Reversing roles has worked for our family

DEAR AMY: I'm responding to your call for "second chance" stories. I was a full-time wife and mother when my husband lost his job more than a year ago. I had a previous career in health care and we knew I would have an easier time getting work, so I went back to my old employer and started working outside the home for the first time in eight years. It was tough at first. My husband wasn't used to being at home with our two kids and they weren't used to having him in charge. We're trying to see this as an opportunity for a second chance. We're trying to learn from this, but mainly we're happy our kids have seen us do what it takes to keep house and home together.

--Grateful Mom

DEAR MOM: Your family's story is what I had in mind when I suggested we could all benefit from sharing our experiences. For inspiration or to submit your story, check out mysecondchancestories.com.

 DEAR AMY: I am a 27-year-old woman who cannot get over losing my child to a very rare disease. My son was 5 months old and he struggled every day just to survive. His father and I had to make the decision to give comfort medication and let him pass away. It is almost one year later and I don't expect life to be normal, but I sleep for days, unable to leave the house for weeks, due to anxiety (I am on medication). I don't want to forget my son. I just want to lose the pain. I have a 3-year-old daughter who needs her mommy back.

--Heartbroken

DEAR HEARTBROKEN: You need and deserve more than medication to treat your grief. With therapy, you, your husband and young daughter will find ways to start to understand what happened.

Compassionate Friends was started to offer help to grieving parents who have lost children. Check compassionate friends.org for a local meeting.