It’s Super Bowl Sunday and my sister-in-law, Jenny, with her daughter-in-law Sam (my niece by marriage), are preparing their football feast. This deviation of nature, a red potato no less, was going to be sacrificed for potato salad. And Jenny rocks at potato salad. But no! Samantha to the rescue! Not this precious baby. It needed to be held on this pedestal as a symbol for the #griefheart project in memory of my son, Charles.
So Sam dove in and rescued the potato from his fate before a single mark could be made on it’s precious surface. And then she told our story because she has the guts to start a conversation about all the things our culture doesn’t want to talk about.
What is the #griefheart project?
I explain my #griefheart project here. Contact me if you want to honor and remember your loved one who died by suicide or from addiction.
I am an emotionally naked mental health speaker, and author of the Book, Diary of a Broken Mind and co-author with Kim O'Brien PhD, LICSW of Emotionally Naked: A Teacher's Guide to Preventing Suicide and Recognizing Students at Risk. I raised two boys, Richard and Charles, and lost my younger son, Charles to addiction and suicide on June 5, 2015. I help people foster a culture of connection to prevent suicide, reduce substance misuse and find life after loss. My motivational mental health keynotes, training and workshop topics include suicide prevention, addiction, mental illness, anxiety, coping strategies/resilience, and grief.
As talented and funny as Charles was, letting other people know they matter was his greatest gift. And now the legacy I try and carry forward in my son's memory.
Mental Health Speakers Website. Trained in ASIST and trainer for the evidence-based 4-hour training for everyone called safeTALK.
View all posts by Anne Moss Rogers
2 thoughts on “Sister-in-law Heart— #griefheart number 276”
Dear Anne Moss, another very good friend, one of my best friends, lost her 22 year old son to suicide Sunday night. As devastated as we all are, I have learned so much from you. Sharing your grief has helped me understand the raw and gut wrenching pain like no other. You have helped me talk about addiction and suicide. I am one of your little soldiers doing my best to stop the stigma regarding suicide, addiction and mental illness. You and Charles are making such a difference when nobody else would. Thank you! I cannot believe I am going to my 4th funeral in 4 years for another young man gone way too soon..
Kelly. Thanks so much for being part of the tribe and helping our grassroots effort. I am so sorry your friend has to go through this pain. Too many funerals. We let things get swept under the rug way too long.
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Dear Anne Moss, another very good friend, one of my best friends, lost her 22 year old son to suicide Sunday night. As devastated as we all are, I have learned so much from you. Sharing your grief has helped me understand the raw and gut wrenching pain like no other. You have helped me talk about addiction and suicide. I am one of your little soldiers doing my best to stop the stigma regarding suicide, addiction and mental illness. You and Charles are making such a difference when nobody else would. Thank you! I cannot believe I am going to my 4th funeral in 4 years for another young man gone way too soon..
Kelly. Thanks so much for being part of the tribe and helping our grassroots effort. I am so sorry your friend has to go through this pain. Too many funerals. We let things get swept under the rug way too long.