Last Friday I volunteered in our oldest's first grade classroom. 26 6-year-olds wrote their "daily news" - writing whatever is on their mind and then illustrating it. Then they stand in a circle and share them aloud. One boy wrote that he saw his mom in Boston, as she's hospitalized awaiting the birth of twins. Cue the punch to my gut...as I was in the same place 1.5 years ago and Caroline was the one coming to see me. Then Caroline stood up and read this. "I love, love, love my mom. I love, love, love my dad. I love, love, love my brother Jackson. I love, love, love Ryan my brother. I love, love, love my angel Ethan."

25 kids didn't bat an eye. Her teacher was gracious though I clearly had forgotten to tell her at the beginning of the school year.

I am immensely thankful that my older three children remember and include their baby brother Ethan. Though I really wish he didn't have to be their angel.

Not sure why I shared this necessarily. Perhaps as you all understand my definition of bittersweet.

I'm glad you shared. It's a beautiful story but yes so bittersweet

Thanks for sharing that beautiful, bittersweet story.

Precious girl. She will never forget him. Thinking of you. And understanding your pain combined with pride. This is such a long difficult road.

Hi my friend Annie, thank you for sharing this. It is bittersweet, indeed. I was struck that with what she has been given, happiness and sadness, your daughter sees love all around, and I know you fostered that in her, beautiful mama.with love to you and all of your babies,
Jen (AdiaRose's mom)

It is a bittersweet situation and I would've been in tears. I lost my first daughter at 33 weeks...she would be turning 8 this year. My 5 year old daughter is my rainbow baby...she knows we have a special garden for Angelica and she has seen photos of her around the house. But she has no clue that she is her sister and that she died. I am struggling with her recent requests for a sister, as I managed to give her a baby brother who is 2 years old almost losing my own life and his in the process. There will be no more babies for me. Her innocent requests for a sister freeze me to the core. I often lost for words, holding back tears and a pain I thought I had overcome! How stupid I am to think it would ever go! I don't know what to tell her. Just watching the Lion King with her yesterday sent me crying to the bathroom....pretending I had hurt my eye. I know she is going to ask me 'who Angelica is' soon. I honestly don't know how I am going to handle that situation and explain it to her without opening an enormously guilt-ridden hole that I thought I had healed. Any advice would be appreciated.

Thank you so much for sharing!