Heading to Kayak summer of 2014.
Exhausted......Mentally worn out. How'd we go from a normal everyday family to survivors of suicide loss?
Vacationing in Florida in 2010
Where'd the little boy go that was our encyclopedia? Our book of knowledge. Our comedian.
Deep Sea fishing at 11 years old.
The one that could do anything the big boys could do. Never met a challenge he wouldn't take on.
Branson 2014
Our poser. Always ready for a photo op!
Christmas 2014
Who knew that'd be his last Christmas gifts? The last Christmas pictures of the whole family.
Doing what he loved March of 2015
Making plans to enter the military when he turned 18.
Spring Break 2015
Never showed fear.
Mr Independent. Never met a stranger. Traveled to Seattle and back, alone at 16. Took selfies with the old man next to him on the plane to send me. And I'm sure talked his ear off the whole way.
August 17th, 1st day of senior year of high school, 3 days after his 17th birthday.
Does that look like the eyes of a kid that less than 1 month later will take his own life. When you envision a kid that is suicidal, is this the picture that comes to mind? It wasn't mine. He had a loving family, a nice home, a car, a job, friends. He had a great childhood growing up with good memories of vacations. He'd experienced a lot in his 17 years. Traveled across the country. Marked many things off his bucket list.
How is this all we are left with? Pictures.
Talk to your children everyday. See if they need anything, not just physical but emotionally. Trust your gut, if you feel something is off, don't shrug it off as being overly protective and think "they'll let me know if they need something". Even asked repeatedly the day of his death, he still refused help and assured everyone he was fine. He had all the right answers to make us believe him.
If you or someone you know ever feels like suicide is the only way out. Think of everyone you are leaving behind. Whether it's your family, your friends, your pets. Who is going to take care of them when you are gone? They will grieve for you and be lost in themselves. Ask for help, reach out to someone. Below I've posted the link to the national suicide prevention website.
http://www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org/
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