Watching Mum die from a terminal illness was the most emotionally stressful situation I’ve ever been through. Everything that happened from 5th November 2017 (the day it had been discovered that Mum’s cancer had spread and was incurable), was so difficult that it is beyond comprehension. Mum was in a hospice for a few weeks duringContinue reading “End of Life”
Tag Archives: #bereaved
Christmas 2017
The last Christmas that my Mum was around for (in 2017) was a very difficult day. Christmas had always been something we cherished together. We had always loved doing Christmas shopping, wrapping presents, trying new festive foods, going to Christmas markets, making dinner, watching films together, driving around just to see Christmas lights, and visitingContinue reading “Christmas 2017”
1000 Days
This might sound like a super weird analogy, but working in Early Years Education for nine years has exposed me to lots of theories and research surrounding development. Early Years research has found that the first 1000 days of a child’s life (which counts from conception to age 2) is a critical phase for the foundations ofContinue reading “1000 Days”
Losing my Grandma
My lovely Nan, Patricia Dowell, died in April 2019. She had just turned 80 years old, and both her physical and mental health had started to decline since my Mum died little over a year earlier. Nan was always there, no matter what we needed. She was a great cook, seamstress, a fierce friend andContinue reading “Losing my Grandma”
What have you learnt from the loss of a loved one?
A couple of weeks ago, Chelsie from Bereavedat22 tagged me in a post headed with the above question. It got me thinking about what I have learnt, and how I can grow and share to support others. I have focused on three main things that I’ve learnt along my grief journey so far. You can read partContinue reading “What have you learnt from the loss of a loved one?”
What have you learnt from the loss of a loved one?
Number 2 – Realisations in grief The second thing I’ve learnt since losing my loved ones is the realisation that not everything about them was good. People are people, they have good traits and bad traits, and dead people aren’t an exception to that rule. The things I would sacrifice to experience one more hugContinue reading “What have you learnt from the loss of a loved one?”
A Million Years Ago
I haven’t felt very inspired to write recently. I’ve been focused on spending time with my partner and family, and I started a new job. I haven’t been feeling great, and when I feel like that, it benefits me to spend time around my close loved ones. But it’s so difficult that the person IContinue reading “A Million Years Ago”
Dear 10-year-old Rosie
I’m writing to you at age 26, which might sound old, but life is just beginning for you. You have a great job, you went to university (and got two degrees!), you have an adorable cat called Ian and an amazingly supportive boyfriend called Sam. There are a few things I’d love you to knowContinue reading “Dear 10-year-old Rosie”
Mum’s cancer diagnosis
It’s February 2015, it’s bloody cold outside, and Mum and I are going shopping. Mum had a routine mammogram booked in for that morning, so en route to town, we swung by the NHS screening van that sat in big Tesco’s car park, she got her boobies out, squished ‘em into the machine, and thenContinue reading “Mum’s cancer diagnosis”
Birthdays
On the drive home from work the other day, UB40’s Kingston Town came on the radio. It was the day before my birthday and that song is one of those songs that instantly reminds me of Mum. It hit me really hard and made me emotional. On my birthday this year, Sam and I wentContinue reading “Birthdays”
Feeling “Sueless” 