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The End of the Innocence: Honoring the Sandy Hook Families

Posted on December 26, 2012 - by David Roberts

Living With Ambiguity The older I get, the more that I realize how quickly and drastically life can change. There are some events that defy logic, and despite our best efforts to try to make sense of them, many unanswered questions will remain. I have learned in the almost ten years since the death of my own child to live with some unanswered questions, some ambiguity. I believe that as long as I do my best to find meaning and significance in a world that has permanently changed and can help others in the process, I can live with some […]

Little Blue Box — By Savannah Daly

Posted on December 25, 2012 - by admin

“I love your shoes, Mommy!” I shout excitedly while wobbling toward her wearing her black heels. “Thanks Nannah!” My mom says happily, gently pulling more shoes out of her messy closet. Contributing writer Amy Daly’s daughter, Savannah, wrote this article. She lost her sister several years ago. “I love your shoes, Mommy!” I shout excitedly while wobbling toward her wearing her black heels. “Thanks, Nannah!” Mom says happily, gently pulling more shoes out of her messy closet. I was pulling all the different beautiful shoes onto my tiny feet. I looked over at the closet to see what other shoes […]

Smile at Yourself This Holiday Season

Posted on December 23, 2012 - by Jennifer Hawkins

This time of year is impossible to get through without thinking about Mark. Winter just seems like it is supposed to be a time to be together with loved ones. And if you have lost a loved one it may feel hard. Cold weather is made for cuddling after all. But this year, the fourth winter without Mark, feels different. He isn’t here with us in the physical plane, but the boys and I know he will always be with us spiritually and in our hearts. And during these holidays I am choosing to follow my children’s lead and bask […]

After Sandy Hook: Talking to Young Children about Grief

Posted on December 19, 2012 - by Harriet Hodgson

The parents of Sandy Hook school children are reeling in shock, yet they must explain death to young children. Talking with kindergarten, first and second graders is a real challenge because of their limited vocabularies. How can you explain death to a young child? I have BS in Early Childhood Education and taught preschool and kindergarten, so I have some suggestions. First, do not compare death to sleep, as some have done. This comparison leads to misunderstanding and, in some instances, denial. I would avoid the bedtime prayer, “Now I lay me down to sleep” because of its reference to […]

America Mourns Together and Heals Together

Posted on December 17, 2012 - by Dr. Gloria and Dr. Heidi Horsley

America is again shaken by the senseless deaths of loved ones in the wake of the Sandy Hook Elementary School massacre that resulted in the murder of 26 adults and young children. It is especially unnerving as those who were shot and those who died were doing an activity familiar to all of us: attending school. The press coverage is extensive, as people want to know every detail. What is this fascination? I believe we are concerned with our own mortality and vulnerability. We look for a sign or a signal that maybe this senseless act could have been prevented. […]

Sandy Hook: As Senseless as it Gets

Posted on December 16, 2012 - by Laura B. Hayden

The Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting is about as senseless as senseless can get. After killing his mother at home, the murderer travels to the school to deliberately target the kindergarten students. There is still a question as to what connection his mother had with the class. The more we hear about this horrific crime, the more incomprehensible it gets. Four trauma units were readied at Danbury hospital. Over 80 staff members waited for an expected high number of injured. Only a handful arrived. Most of the 28 fatalities (mostly children) had died at the scene. This all happened at […]

Sandy Hook Tragedy; How Can We Cope?

Posted on December 14, 2012 - by Dr. Gloria and Dr. Heidi Horsley

America is again riveted and shaken by the senseless deaths of loved ones in the wake of the Sandy Hook Elementary School, Newtown, Connecticut massacre that resulted in the murder of adults and young children in the prime of their lives. It is especially unnerving as those who were shot and those who died were doing an activity familiar to all of us, attending school. The press coverage is extensive, as people want to know every detail. What is this fascination? Is it just curiosity? I think not. I believe we are concerned with our own mortality and vulnerability. […]

Counseling Hispanics Through Loss, Grief and Bereavement.

Posted on December 12, 2012 - by Ligia Houben

I recently was interviewed on how Hispanics experience loss. Below is a transcript. SpringBoard: How would you say Hispanics may experience loss differently than non-Hispanics? LH: Losses are universal and grief is unique. We (Hispanics) bring our values and traditions to the way we demonstrate grief, bereavement, and mourning. For example, Hispanics traditionally want to keep grieving at home; they count on family support instead of going somewhere else to ask for help. There have been changes now because of assimilation and acculturation, but mainly these are values that are intrinsic in our culture, and that’s why there may be a […]

I Used to Love Christmas, Until My Mother Died

Posted on December 9, 2012 - by Connie Vasquez

I used to spend every Christmas with my mom, no matter what. It was always just the two of us and when I became an adult, she alwasy ask if I’d rather spend Christmas with my “little friends.” But my mom was “home” for me and Christmas was ours. Each Christmas, we had one particularly crazy ritual: we’d give each other several cards. There’d be cute ones, funny ones and always – – from me to her – – a big, mushy one. Over the years, I realized that this kind of card always made her cry, so I started […]

Next to Cancer, Next to Normal

Posted on December 8, 2012 - by Karen Johnson

The insidious intruder that never leaves is cancer. It is pesky, sneaky, invisible, and it works aimlessly to kill and bankrupt you. The strangle of cancer (never to be capitalized in my mind and heart) invaded him and tackled me and dumped us in the cancer club, and we daily paddle to embrace joy in a disheartening world that is vastly different than it used to be. We call it Living Next to Normal. Always wondering, waiting and semi-ready for the next curve, I have discovered a durability. I live the unthinkable, attempt to rest with the unforgettable, and acknowledge […]