Thomas – Page 3 – Where the Carol Bird Sings

The Value of Not Suffering

July 9, 2012

Thomas died, and I suffered and had no idea what it all meant. I constantly cried to God, “Why?” One day, I started to understand just a little. I realised that suffering

Faith·Grief

Thomas Tintin

May 17, 2012

Every evening, I settled my pregnant body on the sofa and opened my baby name book. “Annabel? Maybe. Muriel? No. Phoebe? Yes. Phoebe Elvis? P. Elvis? Definitely not.” I pondered each name, wrote

Faith·Grief·Motherhood

Losing Control

April 13, 2012

Once upon a time, I was a perfect wife and mother with a perfect husband and two perfect children, and we were leading a perfect life. My baby and toddler knew what

Faith·Grief

Finding Meaning in a Baby’s Death

March 19, 2012

“I’ve been able to accept Thomas’ death, but I just can’t imagine how any good can come out of it,” I told Tanya, the leader of a local grief support group. “Good

Faith·Grief

The Thomas Dress

September 26, 2011

Imogen never had a new dress until her brother died. She was five years old and, although she had plenty of pretty clothes, she’d never had a dress chosen especially for her,

Grief

Leo, Augustine and Theodore

September 17, 2011

He arrived in the centre of a funeral wreath and I didn’t like him. He was blue, soft and fluffy, and any child would have adored him. But my child was dead.

Grief

Part of Me

September 12, 2011

My mother likes to tell the story of how, at the age of two, I threw a monumental tantrum. She isolated me in my bedroom, which I then promptly destroyed. Whenever this

Faith·Grief·Motherhood

A Thrill of Excitement

September 10, 2011

I heard the other day that a friend is expecting twins. How special. Not a lot of people get to experience the delights of having two babies at once, maybe two babies

Grief·Motherhood

How Many Children Do You Have? (Part 1)

August 26, 2011

One question I always have trouble answering is “How many children do you have?” My tongue stumbles over the words as I try to decide whether to reply “five” or “six”. Do

Faith·Grief

Perfection

August 18, 2011

A few days before Thomas was born, I visited the needlework shop. I wanted something to keep me busy during a prolonged stay in hospital. Well, I hoped I was going to

Faith·Grief

The Gift

August 16, 2011

I travelled to the hospital, my mind full of thoughts: I’m meeting Andy at the park. The kids can play on the swings with him while I’m busy. How long will the