Tear Soup by Pat Schwiebert and Chuck DeKlyen
I’m so thankful a friend told me about this book, which I read for the first time this week, almost a year and a half after losing Hailey. Tear Soup is a beautifully written and illustrated children’s book about grief and loss. While it appears as a children’s book, it’s really perfect for any age, child, teen, young adult, adult, the elderly, and it’s written in such a general but exact way that it fits anyone’s story of loss, whether it’s the loss of a child, parent, family member, pet, or the loss involved with divorce. This book is really one of the most moving books I’ve ever read about the process of grieving. I found myself easily relating to the story and feeling less alone in my own process of grieving. The final pages of the book offer advice for the various types of people experiencing various types of grief as well as list grief-related resources. This really is a must read for everyone – even if you are not the one experiencing the loss firsthand, but you know someone who is; this book is for you too.
"Lucy" by Skillet
A new Christian song about loss / grief, meant to be written in a vague way as to apply to various types of losses. I changed "Lucy" to "Hailey" in the lyrics below...
Hey Hailey, I remember your name
I left a dozen roses on your grave today
I'm in the grass on my knees, wipe the leaves away
I just came to talk for a while
I got some things I need to say
Now that it's over
I just wanna hold her
I'd give up all the world to see that little piece of heaven looking
back at me
Now that it's over
I just wanna hold her
I've gotta live with the choices I made
And I can't live with myself today
Hey Hailey, I remembered your birthday
They said it'd bring some closure to say your name
I know I'd do it all different if I had the chance
But all I got are these roses to give
And they can't help me make amends
Here we are
Now you're in my arms
I never wanted anything so bad
Here we are
For a brand new start
Living the life that we could've had
Me and Hailey walking hand in hand
Me and Hailey never wanna end
Just another moment in your eyes
I'll see you in another life
In heaven where we never say goodbye
Here we are, now you're in my arms
Here we are for a brand new start
Got to live with the choices I've made
And I can't live with myself today
Me and Hailey walking hand in hand
Me and Hailey never wanna end
Got to live with the choices I've made
And I can't live with myself today
Hey Hailey, I remember your name
We were given a copy of Tear Soup by the bereavement staff before we left the hospital. It is so genuine and simple, but honest about the journey of grief. When times are tough (like Mother's Day) and my husband worries that I cry too much, I just pull it out and gently suggest that he read it again. My soup is not finished.
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