Monday, July 7, 2008

More of my Thoughts on Death

Today I took the kids to the park to play for a while but we also did some school work today. The boy's seem to do better when they are doing school work and know what's coming next and what not. The boy's didn't mind too much doing it. It gave them something to do in this heat ugh!!

Other than that we haven't done much today. It's sticky hot hear again so not much you can do. It has rained some here which didn't help the humidity but I think it will rain more soon. Tomorrow is Laundry day so not much for tomorrow planned either LOL.

Since getting all the feed back on my last post I have been thinking more on the subject of death. I too like everyone posted here don't really want to die before my children are grown but then I know Harlow would do what he had to do. He may have to put them in school and do things we might not have done if I lived but I know he would do what he felt is right for our boy's. I know it would be hard for him but I know he could do it. I have faith that he would pull through if not only for the boys! He's a good dad. Sure he has his impatient moments with the boy's (but then so do I) but he's always been there for them and been an active part of their lives. So I am confident he would do well with the boy's if I were to die.

Now I do have to say I am afraid of if the boy's were to die before me. I can't even imagine that. I pray to God everyday that I won't have to live through that. I know other's have and have found some way to live on but I don't know if I could be that strong. I pray to God I never have to find out. I can't even watch a show where something happens to a child or a child dies without balling my eyes out. This I know would be the hardest thing I could ever go through. What any mother could go through. I know ultimately they would be in God's hands and that is the best place for them but it would be very hard for me to go through. Only through God's grace would I ever get through.

The worst thing I had to do was when I found our Harlow's dad had killed himself. Harlow was at work and I had just heard from a neighbor from their scanner. I had to call him and tell him what happened. Someone had already told him but I didn't know that so I remember getting on the phone and not knowing what to say or do. I finally just broke down and told him and he said he knew and we both cried on the phone. I went immediately to pick him up from work and then went to find out more about what happened. This was just a few weeks (3 or 4) before we were to be married.

When Harlow's mom was dying of cancer I knew Harlow couldn't take care of his mother. Not because he didn't want to but because I knew how hard it was for him. I had been a nurses aid in a nursing home just a year or so before so I knew what had to be done. So his sister, brother's and I all took turns taking care of her as she was passing away from breast cancer that spread to her brain. I remember she was in so much pain and I know it was hard on her to have everyone take care of her when she was used to being the one taking care of people. At one time she too was a Nurses Aid.

I remember the day before she died I had taken Chord (he was a little over 2 and 1/2) to see her because I knew the time was coming and they were close. I hadn't taken him over before that because she had gotten worse and though I didn't want to hide it from him I didn't want to totally scare him. But I knew she was going soon so I wanted him to be able to say goodbye to his Nana (Jarod was just a baby and she had seen more of him anyway). So I took him over and she even had a smile for him which she hadn't done in a month or so. Of course Chord was a little scared but he was able to say goodbye. The next day is when we got the call from Harlow's Sister that she had passed away. So though it was a hard and sad death it was also a good experience. I even took Chord to the funeral and talked to him about death and let him ask questions and had even let him see me cry. It was truly amazing what children understand. I think having Chord really helped us all get through that hard time and at least with Harlow's mom we were able to say goodbye.

I know I am being morbid again LOL but it's been on my mind and I wanted to share my stories with everyone about my fears and about what I have experienced in my own life. It has been a hard road but it's also brought us to where we are and I have learned even death can be a beautiful thing. Does that make sense?!

5 comments:

Unknown said...

when someone is loosing the battle with cancer I think death is a blessing in disguise. To end their suffering you know

Anonymous said...

I don't like the thought of me dying before the kids grow up... Joe would rely on his family for help, and NONE of them are believers. They don't have the moral standards that I am trying to instill in the kids... To them it's all about booze and sex. *sigh*

PRAYING!

Ruth said...

Jody,
I loved your last two posts. You've made me think too!
Sounds like you are one great helper to your husband... He got himself a jewel. :-) I'm not flattering you, I mean it honestly.

Jody said...

Aww why thank you! We have our moments (what married couple doesn't right? LOL) but we always pull though and are always there for each other. :D

Carla said...

I have moments where I'm frozen by the thoughts of me dying before the kids are grown - what I want them to know that I could never tell them. I have letters written to them, for specific birthdays/events. I know they would be okay as Dh and I have talked about what we would want with each other. We both know that they would be taken care of, but it's oh so hard to think about.

The thought of one of them dying brings me to my knees though. Following the Chapman family through this tragic time really has shown me how hard it would be to go on.