Seasons and Grief

 

We are entering autumn, a heightened grief season for Matt and me. There are the looming dates on the calendar - Waverly's birthday, Waverly's deathday, Oliver's deathday. Halloween, a favorite holiday for our family, and Thanksgiving. Fall is a season of plenty and harvest, but also decline and death. It is a season that, for me, best represents grief. The joy and sorrow themes I have written of so often.

This season knocked me over. I have been so busy with my new job assisting families in anticipating their own grief and navigating their child's death. I think I forgot to tend to my own heart and hurt. I have been so aware of transference, countertransference, boundaries, use of self, etc. that I have tucked my pain too far away.

I am learning. Find balance in my practice.

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Joanne Huff said…
I’ve been missing your posts and so came by today to see if there were any new ones recently. Sending all the thoughts your way 💜
February 16, 2023 at 2:51 PM
Kelly Monk said…
Hi Shannon,

I was one of your frequent readers for many years. I thought I would just drop you a note to say that I hope that you continue to find your work rewarding and healing. What I know for sure is that many families have benefited from having you walk alongside them in their grief.

Wishing you well in 2024,
Kelly Monk
January 5, 2024 at 2:47 PM
Anonymous said…
I wanted you to know that Waverly and Oliver are not forgotten. I remember them pre diagnosis and also their sweetness after. Remember that exciting day when Oliver scootered? I feel like that was in the autumn too. And Mickey Mouse Clubhouse (playhouse?). Wasn’t one of them Pooh at Halloween? There were playdates and park outings and London with your kids, and those too somehow feel like it was autumn, maybe because it was U.K. weather. We think of them, and they are not forgotten. NM
September 22, 2024 at 8:13 PM
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