My Mum died when her Great Grandaughter was about 2 1/2 years old. Unfortunately Missy was too young to remember her. From time to time we all go to the Cemetery to visit her grave, spend some time in contemplation, remove weeds and clean the headstones. The first headstone on the grave is 106 years old. We aren’t able to add any more names and messages to it as there is a strong possibility it may crack. Sadly many graves in the cemetery and many others have been vandalised. It beaks my heart to see the results of such actions/crimes.

This is a beautifully written article. I love walking through cemeteries – you learn so much. I don’t know how families cope when they lose someone so young, especially someone who is a parent to young children.

Life is indeed precious. We should never take our loved ones for granted.

My son never knew my Dad (his Grandfather). We make sure we visit my Dad’s grave each Christmas Eve (the day he passed away, and his birthday) to celebrate his life and tell my son stories of him. My niece was stillborn in the same year that my father died. She would have been 21 this month. My sister invited me to spend time with her at my niece’s grave. We decorated it with lovely ’21’ items and talked about what she had brought to our lives. We then visited the Tea Rooms to talk more. My niece is such an important part of our lives, our family’s history, even though she never lived. We will continue to visit her grave, and talk about her, and remember her.

Yes, it takes a reminder of our own mortality to really appreciate this life.

Yes, this is a real risk for me, and it’s scary.

So true !

Family is precious and none of know what is around the corner. Your article is beautifully written and brought a tear to my eyes. It brought back memories of visiting graveyards when we travelled around Australia and seeing how young were many who were buried in some of these out of the way townships in the early days of this country’s existence. Thanks for sharing your thoughts.

As my own parents get older I begin to think about their mortality, thinking about my kids growing up without parents hurts too much to think about.

A beautifully written article about a topic no-one likes to talk about. Life is short, enjoy every minute

This is so true and we must treasure the treasure we have while we have it, and I’m not speaking material I’m talking about relationships, because we are all unique and special and we need to tell each other we love and care for them. Our friends, family members and be kind to people who aren’t close to us that we pass by in our daily lives, because we never know what we do our say that will help people along their daily path of life.

So true. im always saying “How long is a life?” ….there is no set answer for that question. For some its a matter of hours. Others get a few years and some get to reach 100+. Sometimes we get stuck on the numbers and we thing that its the eldest who will check out next so to speak. I remember my Dad contacting me when i was pregnant with my youngest and he asked if he sent me money could we all come home for Christmas as he felt it would be my Grans (his mothers) last Christmas. Well 4 years on it was my Dad that passed away and Gran was still going strong and lived on to reach 100yrs. She out lived both her children, her husband and a grandchild.

Very true. I think so many have this feeling. Cherish every moment

this is just beautiful. life really is short and taken before we know it. I am so glad that this father takes his children to see their mother, she will live on forever in their hearts. I would be lost if i lost my husband. I dont even want to think about it, and explaining to the children…it would break my heart 🙁

Life is indeed very precious. It is very hard to think of death.

I too think about my own mortality and have only one wish which is to see my daughter into adulthood.

Life is precious indeed !
My sister died young of kidney cancer and left her husband and 2 children behind.
Not nice to prepare yourself, but one day we will die and do we know what happens with our kids and the partner we leave behind ? Maybe good to have a chat every now and then and share some thoughts with your partner / best friend.

Very touching article.

it is just something i am not prepared to think about just yet…..

I’m very aware of mortality too. It must be horrible to lose your partner or to die yourself and leave young kids behind. So many changes for the family. Some families will have to struggle a lot also economically. I know a woman whose husband died when he was around 30 years old. She had 3 young kids. She was obliged to go back to work and life from that moment on was so difficult. She did it, with a lot of sacrifices, but she did it. Finding in herself the strength to go on. But I can imagine how often she felt down and completely alone facing the world.