Fellow Grieving Mothers

Day 1613.

Charlie’s Mum sent me this.
She calls me her grief Yoda.

A grieving Mother with PTSD fell into a hole and couldn’t get out.

When a family member walked by, the grieving Mother called out for help.
But the family member yelled back….
"Suck it up, dig deep and drive on," then threw her a shovel.
The grieving Mother did as she was told and dug that hole deeper.

A friend went by and the grieving Mother called out for help again.
The friend told her….
"Use the tools your family has given you," then threw her a bucket.
The grieving Mother used the tools and she dug the hole deeper still and filled the bucket.

A psychiatrist walked by. The grieving Mother called, “Help! I can’t get out!”
So the psychiatrist gave her some drugs and said….
"Take this. It will relieve the pain and you will forget about the hole.”
The grieving Mother said "thanks" and followed their advice, but when the pills ran out she was still in the hole.

A well-known psychologist rode by and heard the grieving Mother’s cries for help.
They stopped and asked….
“How did you get there? Were you born there? Did your parents put you there? Tell me about yourself, it will alleviate your sense of loneliness.”
So the grieving Mother talked with them for an hour, then the psychologist had to leave, but said they’d be back next week.
The grieving Mother thanked them, but she was still in the hole.

Another grieving Mother, just like her, happened to be passing by.
The grieving Mother with PTSD cried out, “Hey, help me. I’m stuck in this hole!”
and right away the other grieving Mother jumped down in there with her.
The grieving Mother with PTSD started to panic and said “What are you doing? Now we’re both stuck down here!”
But the other grieving Mother just smiled and replied….
“It’s okay, I’ve been here before.. I know how to get out”.

No matter what you're going through, you are never alone.
But don't be too proud to SHOUT OUT!, ‘HELP I'm stuck in this hole’ …...
We all get stuck in a hole from time to time but all it takes is to ask your fellow grieving Mothers for help
and we will be there even if we have to jump in that hole with you.

Although this has not been my personal experience ….my therapist, friends and family are all traumatic grief rockstars, but I do gain so much strength from my fellow grieving Mums, dads and siblings.
Despite my sorrow for what brought us together, it is a thing of beauty to be able to help them, as they help me, as we jump in and out of our respective holes.

So, just shout out…. and I’ll be there!