OK, some might say that this should be under "Bereavement&qu ot; but I am so proud!

Such a lovely thing, phoenix. You have every right to feel proud. Your son sounds to have been very special indeed.
and hugs.

9 years is a long time for his friends to remember him and still talk about him- he was and is an extra special fellow in your heart, of that I am aware.

It is very difficult for you and this time of year does not help at all, hugs from me also.

A very positive post about the loss of your dear son, You are very brave Phoenix

Phoenix dear girl, what can I say? Your other GN friends have posted here, so much of what I would like to say. So, and {{{hugs}}} to you .

for you and your boy phoenix.

Hang on to those precious memories Phoenix and how lovely, after 9 years, to still be finding out new things about your son

Sending love phoenix

Would you believe I meant “every right” -sorry.

Phoenix you have everybright to be proud. It is not only the length of a life which counts, but the quality.
Your son clearly touched many lives and his personality and friendship lives on in them.
A heartbreaking situation for you - sympathy, ? love and a big online {{hug}}

Keep talking about him, keep writing about him - that flame in your heart will never go out xx

And a b i g ((((hug))))

Hope you can have lots of happy memories of your DS xx

Phoenix

How very very lovely,
I've been close to several people who have lost children over the years and often think of them.
Death is a sudden thing, however loss is forever but it's a concern how to share that with the family, you don't want to upset somebody who is coping, you don't always have time to support if they get very upset. I'm saddened by the lack of speaking the name of those lost but often feel emotional remembering moments and events, it's very difficult.
I'm so pleased you find comfort in the knowledge that your son lives on, gone but not forgotten.
Kind thoughts x

That is lovely, phoenix. You are right to be proud of him. I'm pleased that you didn't put it under bereavement.

It’s wonderful that your son is fondly remembered by his friends and I do know what this means to you. When someone dies we can’t make new memories of them only keep hold of old ones, so the fact his friends are remembering things you didn’t know about him is so important. They haven’t forgotten him and never will ???

Phoenix

phoenix I read your op with a smile on my face and a tear in my eye.
Proof, not that you needed it how much he was loved. I'm glad you took comfort from it

It does say something my love, your son will always be remembered , special people are not forgotten , my love to you x

Phoenix I wrote a very long and considered response to your post and then had a tired senior moment and instead of clicking 'post message' I clicked on the GN shortcut on my toolbar and lost the flippin thing. What I said boiled down to; I get it - that affirmation that comes from knowing he was special to others too.

How wonderful that you can read the messages from his friends all these years later, and feel comforted by them. It's clear that they too remember him as a very special person. It says a lot about his friends too.

phoenix That must give you such a warm feeling knowing how much his friends still think of him. He must have been a very special boy. Lovely, too, that you now know about his pranks - even if you don't entirely approve!

Every right to be proud, phoenix. To be receiving such love now proves how much love your son had for others and how much he mattered to them. Each memory and post a small thing in itself but put together they become something so much bigger. I’m grateful you have been able to read those messages and feel their warmth

Chewbacca that's a lovely thing to say, thank you.

it seems that he was a popular person for his good manners and sense of humour.

Of course he was phoenix, he got that from his mum! And whilst nothing can make up for your sad loss, I'm so glad that your lovely son is still remembered with fondness and laughter. And he was good at choosing lovely friends too. x

Thank you both.

The first year after his death I wasn't surprised to see the postings, but 9 years on, and with several friends of his still posting, (btw, I didn't start the thread or whatever it is called on Facebook!) I am genuinely touched and proud.

This may sound silly, but even though he had left school 2 years before he died, and the funeral was at Bodmin (quite a way from Holsworthy, where he went to school) 3 of the dinner ladies came to the service! Quite a distance, and a freezing cold day.

They all took the time to speak to me, and it seems that he was a popular person for his good manners and sense of humour.