Thursday, November 28, 2013

How to Help a Grieving Person and be a Good Friend


Since I moved to Tallhassee I had to opportunity to attend a grief workshop. It’s been going really well and I wanted to share some of the highlights I was able to learn. Now when it comes to grief it is natural for us to automatically think of death…But grief comes in all sorts of shapes and sizes and we ALL have experienced it at some point. Here are some common examples of grief: death, divorce, miscarriage, moving (whether you are moving, or someone close to you is moving), marriage (your marriage or someone close to you is getting married), graduation, children leaving the home (empty nesters) and the list goes on and on). It’s surprising to think that a life event that’s supposed to be happy like marriage or graduation can actually cause someone to grieve. But though it is most likely a joyous occasion, it is a symbol of change that is about to happen. Most times when we graduate, the friends and bonds that we have grown used to is no longer there. And well marriage…that changes everything! We grieve even when its someone who we never had a good relationship with…Because they were never there when we needed them and when they die we grieve because they will NEVER be there when you still need them. Whatever the situation that causes the grief one thing is for certain…we feel sad, we feel an array of emotions, and it’s tough. This post is for the friends or loved ones of the people who are grieving…

Thursday, November 21, 2013

Being a New Mom: The Real Deal After One Year



So it's been about a year since I had Jayce and I must say that being a new mom is both a happy and overwhelming experience all at the same time. On one hand you’ve just experienced the miracle of life…And probably the most amazing thing to happen in your life…The love parents feel towards their child is simply indescribable. You could not have convinced me that I would have LOVED being a mommy this much!! I always said I was OKAY with not having ANY kids…But after having Jayce my cup just runs over with the love I feel towards him. All that said, motherhood, and parenthood is no joke…And not for the faint of heart! 

In the beginning you are faced with the battle of sleep depravation. As with everything, some people deal better with that than others. In my case, I was at the bottom of the pits…Sleep depravation was the WORST! People say you get used to sleeping less…LIES! LIES I SAY…ALL LIES! I didn’t get used to it AT all. Thank the Lord I have a wonderful husband who coped so much better than I did…And was super duper helpful! I would have totally lost it had it not been for him. What I want to know is, how on God’s green earth do single parents do this by themselves!!!!??? I could have barely held it together those first few weeks and I HAD HELP!!!