Do you know when the grief is coming?

Today I presented to a neighboring school district. I had the honor of sharing our story with the district’s Special Educators and Support Staff.

It’s my favorite thing to do.

After, during the question-and-answer portion, a question was asked that caused me to pause.

The man said…(and I’m paraphrasing….)

‘I have a nephew like Cooper. He is 30 years old. His younger sister is getting married soon. And his parents are grieving the loss of the experience with him. I’m wondering if you know when the grief is coming, or does it surprise you?’

It was an amazingly thoughtful question. Because honestly, I don’t think anyone in my family knows anything about my grief. They’ve never asked, nor do they really seem to care. But that’s a newsletter for another day.

I paused and smiled and thought before I spoke.

I thought of Cooper and Sawyer and Harbor and Wynnie. Graduation, weddings, grandbabies being born.