In my experience, I have found that many people (a lot, actually) are very uncomfortable with death. They don’t know what to say or how to react around you. They want to comfort you but simply don’t know how. And this symptom seems to be heightened when it’s the death of a child. Somehow it feels worse. 

I remember early on being approached by a friend  who said the following to me: ” I don’t know what to say. Nothing I can say will make it better, in fact I may make you feel worse in trying to make you feel better. I want to talk about Emme with you. Is that something you want to do?” Her honesty hit home and her approach could not have been any better. She didn’t know what to say or do but wanted to comfort me. All I wanted to do then and now, is to acknowledge Emme, talk about her beauty and impact upon my life. I gave birth to my second child almost a year ago, she forever marked my life. 

These women loved me. They surrounded me with love and tried to bring rays of light when everything was overcast. They wrote me cards, sent me my favorite candy, hugged me, cooked for me, consoled me with silence when there was nothing else to do but cry. They continue to remember and mourn with me. They loved me for who I was before Emme and love me even more now for being Emme’s mother. 

As Emme’s first birthday approaches, they too remember with me and celebrate a short but memorable life. 

I thank God for surrounding me with the best friends anyone could ever ask for, and then sprinkling them with some extra golden glitter, to make them EXTRA special.