Since the day after Richie’s home going celebration, all anyone can say is, “Try to get back to normal.” On what planet do they think anything in this family’s life will be normal? We went from being a family of 5 at the table to a family of 4. Family gatherings at Grandma Winky’s are a little quieter without Richie to arguing football with his Uncles. No longer will he be playing babies with his youngest sister. My son is no longer going to be yelling, “That’s whats up” when he wins at a card game with his friends. And no longer will I sit in my living room with all my children and hear them laughing and joking. My normal is gone forever. I have been struggling with this and trying to figure out how my life will work now. I told my friend Nancee that I was tired of hearing of hearing the word normal. Her answer was simply, “What is normal anyway?” From then on, I have told everyone that we won’t have normal in our house anymore. We will have life, love, laughter, crying, screaming, singing, dancing, playing and take pride in being the most happy unnormal family ever. We will have hard days where we miss the life we had so bad we want to crumble. We will have happy glorious days where we laugh until we cry at the memories of old while making new ones. Together, with family, friends and each other, we will figure out this new life we have been given. This new life we did not want or ask for. This new life that we have to make without my oldest son, my baby boy, my best friend, my Richie. 
Broken Mothers Club 
I feel your pain. And I pray for you and your family. I to have lost my first born, my son. It hurts, it sucks and we don’t understand why. I pray some day you will come to understand God’s plan. It took me a while to understand, but I do now and I’m thankful for his plan. I miss my son everyday as i know you do. You’re gift to those families, is the greatest gift of all. I didn’t have that chance with Scott Harley. May God shine his light on you and your family during these terrible times. Your loss, is my loss, even though we don’t know each other personally. {{hugs}}}
Joanna, It comforts me that you said you have come to understand God’s plan for your loss. I struggle with that daily and while I know I should be patient, I find myself getting frustrated. I believe that all mothers who have lost a child are forever bonded. Only a mom can know pain this hard and keep going.
I am so sorry for your loss. I, too, lost my first born son. He took his own life on Christmas Day. I will never be normal again. Our family is changed forever. I will lift you up in prayer. Just take it one minute at a time and know that you are not alone.
Bless your heart. I will remember you in my prayers each day
Excuse me while I cry.
Dear brokenmother,
I am not a parent, not yet anyway but your pain, its etched on my heart and breaking it apart.
I have had my share of life I suppose, and once when I was really down in the dump someone told me that Pain is like a loan God gives to people in hope that you will take it and make something good out of it and pay back your debt to humanity in good deeds.
I was told that he is also prepared for the defaulters who get on drugs or kill themselves. this is what I told my best friend yesterday who lost his first born and this is what am telling you.
Nothing is without a cause. In losing your son you saved so many Richies just by making that one call at the hospital, You are doing something now that has already brought together 4 bleeding hearts. Dear broken mother you are always in my prayers from now on.
Love.
PS
Thank you PS, your words are very comforting.