Once upon a time I had a fairy tale life -- Beginning your journey -- The long and winding road -- Your lifeline : friends and family -- Honoring the life not fully lived -- Learning to talk about the death of your child -- Things people say -- Taking care of yourself first -- Playlist of memories -- The voice of fear and resentment -- Marriage, relationships, and grieving -- Grief and your workplace -- Your living children are crying too -- The mystical magical child in heaven -- The pearly gates : believing in miracles -- Your library of healing -- The resilient rose -- The creative spirit is a healing spirit -- Find a new way -- Connecting : reaching out on the Internet -- Pattern interrupters and recovering intimacy -- And life goes on.
Summary:
"Sandy Peckinpah's sixteen-year old son woke up with a fever and was dead the next morning of bacterial meningitis... her life changed forever. She found herself in the depths of unimaginable despair. Then, someone gave her a journal, and writing opened her journey of self-discovery in learning how to live life without her beautiful child. Words illuminated her path of discovery and she began to document the things that helped her, and others like her, to find resilience. This is a practical, inspirational guide to coping with the many facets of bereavement; learning how to talk about your loss, the aftermath of sorrow, handling fear and anger, helping your living children adjust, strengthening your marriage, experiencing miracles, and the promise that you will regain a quality of life where you'll feel joy once again"--Page 4 of cover.
This resource is supported by the Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act as administered by State Library of Iowa.