I went outside to fill the bird feeder and write in my journal while sitting with the birds. While sitting and writing there were some birds around but not a whole lot. There was a fly that landed on my journal and watched me for a bit a couple of times. Once I finished writing and put the journal down to focus on just watching and finishing my coffee the birds really started to get active. There were a few America Goldfinches on the ground and at the feeder. These always remind me of Sarah because of the bright yellow color and she loved yellow in her earlier years before switching to purple.

More interesting was there were 3 cardinals that came around but just looked at me and didn’t eat. It was 2 females and a juvenile which was also female based on the coloring. I don’t have any pictures and I didn’t take a camera out with me.

I also wanted to share the information about the Momma Orca for those that may not have heard about it – see below.

While scrolling through my Facebook feed when this post from the TEARS foundation appeared. I am not sure if it was sponsored or if a friend shared it because I had not heard of this organization or had any contact with them in the past (and it no longer shows up in my feed. I read it because I had heard about the Momma Orca a week ago and wondered if she was still pushing he calf around. As of this writing she is and it has been 17 days,

The very last line “You’re not alone. Find your “pod” is so appropriate. Everyone’s love, support and condolences have been so helpful and I can’t thank those people enough for eveything they have done for us.

WHEN DO YOU LET GO?

In Response To Mama Orca and Her Baby

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The world has been watching as the mama orca carries her dead baby on her back, unwilling to let go.

Many wonder, “When will she let go?”, and “If she holds onto her baby too long, could this be unhealthy?”

These images provoke many emotions, especially to those of us in the human world who have had the experience of holding onto our own baby who has died.

So, when should mama orca let go of her baby and move on? Release her into the vast sea, never to see her child again?

Mama orca, take as much time as you need. None of us can tell you when you should let go. Don’t let go too soon. Hold onto your baby. When you are ready, and only then, you will know.
And you may never feel fully ready to release your baby.

Mama, you’ll find out, when that time comes and you do release your baby’s body, that although she’s no longer physically present, you will never release her memory from your heart and mind. You will continue to carry her. Her memory, the weight you felt as you held her, your love for her, within you. For a lifetime.

Mama orca, your love, grief, and pain at the loss of your precious baby are teaching the world the reality of what we as bereaved parents suffer through.

We hold on as tight as we can. We don’t want to let go of our babies either. Some hate to see us in pain and encourage us to let go, to move on, and to find closure. Then, there’s our “pod”. Our pod are those who stay alongside us, slow down with us and allow us to hold onto our baby.

We struggle to hold on to our babies in a world that wants us to quickly let go. Our grief is not based on the time on a clock or the number of days we spend mourning the loss of our child. But rather our grief is based on our heart’s time and only we can determine how we move forward in our grief.

We feel you, mama orca. Go slow. Hold your little one. There are no rewards for speed, so take all the time you need.

Sarah Slack
Founder/CEO
The TEARS Foundation

You’re not alone. Find your “pod”