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Don't Take Anything For Granted (1 Viewer)

Joe Bryant

Joe Bryant

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Hey Y'all.

Nothing needed at all and we're ok here but bad news in that my brother in law in Houston died today in a car accident.

Even more heartbreaking is they have 4 kids under 6 years old, including a pair of one-year-old twins.

I don't know how in the world you tell a 6-year-old that their Dad died.

My wife is going to Houston tomorrow, and I'll be following at some point.

Don't take anything for granted.
 
I'm so sorry Joe and know a little about how it feels. I lost my best friend in an airplane crash last summer on his flight back to Houston and still trying to make sense of it. He also had a similar family situation as your BIL (married with three kids). It really hits me hard when I see his 5 year old little girl and know she'll grow up without the love and guidance of her amazing Father. You may want to buy them this book which is good for introducing children to the concept of death. Good bedtime read for the Mom and child: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0689206887?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_fed_asin_title
 
Major said:
I'm so sorry Joe and know a little about how it feels. I lost my best friend in an airplane crash last summer on his flight back to Houston and still trying to make sense of it. He also had a similar family situation as your BIL (married with three kids). It really hits me hard when I see his 5 year old little girl and know she'll grow up without the love and guidance of her amazing Father. You may want to buy them this book which is good for introducing children to the concept of death. Good bedtime read for the Mom and child: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0689206887?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_fed_asin_title
Click to expand...
Thanks, GB. Ordered that book.
 
Joe Bryant said:
I don't know how in the world you tell a 6-year-old that their Dad died.
Click to expand...
There is no easy way to do it.

My experience was a little different - it was my nephew (18 at the time, today is his 21st birthday) that had to call and tell me that my brother (his dad) had died.

I then had to do the hardest thing in my life - call my parents and tell them that their son was dead. I wish having to make a similar call on no one. Hearing my mom cry like that still haunts me.

Easier said than done given the distance, but as much as possible be there for those kids - be a positive influence, a father figure for lack of a better description. It'll be different as my nephews were older when they lost their dad so he was there for many of the school/younger life milestones - your nieces/nephews won't have their dad there - having family will matter that much more.
 
I’m so sorry to hear that Joe. That’s awful. And you’re right, it’s so easy to take for granted that we have one more day, one more call, one more conversation, one more goodbye.
 
Thoughts and prayers to you and the entire family. The last couple of years have been extremely challenging for me between losing loved ones, having my health and career derailed by assaults and robberies and family medical issues. It really has been a lesson for me about how life can be so fragile. Your message of not taking things for granted is soo valid. It’s something that we all need to remember and remind ourselves of. Sending condolences and strength your way.
 
So sorry for your loss Joe. Having lost my father to a tragic accident at age thirteen, I share your concern. Grief counseling was not really a thing when I was young. Being a teenager made it even worse. Those kids will need to talk to someone, either a trusted family member or a professional. Follow up will be critical. It helped me to write out my feelings. Unfortunately there was no one to follow up and break thru the tough exterior I put up. Prayers for you and your family. This will be a long term concern with no short term fixes.
 
I lost my mother in a car wreck when I was 5. I remember my dad taking me to the bedroom, kneeling down on the floor with me, hugging me and telling me the news. I don't remember this part but apparently I told him "Don't cry Daddy, I'll help you find a new Mommy". Now as an adult that seems like the most terrible thing I could have said in the moment, but Dad just took it as my way of saying "we still have each other, and we'll get through this together".

I'm very sorry for your family's loss Joe. Hope you all can find a way to lean on each other through this time.
 
That is terrible, it is really rough in your sister and nieces/nephews right now and for the foreseeable future.

I can offer nothing except thought's and prayers.
 
God that's awful. Here I am dwelling on my misfortune of a broken back and unsure future and I read this thinking I should just be feeling lucky to be alive. Almost selfish. Those poor children.

The comments made in the thread I started were quite helpful and I very much appreciate the time so many strangers took to reach out. This place is special and I hope you know the difference you've made in so many. I am so sorry for your loss and those closest, it's hard to imagine what it would be like to have to move forward from that, especially your sister and the 4 children.

Maybe the need to focus on the children will help in some small way to not be alone and endlessly think too much (I know how that goes and it's not good). And maybe the youngest are at an age where it is almost better that they can't grasp the depth of it, or lack of a better understanding of the implications. I don't know, just trying to find some sort of aspects that could possibly send some sort of light at the end of such a dark tunnel. However faint that may be right now.

Just so sorry, will be thinking about you and your loved ones and hope all get through this as best as you could hope for. Take care.
 
I'm sorry for your loss, Joe, and the impact it will have on your family. Best wishes (especially to the six year old).
 
Such a tragedy. My condolences.

People always hear and read stories like this on the news or online and it never resonates until it is someone you know...and eventually it will be.
 
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