Dealing With Loss

On Easter Sunday we found out that a friend of my 13 year old daughter's mother died. She was suffering from stomach cancer and had been hospitalized since before Christmas. They knew it was terminal, but there is always hope. She has two children ages 11 and 13. She fought very hard to live and to be with them, but on Sunday she lost her fight. My daughter was very upset and worried about her friend.

Today we attended the wake and my daughter clung very close to me. She was nervous and didn't really know what to do. She has been to wakes before, but she has always known the people there. Here we didn't except of course her sweet friend. I was surprised to hear that her friend attended school today. Everyone rallied around her and kept her spirits high. I guess sometimes it's better just to get back into things and kids this age need their friends around them. I had told my daughter that if she did show up at school to give her a big hug and that's what she did. From my own personal experience I hated it when people kept asking me if I was okay. Of course she's not okay. She's 13 years old and just lost her mother. How could she be okay? It takes time and she will always feel an emptiness, but things will get easier. It helps to know that you have people who care, but you should never overwhelm them.

The wake was so sad, as wakes always are. Her mom was so young and she's leaving behind her kids and her husband. My daughter's friend was crying and crying and all I could do was give her a big hug. My daughter did as well and we stayed for a few minutes. I couldn't help the tears that reached my own eyes. It all seems so unfair. Tomorrow we will attend the funeral. It's being held across from the school so most of my daughter's classmates will attend. All the teachers are planning on it as well. It's a very close knit school.

My thoughts and prayers go out to this girl and her family. I know my daughter will watch over her in school and be there if she needs her.