Clare Smart. Celebrant and Blogger: Life as a Brain Cancer Carer then Young Widow/Solo Parent
When I gave my late husband, Mick, a pair of thongs (flip-flops) for Christmas I had no idea that they would become one of the most loathed objects in my life. So much so, that three and half years later when Mick died from brain cancer, I immediately collected the thongs and hurled them into... Continue Reading →
While we were out exploring the city today, my children and I happened upon an extensive installation of paper daffodil tributes organised by the Cancer Council as a Field of Hope. Each daffodil had an individual message or drawing of love. It was beautiful. There was no way to ignore it because it covered the... Continue Reading →
Most days I write about and reflect upon emotion-full memories. Frivolity as a counter balance is essential.
Much of the time my son wraps himself in a cloak of caution. Sometimes with extra layers of fear and anger. Wary of the world and life. I have an inkling of why he wears it.
(Also published on Women's spiritual poetry blog) If I could step back in time to the day when my young husband (36 years of age) was diagnosed with terminal brain cancer, what would I tell myself? What would I tell the ambitious, independent, achievement focused, busy young woman who was trying to balance starting a family... Continue Reading →
How my young children and I mark each birthday of my late husband Love, loss and gratitude intertwined
When I became a young widow and single mum, I tried to return to my default way of living - before children and before cancer. It was: Achieve, Control, Independence, Busyness. I found that returning to that way of living was impossible. It took me a while to listen to my heart whisper "Surrender and Trust". A... Continue Reading →
It was heart wrenching explaining to my four year old daughter over and over again that Daddy's body had been turned to ashes. That he was not coming home. I needed to make a plan for where to place to my husband's ashes and arrange a ceremony to help connect my children to his place of rest.
I had always hoped that I was psychologically strong enough, resilient enough and optimistic enough to cope with life's challenges without needing to see a counsellor. However, when a curveball of cancer knocked my young family off course, I conceded after some time that I needed to subdue my ego and seek counselling. Counselling sessions became a... Continue Reading →
Rainbows & Rollercoasters 