27/12/2025
This year's new decorations for Lily's Christmas tree πππ
Every single year we always get her something to add to the tree - it's lovely chance to get to do something pink / something girly / beautiful and it means more than just a decoration. It's love, it's many emotions all wrapped up, it's a message to her, it's an expression words can't say, it's a parental feeling - one of the few physical things we can do for her, sometimes the item represents something about her or has a significant meaning or sometimes its just christmassy. I love her little white tree looking all amazing for her. To be honest we are running out of room after all these years of adding to it but that's ok. I'll always want her to be remembered and show our love β€οΈ After 11 years of missing her and also having our rainbow son who's now 6 - we may not do as much as we once did for Lily and sometimes that makes you feel guilty and abit sad. But then I have to remind myself it's actually totally fine because our grief journey is not where it once was - it's completely changed over time, grief morphs and changes shape. We can't possibly be where we was even a few years ago, let alone 11 years ago when it was raw! Now we have to live in this time and space and Lily would want the main focus to be on her rainbow brother as she knows he's amazing and she watches over him! She knows she's loved and missed, even tho I feel I have to keep reminding her - I don't think that ever goes away and that's ok. I hope she understands that even tho we may do abit less these days it doesn't mean we miss her any less! I remind her this too. The love, the missing her, the wishing - its all still there β€οΈ it's just less messy, less intense, and less raw. We've got used to it - that may sound odd unless your an angel parent yourself and further down the line as we are. You do get used to incorporating the regular loss and and the going through your traditions at key times of the year. But you've also learnt what things help / don't help and what things speak to your heart, some things you used to do -may not feel right anymore or just naturally stopped. You've also learnt you can't force anything. There some things you just need to do and some you can now let go abit more. But it's NEVER about
" getting over it " because there is no such thing!!! Just know if your traditions, actions, ways you honour your angel change over time - this is totally natural and normal !!! No bereaved parents can live in the past and still be in that moment- we have to carry on with them in our hearts in order to survive! We don't move on! We no longer need to take things one step at a time, we are rehearsed in our ways, in our things we do. We are more comfortable and confident. We are more sure than ever how we feel. We are able to see things differently. Lots has changed, lots of life has been lived since - the good, the bad and the ugly. But one things is always for sure the love never waivered! π― π
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