: :
: : The Mourners Bill Of Rights

: : 1. You have the right to experience your own unique grief.

: : 2. You have the right to talk about your grief.

: : 3. You have the right to feel a multitude of emotions.

: : 4. You have the right to be tolerant of your physical and emotional limits.

: : 5. You have the right to experience " griefbursts"

: : 6. You have the right to make use of ritual.

: : 7. You have the right to make use of Spirituality.

: : 8. You have the right to search for meaning.
: Hi Ken,
: This is a truly beautiful site. I lost my mom almost a year ago. And when I lost her I realized that she was the cohesion that held our family together. Since the funeral most of my family has not spoken to me. So instead of losing one person, it feels like I've lost my whole family.
: I know my family has a hard time talking about the lost and they prefer to just bottle it all up inside (the lost). But it is difficult to be so isolated from my family.
: My mom pasted at the end of September last year.

Hey Sharon

Thank you for visiting Reaching For Joys brand new website. I have counseled with many, many families who have had much different feelings after someone crossed in their family. Everybody may take the same journey, but they might/will take a different path. Thats where as I call it, unconditional compassion comes in. You cant walk anybodys path for them, but you can walk your own.
In time maybe your family will reach out to you, and then you will be there to reach back. I had this same feeling ( alienated ) from some of my best friends after my Near Death Experience in 1998. You have to be true to your own best friend ( yourself ), as thats the way your mother WANTS it. You noticed I said WANTS, because thats in the present tense. Thats because your mother isnt gone, shes just waiting.
Take care of yourself, and have a beautamous day.

Reaching For Joy
Ken

P.S. - My mother crossed over 20 years ago, and she was/still is my best friend along with me, huh?