My dad passed in February 2024 and my husband passed in September 2024. This is the second Christmas without them and it is harder than the first. For those who know my story, you know that my husband's passing was actually a relief, and I realize now that I spent the first six months or so after he died dealing with the emotional baggage from those hard years. This year, better memories of years with my husband have been more frequent than they were before, and along with that comes the tears.
I know grief looks different for everyone. Missing both of them has hit me differently this year, I wasn't prepared to be so tearful.
I lost my DH aunt in Jan of this year. I’m going through all the firsts and finding the season very flat for me. My DH loves the holidays so much as did aunt. I try not to put a damper on things but it is a slog.
Graygrammie I’m glad your happier memories with your DH are returning even though they do cause some sadness as well.
Wishing you all the best. 🌲💕
I'm another second year person. The first year seemed to be about busyness.
Now I think about Mom every day.
Hugs.
― Rita Schiano
Sending you a big hug and a prayer for peace, dear Grammie.
I think you are really level-headed and in a good place mentally, grammie. That's always been my impression of you on the Forum. So I think you are going to be OK. But do know that you can get a few sessions with a good cognitive therapist with some good coverage now that the DSM-5 has a diagnosis code of "complicated grieving" (meaning more than a year). So do that if you think you could be helped with a few sessions with a good level head to help you walk through some of it. I am wishing you good holidays, but remember, they can put a burden on us in grief, as well.
That's all I have to say for now.
I'm wishing us all peace and calmer days in the new year to come.