Today is Grandpa Joe's 86th birthday. Last night we were excitedly preparing to visit him for his family birthday party. We were packing clothes for Hope, snacks and planning the details of our trip.
Hope was making his birthday card happily decorating it with drawings of birthday cakes and stickers when dh's father called to say that Grandpa had died an hour before.
As soon as Ben (dh) got the call I knew what that meant, Grandpa Joe has been sick for the last few weeks and barely eating. We were hoping to get to celebrate his birthday with him and say 'Goodbye' before he died.
I had to explain to Hope what happened. What a hard thing to have to explain to your child! At first she was in shock telling us it was okay and not to cry. A few minutes later it sunk in and I could tell it really scared her. She needed lots of hugs and reassurance. She was really worried about Grandma (her Great Grandma) and wanted her to marry another man so she wouldn't be alone. She kept asking what was going to happen to Grandpa's clothes. I hugged her and comforted her as best I could and tried to give her answers in as gentle a way as possible. This is her first experience grieving.
So today was a hard day for all of us.
: Hope was very clingy most of the day, couldn't make decisions, forgot words... it took a lot of patience on both our parts. It's difficult because we miss Grandpa too and are feeling irritable, indecisive, out of it and frustrated as well.
The funeral is on Monday. I feel so sad for Hope! She is so little to be experiencing the grief of losing her Great Grandpa. And yet I'm so glad she got to know her Great Grandpa and he got to know her. 
I feel so bad that we didn't get to say 'Goodbye'!
The last time I saw him was last July at Ben's cousin's wedding. I never dreamed he would die so soon! I am glad though that Hope and Ben visited him a month ago for the day! I would have gone if I'd known they were going. I feel guilty about that even though Ben didn't tell me they were going and I had no control over that.
I also feel guilty for not making the 2 1/2 hour drive by myself in the last 2 weeks even though I'm really nervous about being alone in a car for 2 1/2 hours each way with Hope and the possibilities of getting lost, the car breaking down and totally losing it with Hope due to the stress.
Tonight I made a 5 x 7 print of a picture of Grandma and Grandpa that Ben took last month and framed it. I will give it to Grandma on Monday before the funeral.
Grandpa Joe was so loving, he was like my grandpa! I can't believe he's gone and that we won't get to see Grandma and him bickering the way they always did. And I'll never hear him say 'Come and see us any time.' and give us a warm hug again.
What a sad day today has been.:
Hope was making his birthday card happily decorating it with drawings of birthday cakes and stickers when dh's father called to say that Grandpa had died an hour before.
As soon as Ben (dh) got the call I knew what that meant, Grandpa Joe has been sick for the last few weeks and barely eating. We were hoping to get to celebrate his birthday with him and say 'Goodbye' before he died.
I had to explain to Hope what happened. What a hard thing to have to explain to your child! At first she was in shock telling us it was okay and not to cry. A few minutes later it sunk in and I could tell it really scared her. She needed lots of hugs and reassurance. She was really worried about Grandma (her Great Grandma) and wanted her to marry another man so she wouldn't be alone. She kept asking what was going to happen to Grandpa's clothes. I hugged her and comforted her as best I could and tried to give her answers in as gentle a way as possible. This is her first experience grieving.
So today was a hard day for all of us.
: Hope was very clingy most of the day, couldn't make decisions, forgot words... it took a lot of patience on both our parts. It's difficult because we miss Grandpa too and are feeling irritable, indecisive, out of it and frustrated as well.The funeral is on Monday.
I feel so sad for Hope! She is so little to be experiencing the grief of losing her Great Grandpa. And yet I'm so glad she got to know her Great Grandpa and he got to know her. I feel so bad that we didn't get to say 'Goodbye'!
The last time I saw him was last July at Ben's cousin's wedding. I never dreamed he would die so soon! I am glad though that Hope and Ben visited him a month ago for the day! I would have gone if I'd known they were going. I feel guilty about that even though Ben didn't tell me they were going and I had no control over that.I also feel guilty for not making the 2 1/2 hour drive by myself in the last 2 weeks even though I'm really nervous about being alone in a car for 2 1/2 hours each way with Hope and the possibilities of getting lost, the car breaking down and totally losing it with Hope due to the stress.
Tonight I made a 5 x 7 print of a picture of Grandma and Grandpa that Ben took last month and framed it. I will give it to Grandma on Monday before the funeral.
Grandpa Joe was so loving, he was like my grandpa!
I can't believe he's gone and that we won't get to see Grandma and him bickering the way they always did. And I'll never hear him say 'Come and see us any time.' and give us a warm hug again. What a sad day today has been.
:
for your Grandfather
Once I explained the stories to Hope she thought they were funny too.
