13 Comments
User's avatar
Janine De Tillio Cammarata 🖊️'s avatar

Such beautiful and true words, Elizabeth.

This is such an important message for anyone who hasn't gone through this experience.

I often decide in a split second on how to answer someone when they ask how many children I have--assuming that I do have children.

If I feel a connection or think I'll interact with them again, I'll say two--an earth son and a spirit son.

I let their discomfort settle but then always end up saying something to make them feel better, so I get that.

😌

Best of luck with your conference and many joyful moments with your daughter. ❤️

Expand full comment
Elizabeth Austin's avatar

Thank you so much, there are no easy answers to those questions ❤️ sending you warm and healing thoughts!

Expand full comment
Janine De Tillio Cammarata 🖊️'s avatar

I think the answers change as we do.

Sending warm hugs to you!

Expand full comment
Jeannine Ouellette's avatar

This is so beautiful, Elizabeth--and so is Carolyn, and so are you. Also, congratulations on Sewanee!!

Expand full comment
Elizabeth Austin's avatar

thank you so much, Jeannine!

Expand full comment
Brendan Spiegel's avatar

thank you for sharing this, and congrats on the Sewanee scholarship - how exciting!

Expand full comment
Elizabeth Austin's avatar

thanks, Brendan!!

Expand full comment
Elizabeth Maddock Dillon's avatar

Beautiful! Your writing and Carolyn’s smile!

Expand full comment
Jennifer Trainor's avatar

My heart ached and sang with recognition through every beautiful, tragic word of this. I wish we could all do better by you and your beautiful daughter and each other and everything.

Expand full comment
Elizabeth Austin's avatar

thank you, Jennifer <3

Expand full comment
Joy V.'s avatar

Love your final paragraph! Absolutely a common struggle trauma survivors deal with, and it's so isolating feeling like you can't be honest. (I find it especially hard w/ coworkers.)

Expand full comment
Elizabeth Austin's avatar

It's SO hard <3

Expand full comment
Paulina Pinsky's avatar

I love you dearly and I am so thankful you wrote all of it down.

Expand full comment