This short video shows you some of Charles’ personality. We were baking a cake together.
I do so miss this bubbly, fun child and when I look at these, I see no indication of what was to come. We were such a normal family. We went to parks and read books. We played games and went to the beach. I do enjoy these videos even though there are tears. Four years after Charles’ addiction and suicide, these offer more joy now than sadness and I’m grateful to have them.
Thanks to my editor in LA, the kid named Richard on the left, we were able to get this VHS footage off of the mini dvds and saved digitally.
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
6 thoughts on “Rogers’ toddlers baking a birthday cake – 1996”
Precious video of Richard, Charles, you and your Husband. It made me smile- it’s these happy moments that validates what we lost.
They are so, so precious. Yes, I am so grateful for the video we have. They are so very painful to watch. When I watch them, it is a scheduled thing where I am doing it to be with my son and also knowing I will be spending quite a spell with my grief. (((((((HUGS)))))))
I will say that having written a book has given me more strength. The first one I watched triggered me and I left them alone for a while. The second one I watched–waterfall of tears and a “what went wrong?” kind of day. But now I can watch them.
You were able to read right away. I could not. I couldn’t listen to music for almost a year. ANY music. So I think what we can and cannot expose ourselves to varies a lot. One day you will be ready. And that day does not have to be today.
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Precious video of Richard, Charles, you and your Husband. It made me smile- it’s these happy moments that validates what we lost.
That’s true. It’s a good reminder.
They are so, so precious. Yes, I am so grateful for the video we have. They are so very painful to watch. When I watch them, it is a scheduled thing where I am doing it to be with my son and also knowing I will be spending quite a spell with my grief. (((((((HUGS)))))))
I have gone from avoiding these to binging them over and over. Those little words ring in my ears.
So cute. What an adorable memory. You are so strong. I still cannot do that 7 years later.
I will say that having written a book has given me more strength. The first one I watched triggered me and I left them alone for a while. The second one I watched–waterfall of tears and a “what went wrong?” kind of day. But now I can watch them.
You were able to read right away. I could not. I couldn’t listen to music for almost a year. ANY music. So I think what we can and cannot expose ourselves to varies a lot. One day you will be ready. And that day does not have to be today.