Searching for the New Normal: My personal journal as my greatest fear is realized¿the death of my child.

by Rexanne Williams

This book is for anyone experiencing grief especially someone who has lost a child. The manner in which your child died may be the only difference you and I share. The grief we now feel after the death of our dear cherished children puts us in a very distinct group of people. Parents are not supposed to bury their children. This isn't normal nor is it the cycle of life. I never knew it was humanly possible to feel so much pain and sadness and yet have the human body still survive.

130 pages, Paperback

First published January 29, 2008

Reviews

[Stacey · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have recently become friends with the author. Her son died by suicide at age 19 about 20 years ago, and she published this journal because when she was in the throes of grief she yearned for a book by a mother that would give her hope that she would get through this and found nothing. I have a nephew who also died at age 19, of an accidental drowning, and Rexanne's book did add to my understanding of what my sister went through (though not a suicide, ALL deaths of 19 year olds are tragic and traumatic).

My sister would not have appreciated this book in the days after her son's death, because she just didn't want to hear about more sadness. I don't know at what point this book would have been helpful to her, if ever, but I DO think it is helpful for those friends and family on the periphery. And it does give hope that there can be a happy life after deep grief - not really after since the grief never goes away, but as one learns to live with it.

4 stars because it is a journal, not a work of literature.

[Heidi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought this was an amazing insight of a mother that was trying to cope with the loss of her child as a result of suicide. I cried and smiled and loved to see her journey through this tragic event in her life.