“For the day is done…No more words to speak, no more birds singing, it’s all quiet and empty. Our hearts are heavy and nothing makes sense anymore. Our eyes are sore for we have cried so much. How we have grown used to the taste of those salty tears. Oh how the weather has changed. Before our days were filled with dapples of gold, sounds of laughter and kisses of love. Days were filled with pictures of smiles, our hearts were filled with hope and at times, the thoughts that tomorrow would be better. And we were strong. Even when thunder roared and times were tough, we steered the course. For every dark cloud has a silver lining. We must go on…As we take a deep breath and slowly let it out, we can feel our voices tremble as we shout in anger, “WHY?”…The pain pierces through our hearts, a pain that will not go away. It is now that we dig into the depths of our souls searching for answers that are not there, and I realize that our pain and emptiness will never go away. Neither will our admiration and our respect. Our hopes will never fade for this birth was not in vain. You have also taught us about being truly sad, for this world is not fair. For we will miss you all our days and beyond.”

Written to Vivian Gunther Williams, Mother of Suzie 8/18/00 – 12/29/03, by Johan Japp sent us this when our second daughter, Skye Kate died…September 7,2004

A mothers Eulogy.

Mental Illness, a parents’ perspective: Thinking the Unthinkable and The Blue Review.

Tips for talking to children about the shooting:  http://nyti.ms/VFVXUi

Strategies for talking with your kids about the tragedy in Connecticut: http://www.cmhnetwork.org/media-center/morning-zen/tips-for-talking-with-kids

Trauma Resources by the University of Maryland School of Medicine: http://csmh.umaryland.edu/Resources/OtherResources/ListofTraumaResources.pdf

Children’s Mental Health Network, Specific strategies for talking with your kids about the tragedy in Connecticut: http://www.cmhnetwork.org/media-center/morning-zen/tips-for-talking-with-kids

The Child Mind Institute, How to Help Children Cope With Frightening News:  http://www.childmind.org/en/posts/articles/2011-12-27-helping-your-child-

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