Mail call

Caution: this may sting. (probably only me, but a warning just the same).

Over the fall I coached Reagan's soccer team. One little boy was absent a game and through the grape vine (it is a small town) I heard his Mom had passed away from breast cancer. This hit me hard. I managed to write a letter to the family expressing our sympathy and offer what little sense/advice I could muster having been that little boy.

I spoke with the Dad when the boy returned for games. The boy did well, kids are so resilient.

Fast forward to yesterday, I get a letter from the Dad thanking me again for what I could offer and an inspirational letter on losing one's Mom that he thought he would share. I am sure I'll work up the courage to read it soon.

Ah, what advice did I offer:

• have something to give the kids (the boy had siblings) that speaks about the Moms likes, dislikes, hopes, dreams, goals and goals for the kids. Write it all when it is fresh in your memory. Your kids will pour over it in the years to come. Even better if the Mom herself wrote it. (I've already written my story down for my kids...).
  
• Share as much information as you can. Lack of info only creates too many questions that will need to be sorted out someday.
• Celebrate the anniversaries and as much as it hurts, talk about her. Share all you can. Memories get hard to come by as the years roll on.
  

That was really it. There is not much more I profess to know...