I was feeling since then.

By: Amanda (Shamelessly Sassy)

Amanda (Shamelessly Sassy) — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 03:33:30 +0000

This is such a good post.

By: jessica

jessica — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 00:10:35 +0000

I know my experience really can’t compare to your family’s… You guys lost someone so close…

We to lost a family member (my cousin) to mental illness this past winter. There was a strange moment when all of us cousins were sitting around talking after the funeral like we usually do (though much more muted than usual) at family gatherings. Suddenly we all stopped and felt his absence at the same time. I can’t imagine what this feels like when it’s someone so much closer. For us our family gatherings will always be tainted by the absence. For his immediate family, that sense will be there almost constantly.

I remember you guys during that time. I didn’t know what to say. I’m sorry if I wasn’t there for you. But I can tell you that we haven’t forgotten you went through that.

By: becky

becky — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 19:40:24 +0000

Oy, I wish you lived closer so I could give you a hug. Powerful words.