K was too little when my husband died to remember him at all but she is guards his memory fiercely and constantly.Her daddy is a very important topic of conversation and I don’t think I’ve done anything besides the obvious talks,pictures and mementos to keep his memory alive.I think K feels him close to her and when she was younger she would talk to his portrait outloud.She might idolize him a little,but she does that with me and most adults in the family.I plan to be honest with her when she’s old enough to hear about her daddy’s (and mommy’s) wild past. She takes comfort in knowing that her daddy adored her and needs nothing beyond that for now. When she asks more, I’ll say more.

Not a day goes by that my son’s father does not come up in conversation. Usually, I tell him how much something he does reminds me of his dad or how much he would be proud of him. I don’t think Natascha was out of line by telling her son that his father would have an opinion about his behavior. It’s something that slipped out and when you’re actively trying to keep an individual’s memory alive, these things happen. It’s true that when an individual dies, people focus on the positive aspects of their being and, at times, elevate them to a saintly status. Although this is nice, I’m a firm believer that that given individual should be recognized as a person; faults and all. Since my son is still young, he doesn’t know all the components that were his father but I’m sure he’ll question things more as he gets older and I will be honest with him. Does that mean I’m going to call my boyfriend out on every wrong doing and degrade him? Absolutely not. But I will teach my son that everyone makes mistakes but what’s most important is how you learn from them and bettering yourself by doing so.

I wish Natascha and her sons nothing but the best of luck in life!

Every time I read about this family I feel so sorry for them, I can’t imagine losing a husband and father of such young children.