Lessons From a 15-Year-Old About Grief

[@OneHappyWidow]

Feel free to reply with any messages to Braylin (who did give permission for me to share this), and I'll pass them along to her!

[@imWillJ]

appreciate the beautiful widows that share their stories, it's healing to hear.

[@OneHappyWidow]

Thank you! 🙏

[@lealugerlynch802]

I lost my dad at 26 I can’t imagine only being 15. I was devastated and cried every day for a year. It been almost 50 years but I can honestly say I miss him dearly. A few months ago he visited me in a dream. It was wonderful. Thank you for sharing your thought. Sending you my love and a hug. Your a wonderful daughter ❤️🤗

[@OneHappyWidow]

Thanks for watching and sharing your feedback

[@aaliyahmitchem8668]

Me and Bray grew up together. He was ALWAYS at our games. He was ALWAYS the loudest one in the gym. He was ALWAYS the life of the party. no matter how bad we lost, he was always giving us a pep talk. I lost my dad last year and Bray has been one of the most supportive people i can just cry to whenever i need it. The loss of a dad is like no other.

[@OneHappyWidow]

I’m glad you had each other to lean on. Thanks for sharing your memories!

[@toniwaugh1823]

Leo, thank you for sharing Braylin's essay regarding her beloved daddy's passing with us. It was beautifully written and her raw emotions shone through at the very young age of 15. Thank you to her for allowing your community to listen to her powerful words just three weeks after her daddy's passing. Leo, your videos are always insightful and helpful to widows/widowers trying to navigate through their grief journeys. Thank you for all that you do to help people experiencing the loss of a spouse.

[@OneHappyWidow]

I will let her know about your kind message. Thanks for watching!

[@AnhTran-ek6cx]

Thank you for sharing your daughter's writing. oh boy for sure I cried so hard . Sending you and your daughter hugs and prayers

[@OneHappyWidow]

Thanks for watching and sharing your feedback

[@lynhead52]

That was touching. My dh died from cancer too. 7 yr journey. I remember when my dd and I decided that grands shouldn't come anymore because he wasn't himself. It took me a long time to comes to terms with hings. I appreciate you so much- you walked with me through this journey. It's less than two yrs. It's hard not having him here after us being together 48 yrs. Next yr would be our 50th Anniversary. My heart hurts.

[@OneHappyWidow]

Thanks for watching and sharing your feedback #widfam

[@antonellatotino2794]

Thankyou. Thankyou for sharing your deep grief and pain with us. My son was 14 when his daddy passed away. 2017 as well. It has been a difficult journey too. Braylin, you mentioned fainting outside the hospital room. Wow, I understand. I am sorry. My son ran down the hospital yelling "Daddy", the moments after he died. So heartbreaking for the children. I am sorry, but thank you. Different experiences felt by everyone in a different way. Hard lessions to learn. Thanks again. Lovely family with God guiding you.

[@OneHappyWidow]

Thanks for watching and sharing your story. I will pass this along to Braylin.

[@muzikaishokolad]

I love your awareness, your authenticity and strength to face your emotions. Your daugther is just as wonderful as you are. Such a deep letter, and she conveyed her emotions in a fascinating way and language. I’m impressed! Hug you both! You helped me to try to pay even more attention to my son’s emotions and validate them. ❤

[@OneHappyWidow]

Thanks for watching and sharing your feedback!

[@RachelLeMay-y9w]

Thank you so much Braylyn for letting your mom share this. I lost my father when I was 13 years old. I had no warning as he died from a heart attack. I also stuffed all my feelings in. It ended up coming out as depression and anger especially in my teenage years. I took that all out on my mother. She was also one of those that did not cry in front of the children. This was back in 1968 and they didn't have grief counseling or even books on Grief or any of that stuff so I didn't know what to do with it my mother and I were also able to talk it out before she died when I was 21. This video has brought me back to when I was 13. I still don't think I actually really fully grieved my father and I'm 69 years old. I didn't come across this video by mistake I know it was a God thing I believe some healing is going to take place I actually subscribe to this site because I had a friend who is a recent Widow and I had never having been married needed a perspective on what she was going through on what she was going through so I could be there for her thank you so much

[@RachelLeMay-y9w]

Sorry about the run-on sentence and repetition at the end but I use the voice texting and it messes up sometimes

[@OneHappyWidow]

Definitely a God thing! Thanks so much, and I’ll pass this along to Braylin, she will appreciate it.

[@marydriskell2106]

Thank you for sharing this. It’s truly amazing how family members can be going through the same thing and see it so differently. It’s a good lesson for all of us. I’m sure her Dad is so proud of her and watching over her each and every day. Always forward. ❤️🙏🏻❤️

[@OneHappyWidow]

Thank you for your kind words!

[@Butterfly.2002]

I haven’t spoken to my adult sons too much about this same topic…my grief of losing my husband and their dad was so different…I was consumed with my own grief and path forward that I wasn’t there to help them with their grief as much as I could have…thanks for reading your daughter’s essay ❤️

[@OneHappyWidow]

Thanks for watching #widfam

[@truelily7]

Leo, I was so very touched by your daughter's writing. I agree with you about showing emotions in front of your kids. My situation was totally different. Kids grown and one estranged from us. Long story there. I really thought about what she said about showing love and appreciation to one's near and dear. We are good about that but One estranged probably never coming back. Very complicated. But I know we will meet on the other side and be in true spirit and together again. One thing I have learned in life is All things must pass and and some things you must learn to accept and be at peace with. I find peace by accepting what is, though I miss my husband everyday. Thank you so much for Sharing. this.

[@OneHappyWidow]

Thanks for watching and sharing your feedback. I also have an estranged daughter, and am unsure if we will ever be able to reconcile. It makes me very sad.

