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Why start a conversation?
My name is Robin
I am a mother.
I have three children. Two passed.
If I can help save one child, then at least maybe their losses won't have been completely in vain.
This is my story.
Where to start? We were a normal family of happy experiences with normal ups and downs. Looking back, there were signs, but I didn't realize what they were or didn't understand how to address them.
But after losing my son Mitch and then, 18 months later, my daughter, Megan, I know more, I see more, yet, I still struggle to understand.
That's why I want to start talking about it with you. To possibly prevent your family from a similar loss.
I am in no way a therapist, psychiatrist, psychologist, or trained mental health professional. I am simply a mom who has lost two years of her darling children to depression, PTSD, anxiety, and, eventually, suicide. So please reach out to 988 if you are in immediate danger or to a therapist for your family to help learn the signs and coping mechanisms to get through this thing called life.
The first is the National Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.
Text 988.
Or call: 1-800-273-TALK (8255)
#starttalkingaboutit
My mission is to make "the suicide talk" part of the routine raising of our children. Like the birds and the bees, drugs and drinking talk.
Mitchell
Forever 25
Mitchell was my firstborn. He was always a happy, handsome little daredevil! Mitchell was 25 when his sensitive, kind, giving soul could no longer handle this cruel world. He had moved to Florida to live with a girlfriend, whom he'd met online, two years before his passing. Because he did not live nearby, and we didn't see, touch, hold, or hug him, we had no idea the state he was in. Even his sister, his best friend. He was very good at covering up his depression. So when I got that late-night call, we were completely shocked.....
Alex
My sweet Alex is my middle child. Always full of energy and kindness. Alex is now 25 and very proudly protecting his country as a US Army soldier. I could not be more proud! He worked very hard to achieve this dream of becoming a soldier. His brother and sister were so proud of him! Telling everyone they met about their hero brother! Alex also has a heart of gold. (All my children are sensitive, kind, caring, beautiful souls).
Megan
Forever 20.
Megan received the call about Mitchell. So her beautiful, kind heart was tasked with telling her mother that her son has passed away.....and how......this broke Megan.
Megan is the baby of the family. When Megan was born, their father and I got divorced. Megan never had that nuclear family. No memories of a happy mom and dad snuggling on the sofa, BBQs with friends and family in the backyard pool.
Megan loved ANYTHING that lived. Any kind of animal or flower, she loved it. She even tried to fix a frog's broken leg once, lol! Megan would tell EVERYONE that her mom was her best friend. And I would say the same. She was a mini-me. We were inseparable. Late-night drives to see the city lights, hopping on the motorcycle to go for a Sunday drive. Megan was 20 years old when her kind heart could no longer exist in this cruel place. (We learned, while she was on life support, that she had signed up to be an organ donor soon after Mitchell's passing. Again showing her final act of love for all things living. She saved/improved the quality of 20 lives).