Please or to access all these features

Bereavement

Find bereavement help and support from other Mumsnetters. See also your choices after baby loss.

In memory of my beloved Fraser and all our children.Little buds sown on earth to bloom in heaven

980 replies

frasersmummy · 28/07/2010 18:52

A new haven for us all to say exactly what is in our heart or on our minds knowing that everyone understands and wont judge

OP posts:
SassySusan · 07/08/2010 08:10

Morning girls xx

It's a very hard thing to cope with in a marriage Minione I think people imagine that couples can support each other, but in reality you are both struggling with the most immense pain, and probably dealing with it differently. Nipping at your DH sounds pretty par for the course - I mean who else have you got to resent and scream at?

CazEM · 07/08/2010 08:48

Morning ladies... Have not slept very well again, feeling quite unwell today, sick, stomach hurts. I know its a reaction. Had a bit of a meltdown last night - not really surprised, it had been building up all day. Going to try hard to hold it together today though because I want to do special things for Belle.

Mini - I echo what Sassy said - I've sniped at my DH too, but I think its quite normal because they the only ones who are sharing our pain on remontely the same level.

My DH never initiates conversation about Belle anymore, I sometimes feel like because of this he must be fine now, but of course its not true - like with you feel with your DH, I think he's bottling it up. I think mainly though he is trying to hide it from me, like you said to be strong for us. He still has his moments though - as is your DH Mini - I just think men try to be more private with their grief I suppose.

I know DH is hurting badly because I've seen the tears in his eyes when he sees our friend play with his 1 year old, when he looked at the book I'd made for Belle, when I have a meltdown on him and sob....

Guilt is a normal feature too I've decided. I'm still stuck in a place where I feel guilty that I didn't keep Belle safe. I know my DH has feelings of guilt too - that he didn't show her enough interest or attention when I was pregnant, he cried to me in the beginning that he took her for granted and didn't realise just how much he already loved her until she was gone. But pregnancy is different for men isn't it.

While we were living at my parents house for those 2 weeks, he came home one evening and moved all of her stuff into her bedroom - so I wouldn't have to deal with it when I got home. The day before Belle died I'd washed all her clothes and bedding incase she tired another early escape - and the house was covered in drying baby clothes. As DH took all the clothes down and folded them into piles he got really upset that he didn't recognise hardly any of it. He then felt guilty - because I'd bought her all these beautiful things mainly on my own because he was never interested in coming shopping with me.

I remind him now of the wonderful Daddy things he was doing all the time - like lying on my tummy most evenings and talking to her, so she knew his voice before she was born. That is much more special that what clothes he did or didn't choose isn't it.

I need to get up, (well actually I need more sleep), and give my baby girl the special memory day she deserves. Can't remember if I've already said this but we're going to the bear factory to make her a bear. We'd planned this as our first family day out - after we were had registered her we were going to take her to the bear factory and make her her first special bear. We still want to make her her special bear - and give it wings, so we have an angel bear for our angel Belle. We thought today would be a 'good' day to get her her bear. I'm going to wear the pink dress I bought for her funeral today, because it is her dress now and I want to go and give her the biggest bunch of pink flowers for her garden and "show" her her bear later on. Tonight we've decided we'll go and eat in Bella Italia in Cardiff.

I hate this. It wasn't supposed to be like this.

shabbapinkfrog · 07/08/2010 08:54

Morning girls. xx

Caz my candle is lit to honour your precious, darling daughter.

Guilt is a very strong emotion. I still have those 'if only I had done.....' moments. If we didn't have those moments I dont think we would be human.

I hope your day is as peaceful as possible and, please remember, you and your DH will be Belle's Mummy and Daddy forever xxxxxxx

SassySusan · 07/08/2010 09:41

Have just lit a candle for Annabelle.
Just keep breathing Caz xx

Can we talk about guilt?

After Catherine died, I started to wonder how I could have explained what happened to her. I couldn't think what I could have said. People kept saying, thank God you didn't have to.