[@tammymarsden4852]

Thank you so much for sharing her story qith us, I'm crying tears from alot of mixed emotions what a brave girl she is, I lost my dad when I was just 11 and it w a s tough, now many years later I'm grieving for the love of my life and his death anniversary is Aug 4th coming so quickly, I am so proud of your daughter pls give her hugs for me she is amazing and so are u ❤️ tha KS again for sharing I am so blessed to have found your channel when I needed it most and have watched every video and will continue to watch may God bless y'all always.

[@OneHappyWidow]

Thank you for watching and sharing your feedback

[@susankeenan686]

Four and a half years since my husband passed away from cancer. Nine months from being diagnosed until he died. He was only 57. Our daughter was 22 and our son was 19. I hid my grief from them like you because when I broke down in front of them shortly after he died they told me it worried them so I stuffed it inside after that. Looking back I'm not so sure it's the best for me or them. Your daughters letter is so insiteful for someone at such a young age.

[@OneHappyWidow]

Thank you for watching and sharing your experience as well

[@marshamagic8551]

I too lost my dad. That was wonderful..

[@OneHappyWidow]

Thanks for watching and sharing your feedback

[@PreciousPamphile]

Thanks for sharing I am a widow as well. I am now 40 years old and have been a widow since November 20th 2011. He had stage 3 throat cancer never smoke and only an occasional drinker at an event. I because his caregiver before he started chemo and radiation the cancer left in July but in October it came back but he also had an infection and surgery would be the last option but he died before surgery he had to take antibiotics but passed away before he completed it! So at 27 years old and mom of two at the time 7 year old and 11 year old. Now 24 and almost 21 years old! He was the best dad. He was our kids best friend!!!! I watch another video you did and it’s true when you needed someone everyone went back to their lives! Sad but true which is very hurtful! His family has basically disowned our son when he turned 18years old for no reason!!! I can’t understand it but I wish my kids would say how they feel especially our son cause they were extremely close!!! He cooked the family there last meal on Friday and passed on Sunday!!! They definitely know when the time is near!!! Beloved you got this one day, minute and second at a time! It was a way for her to get her angry out! When my son became a teen and our daughter they definitely put me through the wringer but everyone copes differently!!! Thanks for sharing beloved ❤ it’s amazing she was able to express it through writing my kids still won’t do therapy but I talk to them even though I try not to act as if they are my clients just so they don’t let that affect them in the wrong way!!! She is amazing ❤ young lady!!! Tell her to keep writing and remembering the good memories and talking about her feels because they will come up in her entire life especially any milestone but you seem to be doing a great job mama just do your best that’s all you can do ❤ I use to feel guilty! Mind you I become chronically disable the same month and been home bound since then!!! Life is definitely short and nothing is promising expect we all will die one day!!!

[@OneHappyWidow]

Thanks for watching and sharing your feedback!

[@alisonjackson4237]

Thank you ❤

[@OneHappyWidow]

Thanks for watching

[@jessicavaia2122]

Thank you for sharing this with us I need more tissues. You’re right how you can a different perspective even though you’re going through the same thing. Bray did an amazing job with her journal and I’m sure her dad is so proud of how she helping other people in this same situation. She writes so beautifully and thank you again for sharing this with us.

[@OneHappyWidow]

Thanks for watching and sharing your feedback

[@parler8698]

Wise child!

[@OneHappyWidow]

I think so too!

[@Juliehomevideo]

This made me cry my eyes out. Our human daughter is grown but the last time my dog ever saw her human daddy was right before she was locked in my office when the paramedics came to get him. She tried to get out of the house and follow him. Daddy was being taken by the men. Two weeks later daddy died. She's such a sweet girl and knows something is wrong. It's heart breaking to see her wait by his chair for him to come home. Daddy went to Jesus.

[@OneHappyWidow]

Poor little thing! Our dog also paced the bedroom and slept on his pillow after he went to hospice. She kept looking for Daddy, not knowing where he was. And we can't explain to them what happened. Very sad!

[@lindawalters1836]

10 yrs for me. My husband died from cancer complications.

[@OneHappyWidow]

Prayers to you #widfam

[@wendywright5486]

My grandson was here for the 1st time since my husband died a few days ago he is devastated As my husband. Was the only male in the family wake up and they did a ton of stuff together he took him To the first big race of the season , knowing full well that he was going into hospice a couple of days later I see he keeps the selfie they took As his screen saver , he's sixteen , so this is really big deal my dad Was his guardian and He died of renal failure when he was seven and my husband died of renal failure/medical mistakes when he was sixteen so He's being very guarded with his feelings

[@OneHappyWidow]

Poor kiddo…it’s so sad to hear about kids dealing with this type of grief. Seems so unfair!

[@katgolden1143]

Wow yes she is wise beyond her years. Knowing how her Grandmother acted, what was their reaction to her as the years went by?

[@OneHappyWidow]

They have essentially cut ties with her too, they don’t care to be around her negativity

[@marshamagic8551]

I’ve missed you..

[@OneHappyWidow]

Thanks for watching

[@Linda-gc6le]

I agree with you, but it's hard to show emotions especially when you are trying to make ends meet.

[@OneHappyWidow]

Yes, I totally understand. We have to juggle it all when we still have kiddos at home to take care of.

[@vedrakuca]

My sons lost they dad 18 months ago..i dont know what to do..i cry infront them i am super honest about everything infront of themm,still..they dont talk or share or cry ..nothing..i try to encouring them but nothing..i dont know what to do

[@OneHappyWidow]

I would send them to therapy, maybe they are trying to protect your feelings.

[@marshamagic8551]

Train wreck of a life, mine that is..

[@OneHappyWidow]

I’m so sorry, #widfam

[@truelily7]

Love and Light to you.