Here's the thing-the circle of life brings tears of joy and peace as you process those memories of moments past that were so important.

Those moments will never change. Enjoy the memories and make new ones.

Take time to do something special for you-to honor those memories in a way that brings you peace.

It makes it different. It helps you to process the grief in a natural way.

Thank you mid. And you know you don’t appreciate things until they’re gone.
Yes Christmas my mom was not with us. And we still got together as siblings and our families. Easter is different as the ones in college get no time off. And really no time off from work either.
It’s just hard. I know it will change.

You're writing it out, and that helps!

You got this!

Hi Marian,
I empathize with you because I understand the feeling of traditions changing. My family had gatherings at my mom’s house for years and then my husband and I moved 2000 miles away. Then COVID hit and that canceled the gatherings for a bit. I just heard from my mom this morning and my sister and her boyfriend will be joining my mom for brunch this year. On my FB feed a photo popped up from Easter 2017…the last time we were all together. It made me smile a bittersweet smile because the photo reminds me of those people I love who I cannot see very often, but it also reminds me of how much love there is in my family.

I love traditions. They bring me comfort. They also bring me sadness as they change or cease to be. We can start new traditions. Maybe you can go to the store and buy yourself some pretty spring flowers and some baked goods?

We have my youngest daughter’s in-law’s joining us tomorrow. Today I need to clean the house. I am trying to get myself motivated to do that because mornings are not my strong point.

Maybe you can focus on your son coming home? Would that help? Take an afternoon nap today if that makes you feel better:)

Sending strength your way.

Easter was never one of our big family holidays after my siblings and I became adults and my grandparents were no longer alive. My brothers went to their in laws, my mom’s job required occasional holiday work so she wasn’t always available and eventually she retired and moved to a different city for a while. I spent many an Easter with just myself before my husband and I met. I made an effort to plan out a day for myself, a bike ride, a hike, make a nice dinner, watch a good movie, do some journaling etc. Things that were good for me, reminded me that I’m good company even when it’s just me.

Families change for sure. It happens to all of us, to the generation before us and it will happen to the next generation, and so on.

I feel like the changes present opportunity to come up with new traditions, new ways of honoring holidays, of connecting. We often have get togethers for holidays on a different day to accommodate family that work in nursing jobs or first responder jobs because of their schedule. So we celebrate a week after the fact. Or when my mom moved back to our area about 5-6 years before she died, we just had her over for a holiday at our house instead of having it at her house with the entire family. We adapt and evolve. If not, it’s a very lonely choice.

Wishing you the best as you navigate your way through it.

I miss the good ole' family holidays too. I'm all alone on Holidays usually. There's not any big thing that brings us together anymore, our kids are older and have their own lives, and our relatives are deceased. Yes a lot of us are all alone. I'm just going out to eat with my one sister on Easter, that's it. Usually though I am just home. This past Christmas was the worst ever for me!!
Those days are gone and we can't bring them back. Let's just try to make ourselves happy in some other way, there's no point in dwelling on it, it won't change anything and we'll be depressed (again).

It’s just interesting because I remember always being so busy that the holiday would come and I would sometimes say to myself oh it would be a nice day to do nothing and relax. I’m kind of sad I felt that way now. I think it’s because it’s the first year without my mother. As I mentioned before Christmas Eve was always at my house , and my siblings and I and our families did all come here again this year even though my parents are both gone. Then Christmas Day was just my family. But that’s how we always spent Christmas Day. We love it. Just my kids and husband. Literally watch Christmas movies and lay around all day.
But I think just leading up to Easter I’m feeling lonely so it just makes it worse.
Of course we cannot bring back the past. Things change. Families change.

make friends with change. it's the only thing you can count on. ~chinese proverb

participating in community celebrations is one of the many ways to channel those matronly habits. the delight in a child's eyes is worthy of universal consideration, regardless of ownership rights.

just a suggestion. . .

Hi There, Happy Blessed Easter. In these times fill your heart with all the beauty of the past, but allow your self to feel these feelings but keep moving lovely. You are not alone as common as it may sound. I pray that your son comes to you and your daughter can do something special from where she is.


I'm kinda of on the opposite end, I am spending Easter with my partners family while my mom is home and my dad is in a rehabilitation space....both have different reasons but I must live in my life, my family used to go all out for holidays until everyone spaced off and the years past. It's hard , but you have you and the Higher ups. Sending love and prayers

Yes obviously so many are in the same place I am in. I’ve woken up though with my anxiety and want to cry.
I’m just not in a good place and a holiday coming makes it harder.
Thank you for sending love and prayers. The same to you and all that have been giving me the support I so need.