6 months after losing my wife to cancer, I was so resentful at how awful Thanksgiving made me feel that I went and put all our Christmas decorations down at the curb for passers by to take as they pleased. Which of course made me cry and feel miserable so I decided to go to the beach to stare at the water and as I pulled the car out of the driveway I saw the decorations were already gone. I drove away crying so hard I could barely see the road, especially the freeway. I've cried almost every day for nine months now, with the last most severe episode on Christmas Eve. She always took great pride decorating the tree every year. I don't know how but on Christmas day I just emotionally locked up and I haven't cried since. She lives on in my heart but honestly I think even her spirit is tiring of the endless grief and likely she's somehow jolting me out of it. That would be typical of her. So now I'm trying to somehow make it last through the one year anniversary. Then I'll allow myself to have a good cry. But I'm so drained I can't seem to feel anything anymore.

❤❤❤

Yes yes so hard 🥲🥲🥲🥲 sending you so much love and support ❤❤❤

Yes yes so hard 🥲🥲🥲🥲

It is always great to hear your story and I hope you have an awesome Christmas Day and enjoy the holiday with your sons and loved ones.

I lost my son the day after his 11th birthday in Dec of 1999. I grieved while going on and caring for his younger sister who shared the same genetic illness. She also passed 2 yrs ago at the age of 31. I relate with so much of your experience. I find healing in simple practices I developed. Both were born the week of Christmas, so it is a time I treat with mixed strategies. When I send Christmas cards (or cards for wedding, birthday, etc) it never felt right not including my son when I signed family names. So somewhere on the card I added his first initial with a little halo above and a little cloud below. Now I sign two initials in this manner along with my own name and my husband’s. Sometimes I share in holiday gatherings and sometimes I go AWOL and hike deep into the woods. My friends and family get it and give me space and support.

Animals are so good for the soul! Dudley has the cutest big round cheeks! He is so cute!

He has round cheeks! How cute! ❤️🥰

❤❤❤I love that name!

First Xmas without my 6 year old son - my only child who passed away in summer (on top of a divorce and loosing my mum this year too). It is a mental torture ride

This is going to sound unpleasant towards the general public but I would rather isolate alone rather than be interactive with anyone. I have no plans to go to the funeral either, especially with people around. Pay my respects alone.

Well said.

I haven't lost a child, but I did lose my sweet mom last year. Her birthday is tomorrow, Christmas Eve 😢 Your channel just happened to come across my recommended videos at a perfect time! This week has been tough for me as her birthday got closer. Thank you for the work you do on your channel. I'm so very sorry that you lost Libby. What a beautiful girl! ❤ Happy holidays to you and your family.

Thank you Brooke. You are inspiring. You have been a huge part of my journey through the same tragedy.

I lost my 21yr old daughter ON Christmas Eve 2022 this is the 2nd year and I am struggling hard , it feels like Iam greeving allover again 😢 I miss her a lot so much this is hard especially for my other 2daughters they miss big sister

Christmas for me will never again be what it once was, so I must learn to stop trying to recreate that and move forward, instead of trying to stay cemented in “what was,” .... in one moment of time. Merry Christmas.

I lost my only grandchild a few weeks ago to SIDS. Leo was 3 months old and the light of our life. I will never forget the whole traumatic morning it happened. The what ifs are just so so hard. We are so heartbroken and lost.

The sitting around and reading a book sounds like the best option for me.

I lost my son suddenly a day before Mother’s Day. He’s my only child. I’m struggling. Im alone in this journey. I’m fighting to stay out the padded room. I have not thought about a vacation because I cannot see that far ahead anymore. I just live minute by minute. My condolences to you and your family.

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Thank you for sharing ❤

The youngest is often the heart of the holidays. How painful and wrong it feels when they are gone. Hugs.

Your tree is pretty

Thank you from the heart ❤

The holidays are definitely getting to me this year and I’ve gone back into a lot of sadness . I’m trying to focus on my grandkids and the positives I have.💕 thank you Brooke for sharing, it helps

Brooke I am praying for you i have a lot of loss too mom passed in 1998 an my dad in September 2023

Awww wishing you so much love and comfort this Christmas hugs to you thank you for the help going to try these you help so much thank you

I love the stockings for you and Dudley. Decorations look great. ❤

Brooke, Praying for you this Christmas season for some joy and peace even thought you(me and my family too). ❤🎄

Great advice Brooke. The holidays are definitely difficult when grieving. I hope you can find a little joy and peace this holiday season. Thank you for being real and putting it all out there. It really helps!💗

Big hugs to you. 💞

AMEN AMEN AMEN!!! I'm broken now and have been 100 times over. Choosing to stay broken means you cease to exist(to others to yourself or literally) OR there is the choice to start over, because YOUR EXISTENCE MATTERS. YOU MATTER!! ❤❤❤❤

I was one of her students and I just want to say that she is one of the best teachers I’ve had

LIBBY ❤🎄

Amen!!!

Well, that's kind of what I meant when I called you strong in a comment to one of your videos:))...

Beautiful words, and very true.

Yes they discount you as strong like you're invincible. It's string nit indestructible

Brooke.... so much truth in what you said❤

i recently lost my 16 year old son and i have been having an extremely hard time. i havent known what to do and im glad you made a video thank you.

Thanks Brooke been hard last few days ..

My standard reply is, "Getting by."

Loss 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021. Grief feels like who I am some days.

“Death doesn’t discriminate between the sinners and the saints it takes and it takes and it takes” It really doesn’t discriminate and it takes everything you know and love, keep pushing through this you gained then you felt like you lost everything but I know you can make it through this❤❤❤❤