Publisher's Synopsis
The 2nd Mum
The 2nd Mum is a book l wrote just over 12 and years ago I wrote this book for a few reasons. One of those being. After seeing brothers in the church lose their wives the Mother of their children and the devastation this loss had affected them all. For some reason seeing this stayed with me then and even now. This book was written with a lot of a love and care. In this book we are introduced to one family unit headed by Ted. In this family we get to know the Dad the children of this story. In 2nd Mum we get to know about the first Mum and her home and character. Knowing about Tess is so important, because she was Ted's wife and she had history. Personal history with Ted and the children she bore. We get to know Tess through the eyes of her family. Tess was not perfect but she gave so much love and affection that her family could hold onto after she had died. Thank God she left them with precious memories not to be forgotten. Life today does go on when we lose someone it's progress is different for us all. When a relative dies, it is hard. In some cases to adjust to the fact that person will not be around anymore. On the hand a person who has an unexpected illness, it is hoped by all that they will survive the diagnosis. But to be told that they are no longer with you. or that their death seemed so untimely to you and the cause of death. You have no words to explain the suddeness of it all. All the pain that person endured we have to leave in God's hands. for God knows everything, because he made us. God knows best even though it is hard for us as human beings to digest it all. In our emotions we weep, cry and have many questions of why? God knows the individual person, whether it be friend, relative. God knows their future we do not. It is he who decides the outcome. We must try in the pain to accept this and its not easy. But in this story we see Ted's progress but he does not get there overnight. It is something that took time for him and not only him but his kids. His wife's death brought shock denial, pain. guilt, anger, bargaining, depression and sorrow. But it also brought an upward turn, reconstruction, working through, acceptance and also hope. In this story we know that Ted has a church community and their involvement in Ted's progress. His brethren realize that Ted lost a wife his children lost a Mum. But helping Ted did not stop before and after the funeral. Ted still needed support emotionally, mentally and spiritually. Ted needed practical help also. We later meet the woman who is the title of my story the 2nd Mum. For those women who are second Mums who love their husbands and kids that she has not biologically had, but l applaud them. In my story this women was a sister in the church. But there are women who have taken on this role who have not married a widower. There are Sisters, Grandmothers, Aunties, female guardians and friends. Who take on this role which can come with challenges for all concerned and involved. In the 2nd Mum we can see taking on a new family unit can work with God and does work.