DEATH, The unpleasant subject and dealing with grief

Death unpleasant subject dealing grief

A peaceful death, an unexpected death, a tragic death – no matter how it occurs – dealing with the death of a loved one or friend remains extremely difficult. Guaranteed and unavoidable; yet it’s a subject that will also be unpleasant. It’s unpleasant because we fear the unknown.  And when we fear something it makes us uncomfortable and anxious.

This past week has been rough. With the death of six people I know within days from each other. Death made its appearance like a thief in the night in the middle of June.

All six (family, friends and acquaintances) who passed were frail, weak and had sick beds.  They too feared death at some point in their lives but I believe in my heart that they were at peace with the fact that their final hour was close by.  Some were able to converse and say what should happen when they die. And yes we as the surviving family and friends knew it was just a matter of time; we knew that death would release them from their suffering. During this time the family made to-do lists, updated necessary documentation and started making the necessary preparations should anything happen.  They waited in anticipation. But ironically; the day when death came knocking we all remained physically and mentally unprepared.

This beckons the question. How do we as the surviving family and friends deal with death and grief.

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Liar, liar, pants on fire! Why children tell lies

liar liar pants fire children tell lies

Let’s face it we all tell little white lies now and then. Whether it is to protect our children or not to harm someone else’s feelings – we do it.

But what happens if the lies are constant … more like compulsive lying.

Even worse what if it’s a child that is constantly lying about everything and anything. You would assume that children are naturally truthful. Well so you would think, turns out it is not the case.

Today my daughter came home from school pretty devastated. She and her friends are at wits end with one particular friend’s lies.

So when your child comes home and vents her anger and frustration about the current situation – you listen.

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Outnumbered by three females: A thank-you message to my husband ahead of Father’s Day

outnumbered three females thankyou message husband fathers day

“Shuffle the deck and deal the cards.”  “Come on girls; stop peeping at each other’s cards!”   This I overheard from the other room as you were trying to explain to our girls how to play rummy. They were so excited as you taught them this new skill. With it came so much laughter, questions and the obvious complaints of the one trying to peep at the other ones hand.

Moments like these, make my heart melt.

I’m not going to get all soppy and I know that you are very modest but I want to give credit where credit is due.

I knew you were going to be an amazing dad even before our children were born. I have fond memories of how overprotective you were over my pregnant belly. Upon finding out the gender, you were so content.  Not once did you say “I wish we are expecting a boy”.

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Short hair liberation: The undesirable long hair woes and why I won’t grow my hair again

short hair liberation undesirable long hair woes wont grow hair

Today I was asked if I don’t miss my long hair. Well it’s been 5 years since I cut my hair really short and I have absolutely no regrets.

Will I go back to growing my hair?

Of course, I’ve given it some thought. But all the cons just overshadow the less than handful pros of having long hair. So the answer is clear, I won’t grow my hair long again.

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Attitude of Gratitude: May Journal

Attitude Gratitude May Journal

Hello there. I don’t know about you but time is really whizzing by. Tomorrow we will enter June and be half way through the year.  It’s insane – I know.

May has been a challenging month for me on the work front. But hey, I got through it and let me tell you when life gives you lemons, get the vodka or tequila out.  Challenges and obstacles gives you an opportunity to take stock of your life and to get a new perspective on things.

Reflecting back on the past four weeks, so much has happened. Looking back at the month that was, collating what happened, all I can say is;  I need to count my blessings.  I can tell you now not every day is a good day but there is something to be grateful for in every day.

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Entitlement issues starts at home

entitlement issues starts home

Avoid raising a self-centred child and stop indulging a sense of entitlement at home

Raising a child in the 21st century is not easy.  Especially with the constant demands that society place on us. Falling into the entitlement trap can happen so easily. Perhaps you have been oblivious to the fact that you are already in that trap and didn’t see it coming.

As you read the following points listed, think about whether one or even more of these are familiar to you.

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Simple Vanilla Cupcakes

simple vanilla cupcakes

Baking is one of the things I love to do when I have time of course. Cupcakes is my favorite thing to bake. It is quick, no fuss and always flop proof. Flop proof in a sense that I never over mix my batter. Besides it being the easiest thing to bake, the end result is always different. Although the recipe and method stays the same, you can decorate it to look different every time. It can also be filled with caramel, fruit and chocolate spread.

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Hands-off my butt! {The uninvited and unwanted butt slap}

handsoff butt uninvited unwanted butt slap

I’m only writing about this now as it took me some time to get over the initial shock of what transpired.

A few Saturdays ago we were doing the park run. My husband and youngest daughter did the run and my eldest daughter and I brisked walked.

Not thinking of much, my daughter and I were conversing in general and admiring the dogs on the trail. By this time my husband and youngest daughter were long gone with the runners.

Three-and-a-half kilometers into our walk a guy slapped me on my butt and ran off. Shocked out of my core and so was my daughter.

I let rip and blurted out a couple of swear words.

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To my beautiful daughters: A mother’s request for Mother’s Day

beautiful daughters mothers request mothers day

There is no greater love than that of a mother to her child or children. Now this might sound cheesy and like an old cliché but you do know that the best Mother’s Day gift I received was the day the two of you were born.

With Mother’s Day a couple of days away, I’m sure that you are stressing about what to get me. Or should I say you are hounding your father to come up with a plan and be your financial resource. The latter I don’t mind but this needs to come from the two of you.  As  I did not birth your father and I am by no means his mother. By the way, he is just as clueless when it comes to knowing exactly what I want.

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Happy Event Baby Bump {Giveaway}

Happy Event Baby Bump Giveaway

Being pregnant is a beautiful miracle. Whether planned or not; hearing your baby’s heartbeat for the first time changes your perspective.  People start noticing that glow and you select who you want to share the news with. Immediately the attention shifts to your precious bump. Instinctively your hands touches your stomach at all times as it becomes your pride and joy.

The joys, the cries, the highs, the lows are all part of the wonderful experience of carrying another human being.The three trimesters of pregnancy encompasses so many developmental, physical and emotional changes. The latter two relating to the expectant mom. Your ultimate focus is to keep your unborn baby healthy and alive but you neglect to take care of yourself.

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