Dad's 10 life lessons from tragic loss of three-year-old son
A father has shared 10 most important things he’s learned since the death of his three-year-old son.
UK man Richard Pringle said goodbye to “beautiful little boy” Hughie after he died from a brain haemorrhage on August 18, 2016, according to The Mirror.
Mr Pringle, of Hastings, East Sussex, said despite his boy’s condition he was “doing so well”.
"He was soft, gentle, caring and so lovable," he said.
"He made the boring things fun. He made everything fun.”
Reflecting on Hughie’s death one year on, Mr Pringle, who has two other children, has shared the most important lessons the tragedy taught him about parenting and spending time with his children.
'The 10 most important things I've learned since losing my son'
1.You can never ever kiss and love too much.
2.You always have time. Stop what you're doing and play, even if it's just for a minute. Nothing's that important that it can't wait.
3.Take as many photos and record as many videos as humanly possible. One day that might be all you have.
Don't spend money, spend time. You think what you spend matters? It doesn't. What you do matters. Jump in puddles, go for walks. Swim in the sea, build a camp and have fun. That's all they want. I can't remember what we bought Hughie I can only remember what we did.
Sing. Sing songs together. My happiest memories are of Hughie sitting on my shoulders or sitting next to me in the car singing our favourite songs. Memories are created in music.
# Cherish the simplest of things. Night times, bedtimes, reading stories. Dinners together. Lazy Sundays. Cherish the simplest of times. They are what I miss the most. Don't let those special times pass you by unnoticed.
Always kiss those you love goodbye and if you forget. Go back and kiss them. You never know if it's the last time you'll get the chance.
Make boring things fun. Shopping trips, car journeys, walking to the shops. Be silly, tell jokes, laugh, smile and enjoy yourselves. They're only chores if you treat them like that. Life is too short not to have fun.
Keep a journal. Write down everything your little ones do that lights up your world. The funny things they say, the cute things they do. We only started doing this after we lost Hughie. We wanted to remember everything. Now we do it for Hettie and we will for Hennie too. You'll have these memories written down forever and when your older you can look back and cherish every moment.
If you have your children with you. To kiss goodnight. To have breakfast with. To walk to school. To take to university. To watch get married. You are blessed. Never ever forget that
Mr Pringle shared his advice on Facebook.
The post has been shared more than 4800 times and liked more than 9000.
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“This has just brought a tear to my eye, I don't do some of these enough with my daughter and I will be from now on,” one user commented.
“Beautiful words, I have had a tough day with my little one. This has made me realise what is important. Thank you,” another said.
Mr Pringle hopes the post will encourage people to spend more time with their kids.
