How does one go about re-defining their place in a family when someone dies? I’m struggling with figuring out my new role without my mom but am hoping that with intentional effort, I can find a comfortable, healthy way to be a part of my family in its new form.

It’s strange how we all do our own grieving and how it is so different for everyone. I recently had a visit with a friend whose parent also died, but nearly 10 years ago. Still dealing with grief and closure, I wondered how long it would take before I felt less raw about everything. Already I am able to go back to day-to-day life, but sometimes it hits me (and I’ve heard that never goes away).

We hope to place my mom’s ashes in the next year or so (weather permitting as she wants to be scattered on the side of a high mountain) and perhaps that will provide some closure as well. In the mean time, I hope to figure out how to find my place in our new family.