Open to Hope Articles
Do you want to read stories of others who have been where you are? Are you looking for bereavement help, and advice? Look no further. We offer over 3,000 articles written by our Open to Hope authors.
SORT BY RELATIONSHIP
Running from Dad’s Death
June 16, 2015
“I need to see Dad,” I said to Mom. I stood in my parents’ bedroom. My mother’s clothes were strewn on the floor and the bed was unmade. “I’m in a hurry, Elaine. I have to get to the hospital.” “I know,” I said. “Take me with you. I want to see Dad. He’s MY dad.” “Elaine, he’s too sick. You’re too young.” “You’re wrong. I’m fourteen. Let me come with you.” We’d had this exchange for weeks. She hadn’t budged. “Mom, he’s my dad. Don’t keep me from seeing him.” She looked at me with tired exasperated eyes and […]
Emergency 2009: A Father Falls
June 14, 2015
It’s getting close to dinner time and I’m in the kitchen, ingredients on the counter and a pan heating up. The phone rings. It’s my mother. It’s not a usual time for her to call, but I don’t think much of it. “Cheryl, something terrible has happened.” I have that strange feeling you get when you come home to a house that has been burglarized. Something is not right, but what is it? The evidence is in front of me, but it doesn’t add up to any conclusion. I am suddenly alert. “What’s happened, Mom?” “Your dad was out for […]
My Fathers in Heaven
June 11, 2015
Both my fathers are in Heaven. For me, it has always been this way. If God watched me from the moon, Daddy rested on the brightest nearby star. I grew up dreaming of the time I would get to meet my Daddy, face to face. I sought out his footsteps, so I could somehow follow a shadow never seen for myself. From my earliest memories as a three-year-old, trying to grasp the meaning of “forever,” I reached out to God, which formed the beginning of a beautiful relationship. God became my hero; always there, ready, willing and able to provide […]
A Letter to My Daddy in Heaven
June 10, 2015
Dear Daddy, It’s been a long time since I’ve written to you. I miss doing that. We shared so many big and little things in our frequent emails and phone calls. Our conversations shrank the distance and connected us every day. Now that you’re gone from this earthly plane, I miss those exchanges dearly. Our subjects covered pretty much everything, because you held a non-judgmental space for me, always. You once told me that sharing the parts of my life that were hardest to disclose, my personal hurdles and heartaches, was a precious gift to you. When I finally got […]
Gone Too Soon: A Father’s Day Remembrance
June 8, 2015
Fathers are so important in our lives. To those fathers who are still with us, Happy Father’s Day. To those fathers who preceded us in death, who are gone too soon, we remember you. A special shout-out to all of the single fathers, stepfathers, grandfathers, father figures, uncles, clergy, godfathers, neighbors, counselors, support group facilitators, employers, volunteers, coaches, teachers, soldiers, warriors & mentors, biological fathers, adoptive fathers, fathers-in-law & fathers of choice. Most fathers have been a caring presence in the lives of their families, providing emotional, spiritual, physical, educational, nutritional & financial support. Some fathers have walked away from, […]
Is it Still OK to Cry?
May 20, 2015
It was Mother’s Day weekend, and life was especially good. With our kids scattered across the country, the idea of traveling to Colorado to spend a couple days with our daughter, Amy, seemed like the perfect way to celebrate. I stopped in an airport restaurant for breakfast and crossed paths with one of the friendliest waiters I’ve ever met. Lamar obviously loves people and loves his work. As he delivered my coffee and spinach omelet, we started to talk about Mother’s Day. Lamar’s face lit up as he described his amazing mom. He referred to himself unashamedly as a “mama’s […]
Mother’s Day Haikus
May 9, 2015
Editor’s note: We recently asked our contributing writers to create Haikus related to Mother’s Day. Here are some of the poems. Hard being a mother When your child is far away Hug them in your heart — Neal Raisman An angel you are A bright light among the stars And for you, I weep — Marilyn Burns Forever your mom, Your life, my gift every day. Our bond will not break. — Maria Malin Temporarily Here to learn about loving All impermanence — Marguerite O’Connor Wind carries her son’s voice through wind chimes tinkling in the breeze He’s here, she […]
Episode 49: Trauma Treatments
May 7, 2015
On this show Dr. Gloria Horsley and Dr. Heidi Horsley discuss with Dr. Bessel Van der Kolk author of The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma EMDR and Neurofeedback for repairing faulty connections and connectivity patterns. Dr. David Fajgenbaum joins the group to discuss how the death of his mother, while he was a college student, inspired him to found the National Students of AMF Support Network an organization helping grieving students.
What is Mother’s Day after Mother is Gone?
April 26, 2015
What is Mother’s Day? A day to honor mothers. To me, it’s also the day that American University hosts its graduation. May 13, 2007, I sullenly watched David Gregory give a very witty speech about something I’m fairly certain was inspirational. My mother died the year before and I wasn’t in the mood for Mother’s Day brunch, or graduating with most of my family absent. I was frantically trying to control everything and attain some semblance of normalcy. Of course, that made everything go wrong. My hair was ruined. The brunch I made was ruined. The restaurant I picked for […]
