The love of my life died when she was 38. Our four children were 15, 13, 11 and 9 at the time. They're currently 22, 24, 26, 28. I did my best that I knew how to do. I know it is not what they deserved. I could never take her place.
I do not think that I can impart, with words, how hard it was keeping her from the things that would harm her most. Aa time goes on, the trauma hits me harder, as I let it in, little by little.
I love my late wife. I love the mother of my children. Keeping her from hurting herself was... Difficult.
The wracking sobs as I called 911, while performing CPR on her. It's been almost 15 years and it's still traumatizing.
Her mother blames me for her death. To be honest. She might be right. I didn't keep her baby safe. I could have tried harder. I could have insisted on her being committed. I could have abrogated her right to self determination. But I didn't. And that's on me.
But I can't tell her mother that. Or her sons or daughter.
Instead. I tell you. Thanks for listening.
You did good.
You aren't responsible for another person's choices, you can't make anyone do or NOT do anything. You have carried on without giving up, sacrificing for the kids who needed someone to pick up the pieces. You didn't try to justify yourself to correct your grieving (and perhaps guilt-ridden) mother-in-law.
I hope you have someone to hug you, to hold you while you cry all the tears you need to cry, and then keep holding you until you're ready to sit alone. Therapy, yes. Hopefully those kids too, because you all went through the trauma together.
But you helped. You did good.