A New Overcoat

A dear friend of mine lost family members in a plane crash a few years ago, including children and grandchildren.

She told me that the loss of a child is like putting on a very heavy overcoat that you will wear the rest of your life.  It changes you forever.  You sill function and go on with life.  But the coat is always there.  Some days it is heavy, other days it is lighter.

Over time, it does get lighter.

This helps me a lot.  It also gives me a shorthand I can use when people ask how I am doing.  For example, tonight when out oldest daughter called, I could tell her the last couple of days have been “very heavy coat days” and she understands what that means.

I have had a few “light coat” days, like when Ron and I have gone biking or running in the beautiful fall weather.  Or when I came home to a surprise of all my fall decorations out!

But the coat is always there. I will wear it always.

Grief, Loss of a child, support for parents who lost a child


KathleenBDuncan

I write about my life, my journey, my family, and my faith. I am wife to one, mom to seven with one in heaven, and grandmother to many. I am also full-time caregiver to my stepmom E who suffers from dementia due to Alzheimer’s. In my spare time I like to read, travel, crochet, bike, and play with our black pug Molly.

Comments (6)

Leave a Reply

Some of the links on KathleenBDuncan.com are affiliate links. This means that, at zero cost to you, this site could earn an affiliate commission if you click through the link and finalize a purchase.
Copyright © Kathleen B Duncan 2021. All rights reserved.
Website management and design by Go Forth Online Now go Forth Online Now
and their associates.

Get the Newsletter!

%d bloggers like this: