father(less) day.

[iatrogenicmyth]

I hate them. All of those commercials on TV for Father's Day urging people to "show Dad just how much he means to you." I wish there was a button to filter out those commercials, because not only do they remind me that I don't have a father anymore and also it makes me feel like I never had a chance to really show or express to my Dad how much he

Comments

[zestfive]

My Dad died August 2007 (unexpected after recovering from a kidney transplant, he was killed while eating at an outdoor cafe, driver lost control of her truck), a year later my partner's son committed suicide. It was really tough. Complicated and prolonged grief sucks

[vikkilynn]

I haven't found Father's Day nearly as difficult as my dad's birthday or the anniversary of his death, until this year. (He died in April of 2009.)

I recently moved and have found myself out shopping for odds and ends and having Father's Day displays shoved in my face at every store I go to. Today I saw a t-shirt that at first glance I thought said "The Godfather" but it actually said "The Goodfather." I felt tears sting my eyes as I wished I could tell my dad what a good father he was. I wished I could buy him that damn t-shirt.

I have a lot of regrets. I was in denial for a good long time and just started honestly dealing with my grief last year, around this time.

There really are no easy answers as to how to cope with anniversaries and birthdays and special holidays. You can develop your own little rituals to honor your loved one, buying flowers or visiting the gravesite, writing a letter to pour out your thoughts, burning candles and saying some type of prayer or reciting a poem, cooking and eating their favorite meal over