Just in the last few days, driving back from the graveyard one night, it suddenly clicked why I'd been thinking it.

The thing is - with little children - they expect Mummy to fix everything for them. It's instinctive that they run to you, and it's equally instinictive that you'll move heaven and earth to fix it. But I tried, and I couldn't. And I don't know how I could face my daughter and say, "I'm sorry - Mummy couldn't fix it this time".

charleymouse · 07/08/2010 09:50

Caz hope today goes okay for you. Will light a candle for Annabelle here in Sheffield.
Much love to you all. CM

shabbapinkfrog · 07/08/2010 10:34

I have just found one of the 'men' who were in the lorry that killed my Matt - found him on Facebook I mean - not actually found him in real life - that would be much too dangerous for him!!

SassySusan · 07/08/2010 11:08

Shabs oh that's what you meant... How do you feel about it? I'm not sure it is helpful to look at it. Does it tell you anything you didn't know - presumably it has a recent photo?

Facebook is probably evil - if it's not generating affairs with exes from 20 years ago, it lets you cyber-stalk all these people you really don't want to know how they are... I would hate to know my abusive ex is having a great life or whatever.. I've also got most of my friends on hide, as they keep posting about their fun family days out...

shabbapinkfrog · 07/08/2010 11:17

No I dont think it is helpful at all - It shocked me that he was actually still alive IYKWIM - how dare he!! I want to keep checking what he is up to - for what reason - I have no idea!

SassySusan · 07/08/2010 11:21

I think it is normal to want to know stuff about him. Like how does he feel? Is he sorry? Has it effected his life?

But, I don't think you'll get the answer to any of that off his facebook account - you'd just be torturing yourself more.

After Catherine died, I would occassionally look at the profiles of friends for the time of her death - of course, there would be the odd comment, and then their lives went back to normal - what did I expect - but seeing it in black and white just somehow makes it worse. I dont' look at stuff like that anymore.. It doesn't help.

{{{Tight Hugs}}} Life shouldn't be this hard.

shabbapinkfrog · 07/08/2010 11:23

The word 'sorry' is the only thing I long to hear the two brothers say - they have never said 'sorry.' Just one 5 letter word that would help me and my family so very much....Sorry, sorry, sorry - see how easy it is to say!

Minione · 07/08/2010 13:45

Caz, will light a candle for Belle here in Leicestershire. I hope the days goes as well as it possibly can x. Sending you much love x

I know my DH is hurting, we are just grieving in different ways. I guess men generally do this in a more 'private' and supposedly 'strong'

lavandes · 07/08/2010 14:16

caz sending love and peace to you both xxx

travellingwilbury · 07/08/2010 17:09

Hello all

Caz a candle is lit here in Sussex for your Belle , I hope today has been as peaceful as it can be for you both xx

deemented · 07/08/2010 18:02

Candle lit here too, for Belle.

ILikeToMoveItMoveIt · 07/08/2010 18:57

A candle it lit here for your darling Belle.

The bear idea is a lovely one xxx

SassySusan · 07/08/2010 20:28

I know I shouldn't get into these discussions... but am just amazed that anyone would want to argue with me for laying flowers the other day for the murdered children. Apparently it is weird and a waste of money,
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/in_the_news/1015985?pagingOff=1#20805043

It sort of makes me feel like I'm in some sort of alternative reality.

Wondering how you're doing Caz?
I hope you made a fabulous bear with wings xx

CazEM · 08/08/2010 00:52

Thank you for the thoughts and love today ladies and for doing my Belle the honour of lighting candles in her memory. I've just blown mine out and come up to bed, DH will be blowing his out and following shortly I expect...

Today has been strange - more peaceful than I was expecting in many way... a lot of it has obviously been desperately sad with lots of tears, but we've done so many positive and special things for Belle as well today that I can't help but feel pleased that we gave her a special day.

