A mother lost

I found out today that one of the teachers at my children's daycare died last week. She was 32 years old, a new mom of a healthy 2 week old baby boy, a wife. She died of a brain aneurysm; she was otherwise a picture of health. Why was she, her husband and her little boy dealt such a bad round of cards?

Nothing can describe the loss of a vibrant young woman, a new mom. I can only think of the things she will miss in her little babe's life. Things so simple but so amazingly sweet, memorable and funny. I have been thinking of all the firsts all three of my children have brought me. She will miss all those firsts - the first smile, the first night of full sleep, the first full night of no sleep, the first blow-out diaper, the first giggle, the first solids, the first roll, the first crawl, the first words, the first steps - and those are just the beginning of a lifetime of joy children bring to their parents. I think of her husband at home with his new son, seeing his wife in the babe's little eyes, nose or mouth. I think of her a lot.

I will always remember her happy hellos in the morning at school, her commentary on Munsch books (the language can be a bit off for preschoolers), her obvious love of the children and her joy when she was promoted to a new position at a sister school. I think of her co-workers - my children's teachers - they are such a close-knit group of wonderful people. I know they are devastated.

I am angry and I am sad.