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Counseling and Guilt

DrummerWife and I have been re-started counseling sessions with a psychologist now that we've been moved in for almost 2 months. We've met with her 3 times now, and it seems to be going well. Last night, we didn't talk about us, or about what we were feeling, but basically just talked about Aaron. It was wonderful. I love having the opportunity to get all the things I think and feel about Aaron out of my head and vocalize them. It just feels so good to remember him WITH someone for even a brief period of time.

Also, lately I've been wrestling with a degree of guilt. I have to assume it's a normal thing - but every time I go even the shortest span of time without dwelling on Aaron, I feel like I've let him down in some way. Rationally, I know that it's okay and healthy to not be dwelling on him, but at the same time, I feel like every moment I don't think about my son, he's slipping further away from me. And that scares me - he's far enough already. I want to latch a hold of whatever bit of him I can. I worry about forgetting him. I guess I should say that I'm afraid of forgetting him. I would never CHOOSE to do that, but if I can go a 1/2 hour without thinking about him...what if those stretches get longer and longer?

Comments

Anonymous said…
I cannot believe that there won't be a day that Aaron will not be remembered. It may not be constantly - at least not consciously constantly. I'm obviously not his parent, but I've found myself feeling guilty for the very same reason you mention. As a parent, my thoughts are truly of you and Nikki each day - wondering how you are doing. What can I do for you? I love you both very much and want to make life good for you, happy for you again. Aaron is in my thoughts daily. Love to all of you, Mom
Anonymous said…
Could I ask for some prayers from you guys? My friend is 23 weeks 5 days with her 3rd child. She is showing protein in her urine and her BP is pretty high. They are doing a 24hr urine on her and she will know the results Thursday. Her name is Megan her husband is David. Please say a prayer for them and their baby. She is scared to death right now. thanks you guys
Josh said…
Absolutely, Mandy.

We'll be praying for Megan and David, and wishing for the best. And God forbid things go badly - most stories don't end like Aaron's did.

We'll be praying, though. God bless.
Aaron'sMommy said…
Mandy - you know how to contact me if you or your friend needs to I hope. I will check on Dottie's later, but PM me or something. I can give her other warning signs to watch for and questions to ask. See that she rests a lot. I will of course be praying!
Anonymous said…
You know, I think the guilt is normal, but I hope it eases for you. We lost Mckenzie 7 years ago now. I know a day doesn't go by when we don't think about her. We pass the little memorial we have set up for her in the living room every day. We have pictures of her next to our beds. She is always in our hearts, though, so even when I am not consciously thinking about her, she is there. I'm sure Aaron is with you guys all the time, even when he is not foremost in your thoughts.

Just my two cents from someone a little further down the road.
Anonymous said…
I know losing a child is not the same thing as losing a grandparent but bare with me for a moment...

what is the status of your Grandparents (ie Aaron's great grandparents)? Are all 8 still alive? I ask because the only Grandma died about 3 years ago. Her funeral was the first time in about 12 years that all my generation (my cousins and siblings) were in the same city and I remember feeling guilty about some of the fun we were having together. My parents reminded me that she would have loved that.

Also, I would say I don't think about her everyday... I probably never did in my life because she lived on the other side of the country but that doesn't mean I don't love her or remember her.

I know it's not the same with your son... but I wonder if you've gone through this. I say this in hopes of giving you peace when you feel guilt for not conciously thinking of Aaron.

{{{hugs}}}
Aaron'sMommy said…
Anonymous,

Yes, while it is not the same, some steps of the grief are the same process. I can clearly remember a couple months back, I would have a "good" day and then feel awful about it for the following 2-3. If I went long at all being happy I felt as if I were being a horrible mom. It also then occured to me Aaron would LOVE to see us happy, more so than anything else. In fact it was then I was having dreams about him telling me he loved to see me smile or hear me laugh. So while the grief process behind losing a child IS different there are some phases of grief that are just grief no matter who you lost!

Thanks for the message!
Anonymous said…
Just wanted to let you know Megan is on full bedrest right now and they are trying to just get her to 30 weeks right now. She will be getting the shot to develop the lung too I was told so that is a good thing. Thank you so much for your prayers.

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