Clare Smart. Celebrant and Blogger: Life as a Brain Cancer Carer then Young Widow/Solo Parent
A friend checked in with me a week ago anticipating the anniversary tomorrow. The day Mick died. It will be ten years. She said “I’m sure the pain never stops”. She’s right. She also asked after me and the kids. It felt good to be able to say we are good. Actually not good -... Continue Reading →
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 →
When you have young children, you meet people all the time through playgroups/daycare and then another new community when children start school. It is a time in your life when you usually share a lot of information about yourself to build friendships and support networks. You disclose what you do for work, how you live and from that you find commonalities.
My husband and I had a significant difference to other parents that we met. We were riding the terminal brain cancer roller coaster.
It took me several years to acknowledge the residual anger that I had following the diagnosis of my husband with brain cancer and his eventual death. I was a young widow with two young children and the life that I had envisaged was no longer possible. I had layer upon layer of anger that I resisted expressing.... Continue Reading →
A few days ago I returned to a beautiful bay beach that has always had a little magic for me. It is in a National Park and is accessed by walking in several kilometres though bush full of wildflowers, tall gnarled eucalyptus gums with dusty deep pink bark, sandstone cliffs and vibrant green ferns. When you arrive there... Continue Reading →
Rainbows & Rollercoasters 