Filed under: changes, family life, grief, PTSD, relationships | Tags: Hester Rumberg, Melinda Lee, The Sleavin Family
I just finished reading Ten Degrees of Reckoning tonight. It was a book that was riveting, yet very hard to read. I wasn’t sure I was going to be able to finish it. I only read a heavy book like this ever once in awhile.
Given the nature of my work, and I’m sure my readers who are fellow social workers will understand, I tend to read somewhat light hearted fare such as this. But, after reading a book about one of the first round-the-world sailing races, I came across this book in my search for other books about circumnavigation of the globe.
It was a hard book to read because I’m a mother. I cannot imagine suffering the enormous loss this woman did and being able to get up each day and move forward in life. It is a testament to the spirit of Judith Sleavin that she has been able to do just this.
It was also difficult because of the realization that small alterations in our course in life can have giant impacts. Most of those impacts are unforeseen. You would think I would know this given the line of work I’m in. I see all the time who bodies fail people, how making the simple decision to travel in a car alters the course of someone’s life, or how just being born into a particular family can set a person down a particular path.
Somehow, though, I connected with this woman and the tragedy she survived. I feel more fragile and more grateful.
Filed under: child neglect, death, family life, grief, youth | Tags: gun control, guns, tragedy
I heard about this story on the radio today. It is just so sad. Because of my profession you would think I would take an absolute stand against guns. It’s probably pretty close to absolute, being absolutely against having guns in the same home as children. However, I did grow up in a household with guns. My father is still a hunter and owns guns. I understand that some people find guns as a recreational outlets and find some sense of security in having them in their homes. I, however, do not hunt and have no desire to have any type of firearm in my home.
What I cannot understand, having grown up in a household with guns and where guns where treated with respect and care, is how a gun could get into a child’s hand. We would have, as children, been unable to get to the guns in our home. It’s likely had someone broke into our home while we were there, the guns in our home would have been little use.
It’s this sort of situation that makes me feel like we really should have strict gun laws. Did this child’s parents have adequate education about how to keep guns safely in their home, so that they could keep their children safe? Did they have enough respect for the power of guns? Is that something that can be taught? What ever sense of security the parents got from having a gun in their home, was it worth the ultimate cost?
Filed under: death, family life, grief | Tags: Christmas, death, gratitude
Tonight I learned that my good friend’s mother died. She had been battling melanoma for about three years, I think. She had tried a number of different treatments but, in the end, she lost her battle. I haven’t been able to call my friend as she sent the word out via email and requested no phone calls. I had made my friend what some would call a prayer shawl but hadn’t had the chance to send it. I’ll be sending it either today or tomorrow…as soon as I can find a box.
This is my first friend to have lost a parent as an adult. It seems strange that I would be 36 and only now be facing this with a friend. I hope that I will be able to support my friend during her time of grieving. It also makes me so glad that I had the opportunity to spend quality time with my family members over the holiday. Between news of my friend’s mom and having worked at the hospital the day after Christmas, I realize many people did not have the most joyous of holidays. And many people didn’t get to spend their holidays with a happy and loving family. It makes me more aware not to take for granted all that I am so fortunate to have.
Amy's Life in Brief 