Life was so simple then. Decisions were made for you. Mom and Dad were around for cuddles. When did I grow up and become the responsible adult of the family? It must have been sometime between Christmas Eve and the August Bank Holiday weekend. Sometime between Mom's first chemo and the day she died, I took over, stood up strong and grew up.
I think it was painful, but as with all pain, the body has an amazing way of blanking it out. It's all part of the coping strategy, thank goodness. And boy, did I need to cope. So much to do. Mom's things to sort out and take to the charity shops, her Estate to deal with. Comforting Dad, thanking Mom's friends and carers. Explaining to my brother how Mom had died and what happens next.
A special friend showed me this website which has five important lessons for looking forwards.
I wish I didn’t work so hard
I wish I’d had the courage to express my feelings
I wish I had stayed in touch with my friends
I wish that I had let myself be happier
I wish I’d had the courage to live a life true to myself, not the life others expected of me
We often say, life was better then. I don't think that's true. Life was different then. And life is good now. We need to grow up and focus on the important things in life. Remember to say 'I love you'. Be tolerant of each other, especially at Christmas when families are together, because life is fragile and precious. So instead of saying 'Do you remember when?' why not say 'Tomorrow will be a great day'.