Parenting After Loss Check-In

Mrs Nice · June 2012

Hello ladies!

Welcome to parenting after a loss. I have only started this journey myself so any suggestions for topics/questions you would like to see posted would be greatly appreciated!

Lets start off on a positive note and brag about our LOs! Tell me something special about your child(ren).

How many children do you have?

What are their ages?

Your parenting journey thus far:

What is your biggest joy as a parent?

Open Topic. What is on your mind this week?

StephK86 · June 2012

How many children do you have? I have two children one living, one an angel now (sorry I know we are supposed to probably count living children but I feel sad if I don't say him too) and one step son.

What are their ages? My step son is 3&1/2 and my youngest boy Blake is 7 months.

Your parenting journey thus far: Thus far I have had a rough parenting journey. I had my first son at 34 weeks and he died when he was just over a month old. I then had my rainbow baby in October. Both of my children were/are the loves of my life. These past 7 months with my son have been an absolute joy and I am thankful for him every day. He is a happy, easy going baby and always smiling. I just wish his brother was here with us. My step son is at a tricky age. I have been with him since he was a little baby. He is just like my own. The terrible three's are very trying and I am now starting to see glimpses off that sweet little baby in him again.

What is your biggest joy as a parent? My biggest joy is getting to watch my son grow, laugh, learn and change every single day. The way his face lights up when I enter a room melts my heart every single time.

Open Topic. What is on your mind this week? My son Gavin is on my mind this week. His birthday was April 28th (he should have been two) and his angelversary was on June 1st. I am trying so hard to remember the good times I had with him while he was here on earth but it's hard. It seems the longer he is gone the more my heart longs for him and what should have been. It's just a really tough time of year for me and sometimes I don't even believe this is my life. I just want to be that girl whose kids buried her not the one who buried one of them.

Sorry to be the Debbie Downer. Thank you for doing this! I think all the questions you asked were perfect.

Heatherhah · June 2012

Lets start off on a positive note and brag about our LOs! Tell me something special about your child(ren). My kids keep me going since our loss just when I wanted to give up my DD or my Ds would say something to bring me back to life.

How many children do you have? 2 living and one in heaven plus one growing in my belly at this point.

What are their ages? Brenden 18 , Riley 4

Your parenting journey thus far: I raised my DS by myself his father is not active and i met my DH he was 22 and he took on the role of dad to an 11 yr old it was rough but it works for us. My DD was the first grand daughter and she is so spoiled so that is fun NOT!!

What is your biggest joy as a parent? Seeing mt kids grow and learn new things.

Open Topic. What is on your mind this week? Pregnancy related --- My NT scan is next Tuesday and I am scared to death.

tuscanbride2007 · June 2012

Lets start off on a positive note and brag about our LOs! Tell me something special about your child(ren).

How many children do you have? 1 living DD and 1 angel DD

What are their ages? 3 going on 13!

Your parenting journey thus far: I try my hardest to let her know how much we love her. My parents divorced when I was under 2 and neither one were very loving with me. I vowed to always show my love and she knows every day that I love her.

What is your biggest joy as a parent? The things she says, she cracks me up. I have a hard time not laughing at her when she says something off the wall or that she shouldn't say.

Open Topic. What is on your mind this week? Visiting my pregnant sister-in-law. We aren't going until next month, but I am wondering how DD is going to act around another pregnant woman. I wonder if she is going to ask whether that baby will be able to come home from the hospital since her sister did not.

Mrs Nice · June 2012

Lets start off on a positive note and brag about our LOs! Tell me something special about your child(ren). Zachary is starting to enjoy tummy time more, and has started to roll over.

I was so proud the first time that I cried a little.How many children do you have? Two. One angel, one rainbow.What are their ages? Zachary is 3 1/2 months.Your parenting journey thus far: busy. And sleepless! Tho it is getting better. He still sleeps in our room so that I can hear him breathing. I am so scared every day that I might lose him. What is your biggest joy as a parent? I love seeing him smile and laugh! He has started "talking" more and tells great stories.

The joy this makes me feel is something I never thought that I could feel after loosing Ian.Open Topic. What is on your mind this week? Seeing Zachary's personality develop, I can't help but think about how I will never get the chance to know who Ian would of been. Would he of been like Zachary or completely different? All the things Zachary is learning, Ian never got a chance. It makes me sad.

pottermommy · June 2012

How many children do you have? I have 2, kind of three. I biologically have Kamryn who is my angel, Gabriel is my new littel rainbow, and Katelyn is 7 and is technically my SD but DH has always had custody since birth, she is not allowed to see her bio mom at all since 4 yrs and only supervised since birth, and I have been with her since she was 14 months. So she is mine too!

What are their ages? Katelyn 7, Kamryn 5, Gabriel 4 months

Your parenting journey thus far: Well...This could get long..... I have taken care of Katelyn since 14 months old. Kamryn was born when Katelyn was 2.5 and she died (drowned) when she was 4. It then took us 3.5 years of infertility and a miscarriage to have Gabriel. He is the biggest little rotten mess I have ever seen. Man I adore him.

What is your biggest joy as a parent? The way he looks at me and the fact that he loves me better than he loves anyone else. I have no parents my mama died and I have never known my dad and G gives me a link that I thought I had lost forenver.

Open Topic. What is on your mind this week? Katelyn is going to go to sleepaway summer camp for a week at the end of the month. She is so happy and I am the one that convinced DH to let her go but I am scared too.

The last time she was gone for more than 2 days was when her bio mom kidnapped her.

Gabe is also starting to fall asleep at night on his own some and it makes me happy to see him grow. I know most mama's get sad they are getting bigger but I am so so happy to see him grow, I will never see Kam grow but I see him and I never ever want him to stop!

julesverne · June 2012

How many children do you have? 1 angel (Jack), 1 living (Olivia)

What are their ages? 2.5..and living up to the terrible two's!

Your parenting journey thus far? Losing Jack, I think, has made me a better parent. I make sure that I tell her at least a million times a day how much I love her. I am grateful for every second with her and I think I am more patient with her because I know how precious life is, and I don't want to spend my time with her getting frustrated over small, insignificant things

What is your biggest joy as a parent? Oh..where to begin. Watching her grow, learn new things, hearing her say the funniest things..I could go on and on

xxswebbxx · June 2012

Lets start off on a positive note and brag about our LOs! Tell me something special about your child(ren): DD Just graduated from kindergarten & her 4th dance recital is coming up this week!

How many children do you have? 1 living DD and 1 angel DD

What are their ages? 6 going on 16!

Your parenting journey thus far: Both DH & I didn't have the greatest fathers growing up or the "best" home life so we try & live life everyday for our daughters

What is your biggest joy as a parent? Waking up everyday & seeing DD turn into the little "lady" she is...sometimes.

Open Topic. What is on your mind this week? A "friend" that coming to visit, a doctor's appointment for DD's morphea, my postpartum visit, dress rehersal & recital....its a busy week!