Had a big blip first thing in the mall - walking along and then there was my pram. The pram my daughter should be in, I should be pushing along. Bearing in mind we bought this pram back in January and have never seen a matching one out and about since - I got very upset initially; of all the days, why did we have to see it today. But then I pulled myself together and decided to see it as a sign from Belle.... she knew we were shopping for her, and wanted us to know she was there too.

The bear is lovely, purple and sparkly. We named it Angel Bear and it has its own birth certificate for today and everything. Unfortunately we haven't got the angel costume with wings as yet, the Build a Bear Workshops only stock angels at christmas... luckily ebay stock all year around, so it should be arriving in a few days.cgi.ebay.co.uk/Angel-outfit-clothes-fit-15-Build-Bear-Factory-/250616628029?cmd=ViewItem&pt=UK_Dolls_Bears_RL&hash=item3a59ea433d

Angel Bear sat with Belle a while today in her garden and is now sat in our cabinet, waiting for her clothes. I can only imagine what a lovely trip today would've been with Belle - there were so many happy excited children in the workshop today... :(

We went to the garden centre and got her a proper flower pot for her garden too - so now we can leave flowers in water looking tidy with her, rather than just lying on the ground. It looks quite pretty - lots of pink flowers in her proper pot and her pink heart up there now. It will be perfect for her up there one day though.

Have also driven over 'her' mountain - needed a long sleep afterwards because by 4.00 I was completely drained, but got up again and went out for a late dinner tonight in Bella Italia in Cardiff.

Shattered now.

Sassy - I have had a quick glance at that thread and am also dumbfounded. I agree that these people appear to have not experienced soul shattering grief, otherwise they would be aware that the little gesture of laying flowers means a lot to the person grieving, that someone out there has acknowledged their children and shown they are thinking of them.

lavandes · 08/08/2010 00:54

Happy birthday to our beloved Richard, Dad, Son and Brother missed so much,from Aaron,Jordan, Mum. Dad and Marc xxxx

lavandes · 08/08/2010 01:33

I know that I should be grateful that we had our precious son Richard with us for nearly 35 years and we did not have the pain of losing him when he was a child, and I do appreciate how our loss is different from the loss of a baby or small child who was still living in your home, but we still miss him so much and our pain is very real. I hope you understand us.

I have been thinking a lot about how it would have been for us to have lost one of our sons as a baby or young child and I have no idea how we would have coped as our loss is so painful. To be quite honest I keep seeing small children and that is all I can think about and my heart goes out to you all.

What a painful road we all have to travel.

Why has life become so cruel? xx

shabbapinkfrog · 08/08/2010 01:59

Caz it all sounds so wonderful....I hope you know what I mean when I say that - I love those bears - My DGS has one. Well done you for getting through it all today xxxxx

Lavendes....its very different when its an older child isin't it? Thinking about you and your darling boy. Its different but its exactly the same if you know what I mean. Your baby is YOUR baby......sending hugs and kisses to you and yours xxx

shabbapinkfrog · 08/08/2010 07:52

Morning girls xx

SassySusan · 08/08/2010 08:49

Lavandes - thinking of you today - candle lit for your lovely son here. The sun is shining in Edinburgh, and I hope you get some too for your coastal walk today. xx

Caz - it sounds like you had a very special family day. xx

shabbapinkfrog · 08/08/2010 09:04

Have lit our candle here in rainy Bolton - I hope your day is as peaceful as it possibly can be Lavendes xxx

CazEM · 08/08/2010 11:59

Thinking of you and your family today Lavandes and will light a candle for Richard when I'm home this evening. Wishing him a very happy birthday.

We all have a common bond here Lavandes - and that is the loss of our child. I don't think it makes the slightest difference whether it be my loss of my baby before I even met her, or yours of grown up child. As Shabs said - Richard is your baby. Our circumstances are all different, but we are all grieving mothers and that is our connection here. Sending much love to you - I hope you can have a peaceful day remembering him. x x x

ILikeToMoveItMoveIt · 08/08/2010 13:16

Happy Birthday Richard.

A candle will be lit here tonight for your darling son Lavandes. No matter how old he was he was your son and he'll always be your baby.