A Parent’s Loss, a Missing Backpack

It’s that time of year again and busy moms and dads, are getting their kids ready for school.

There’s excitement and anticipation.

…But for some of us, there’s something else, too.

I’ve been a single mom now for the past several years. Summer is split so there’s a time of quiet and there’s a time of excited, adventurous chaos without the regular schedule of our school days and after school activities.

Very excited to be getting my daughter off to school, we begin the school year with a convocation at the local community church. That is a time when we are brought together to really bless the students, the teachers and the parents at the beginning of the school year.

I’ve been to many of these convocations or beginning assemblies at the start of school years.

But they have an effect on me that I want to share with you today because I imagine other parents may experience the same deep sorrow…

Grieving-a-missing-backpack

The Missing Backpack

This is a message to the moms and dads, from my heart with love, to those of you that have lost a child at any stage in your life.

I stood there in the back of the assembly within our local community church with parents surrounding me and the students in the rows and rows ahead of us facing the stage. At the lectern the principle of the school was greeting us and beginning his speech.

My own deep thoughts were too loud for me to hear what the principle was saying. I was looking over to where my daughter’s head was peeking up from her row of classmates and could see her excitement and the quieting of her chatter with the girl next to her.

Smiling, I glanced over the excited children who were full of anticipation and I was so resisting the urge but I couldn’t seem to resist the urge enough… as if I was being invisibly pulled to glance over at the class of eighth graders looking so strong and happy. I see the kids jostling each other and laughing. I see bright futures and watch as one is called up to the podium to give a welcome address. I watch the young man with speak, confident and so alive.

I see a boy I knew as a toddler, the boy that was a playmate of my son’s. With that, my sadness just welled up inside me, overflowing from my eyes and nose, unable to fight back the tears, I just let them flow…

My son would be part of this class. Would have been part of this experience…

I would have happily had two backpacks this morning.

These are times when reality hits hard.

The Need to Look Forward and Reflect on Life’s Joys

While I am super thankful for a strong faith that has continued to develop, praise God, I discipline my mind to focus on, as it says in Philippians 4:8,

“Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is just, and pure, and lovely, whatever is of good report, virtuous and praiseworthy, meditate on these things.“

I still falter and my human side conflicts with the spiritual side.

As I wipe the tears with the back of my hand and discipline my mind to focus back, compartmentalizing the other thoughts, the grief, the despair, what could have been, and focus back on the joy here with the living.

These moments, though, do enforce that I am alive. My son is not forgotten. He is alive in me through the love I have for him and the good I can do to help my family and others.

I think as a grieving mom these moments can overwhelm us unexpectedly so much. I imagine it’s the same for grieving dads.

One of the practices and disciplines for me has become one of focusing on the good in life and what we are grateful for. As well as to cherish the memories and keep looking forward knowing that this sorrow is a deep reflection on the joy we once had.

Also, while we may at times desire to be isolated and keep these moments to ourselves, it is valuable to share them with people who understand and love you.

Connectedness and Support are So Important

Over the years, I’ve heard from many parents of how they have created loving traditions and activities that still commemorate the life of their lost loved one, from donating things at the beginning of the school year, backpacks and such; to celebrating their loved one’s birthday with a cake, to lighting a candle at times of the year, to even reaching out to other grievers like in Compassionate Friends.

Without a doubt, I know that trauma and grief can bring us into isolation and yet it is so important to stay connected, to revive the oxytocin hormone, the connection hormone, to seek community, safe community, and to fully participate in life and things that you love and enjoy and have fun with.

My personal experience and research led me to uncover some of the aspects of the physiology of grief, trauma, PTSD and burnout… the feelings of disconnection, loneliness and comfort seeking.

Honestly, we live within our capacities, our strengths, vulnerabilities and everything in between and that’s okay. I will drive through the car line and pick up my daughter, and avoid looking at the middle school students. For now, anyway. I’ll take her to dance and do some dancing activity myself.

My day started out with getting my daughter ready for school, getting her backpack packed up and ready, lunch made, and out the door with minutes to spare, feeling like I was missing something.

Certainly I was. I was missing another backpack.

Please share your own thoughts…

I would love to know how you as a grieving parent have coped or have seen a grieving parent cope. What are the blessings you’ve held onto in your life?

Back to blog
1 of 3
Dr. Anna Cabeca

Dr. Anna Cabeca

Certified OB/GYN, Anti-Aging and Integrative Medicine expert and founder of The Girlfriend Doctor. During Dr. Anna’s health journey, she turned to research to create products to help thousands of women through menopause, hormones, and sexual health. She is the author of best-selling The Hormone Fix, and Keto-Green 16 and MenuPause.

Learn more about my scientific advisory board.