Post by akee361 on Nov 24, 2012 22:53:41 GMT -5
We lost our newborn daughter in April 2010. It was very sudden and unexpected as soon as we got home from the hospital. Our grief process has definitely been a journey. We recently welcomed a new daughter in addition to our late daughter and our 3 year old daughter. One of the things we have struggled with is how to sign cards and announcements as a family. When I sign cards or letters such as Christmas announcements or cards to people other than family, I simply sign The ______ as this encompasses all of us, including our deceased daughter. With family, I will sign all of our names and came up with a special symbol for our late daughter. It is basically her first initial with little wings coming out of each side and a halo. I make it small and it's just, I don't know, there. I am comforted knowing I acknowledged her but probably didn't make anyone feel uncomfortable. My husband is the opposite-he will sign all cards with our late daughter's name. We were at a birthday party for my father-in-law recently and I bought a birthday card. I signed my name and left it on the counter for my husband to sign his. He signed it from all of us and included our late daughter's name. At the party, he read the card aloud and when he read the names, the room got quiet and it was very awkward. I felt embarrassed and then ashamed that I was embarrassed. He mentioned the awkwardness later to me and I said, "that is why I put the symbol and not her name". He then got upset and said "oh well. If they want to just forget her, they can but I never will."
What does everyone else do?
What does everyone else do?