Grief doesn't have a plot. It isn't smooth. There is no beginning and middle and end.
Ann HoodRead
My daughter, Grace, was not killed by a gun. She died suddenly at age 5 from a virulent form of strep. As I stood stunned in a church at her memorial, one of the hardest things I heard someone say was, 'I'm going to go home and hug my child a little tighter.' 'Well, good for you,' I thought. 'I'm going to go home and scream.'
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote reflects the deep pain of losing a child and the different reactions people have to grief and appreciation for loved ones.
In this poignant quote, Ann Hood expresses her anguish over the sudden loss of her daughter Grace to a severe illness. In the midst of her grief, she contrasts her feelings of sorrow with the seemingly optimistic reaction of others, highlighting the complexity of mourning and the way loss can reshape our understanding of love and connection with family.
Themes
GriefLossFamilyLoveAppreciation
In practice
Example use cases
Using this quote in a speech about the importance of cherishing family moments.
More from Ann Hood
All quotes →Similar quotes
I often imagine what it would be like if my father were still here to mark his 100th birthday, if Alzheimer's hadn't clawed away years, possibilities, hopes. What would he think of all the commemorations and celebrations?
Patti DavisRead
All the awards in the world, you can get into all the nightclubs, they'll send you the nicest clothes. Nothing better than walking into your dad's restaurant and seeing a smile on his face and knowing that your mom and dad and your sister are real proud of you.
Lady GagaRead
In the family sandwich, the older people and the younger ones can recognize one another as the bread. Those in the middle are, for a time, the meat.
Anna QuindlenRead
During the sole argument we had when [Chelsea] was in high school, the subject of which I don't even remember, I looked at her and said, 'As long as you're in this house, being president is my second most important job'.
William J. ClintonRead
Grandmotherhood initiated me into a world of play, where all things became fresh, alive, and honest again through my grandchildren's eyes. Mostly, it retaught me love.
Sue Monk KiddRead
One of my main wishes in wanting to write about my mother was to explore the impact of her death on my life, explore our relationship, think about the different versions of myself that I was with and without her. I also had the really strong wish to bring her to life for my children, who were born after she was gone.
Tracy K. SmithRead