Yesterday was a very sad day – we had to put our precious Jack Russell to sleep. He fought cancer like an absolute trooper and gave it his all for just over a year. Although we knew the end was approaching, when the time came, we were all broken. In those moments, it was very tough to try and be strong for our children, but we realised that it was another lesson on this journey. We decided we didn’t have to be strong, that it was ok for our kids to see us devastated and sad. That it was ok to share in our grief – together.
Jack gave us so much joy and happiness and through this time we have always been open and honest with our children – communicating to the end and today we woke up, sad, but ok.
We always feel we have to be so strong for our children. We have to set the example and be their role models. Yes we do, but this includes falling apart when we are heart broken at loss. Showing them empathy and sadness and that it is ok to cry – sob – and not feel happy and upbeat all the time.
I have had a number of cries with them. We have talked and talked about how unfair it is, how he was too young, how we wish we could’ve done more. Through talking about it and crying and laughing – at memories and loss – we are healing, TOGETHER.
Children need to see their parents vulnerable to understand that it’s quite fine and that by letting our guard down and our emotions show we can deal with them, understand them and ultimately that we will be ok, we will be happy once more.
