Handwritten note tucked inside a children's book addressing a grieving mom has the internet bawling

Grief is a difficult concept, and when a parent loses their child, the pain and heartbreak are even more unfathomable. A user who goes by u/ipassmore on Reddit revealed that they came across a children’s book that had a handwritten note on the inside. Many people write notes to the recipient of the book, but this one was special. It was addressed to a grieving mother on the loss of her child. A short and seemingly simple note, containing something bittersweet, touched the hearts of many — especially parents. 

There is no definite way to process grief, let alone the grief of a child. A parent must have had so many plans and aspirations for their life with their child, and to let go of them all after their passing is debilitating. It could lead to so many struggles, both internally and externally, per Web MD. This loss is one of a kind, and even after acceptance, there is still a void in a grieving parent’s heart. According to researcher María Cantero-García, et al., parents who lose their children unexpectedly can also feel misunderstood and isolated. One can’t explain what must have gone through this mom’s heart for her late son. 

On the first page of a children’s book titled “Our Tree Named Steve” by Anna Zweibel, a person named Susie shared her pain and empathy towards the grieving mother. The user came across the book while thrift shopping and thought of sharing the note. The book is a letter from a dad to his children who are away, discussing their family tree, Steve, who has been in their home for decades, per The Child Inspired. The dad poignantly notes how the tree grew into a family member over the years, and through random and special events, stood proudly to give shade, strength, and support to the family.

Unfortunately, the dad goes on to mention sad news about the tree, but adds hope and encourages his children to remember it through all the special moments they shared. Sharing this book with the bereaved mom, Susie's handwritten note read, “Words escape me. I can’t know the pain of losing a son.” She made sure to note the mother's significant role in her son's life. “I want you to know how precious you were to your son. He spoke often of your love and faith,” the note read. “May the Lord comfort your heart." Lastly, Susie revealed why she had chosen the children’s book for the mom.

“Take this book and read it to the babies and share about our Steve. I love you, mom,” it concluded. This hints at the idea that Susie was, in fact, one of the grieving mother's children, who had written this note, keeping her younger siblings in mind. The book and its storyline became a guide for the heart-wrenched mother to keep her son’s memory alive and pass it on through moments, memories, and the tiniest of anecdotes from his short life. A study published in MDPI revealed that bereaved parents can find some solace by talking to others about their feelings, finding support groups, and so on. Even finding ways to honor and remember the child can help. Many people, especially parents, resonated deeply with the pain. u/FishyCoral said, “This seems so sentimental, it's hard to believe it was given away. Maybe the grief was too much for any reminders.” u/dude51791 said, “The only thing I could ever ask for is to never see the death of my child, and that I cross that bridge first.”