Dear Families,
What a year it has been globally. And families are their own little worlds. In them, I want to honor those family members and friends whom we’ve lost this year, from the pandemic, natural, unpredictable or accidental causes. Grief is an unwelcome house guest, an invisible shape-shifter that can redirect its effects onto random situations and people and cause harm to others without us knowing. None of us is alone in the holiday response this year to anything — financially, socially, domestically. The losses we grieve are of many kinds, including time we wish we had with our children. The end result? Family comes into full focus as if in the spotlight. This has enormous positive potential heading into a new year. So how do we move forward? Out from the physical distancing demanded of us this year we can connect more emotionally, spiritually and mentally virtually as we interact with our children face to face on screen when not in person. We may not be out doing fun activities, so it’s an opportunity none of us should miss for closer communication, new information about one another, and new ways of participating in their lives. For example, getting to play in their rooms with them is not something that visitation in person usually includes. In 2021, we will be moving forward with our families no matter where we are, no matter what happens in the world, and no matter what our circumstances are at any given moment. Thank you for allowing me the honor of supporting you and your children. If I can be a family resource for you, I’ve got plenty of ideas and know other people who have them, too. I’ll leave you with a poem by my stepmother who died this year. She wrote it for our torn up family when I was 12. Related by marriage, our family is a descendant of Joseph Mohr who wrote the words to “Silent Night.” So she obviously got the poetic gene. Those of us who are not currently living with our children can appreciate the last line here the most:
“Home holds the countless comforts we grow up and leave behind. And though we’re ever searching, ’tis a rarity to find, a peaceful, private, perfect place by loving hearts designed. Home is where a soul can rest. Home is a state of mind.” –Mary Ellen Mohr, 1976
Let’s all remember that no matter what our circumstances, our children’s homes are in our hearts, forever.
Best wishes for a healthy and harmonious New Year. — Pamela
Soul Custody Press 