Awkward

[Missy1]

Today I got the strangest Christmas gift from a relative it was a Christmas ornament that had a readout of my husband’s EKG on his last day of life. The read out was in clear Christmas ornament. It’s had the date, time, name etc.

He told me the social worker offered this and other things. 
I Felt immediately crushed and sad and a little angry and why the social worker didn’t tell me about this!   I wouldn’t put it in a Christmas ornament I would’ve put this little read out maybe on a piece of wood or something and lacquered it, or maybe I wouldn’t have been open to it at all.
It really pushed me down and hurt me so bad, not that I haven’t been suffering like many of you during the holiday season. I want this to be over with, our  first Christmas apart!

[SharedLife]

2 hours ago, Missy1 said:

He told me the social worker offered this and other things.

Damn. A terribly insensitive social worker. If it were me, I'd contact the social worker to let him/her know how it affected you. They should know.

[jmmosley53]

Hello Missy1,

It would be my guess that the social worker thought they were giving you something meaningful.  Unless they had lost a spouse they would have no idea how much pain a gift like that would cause.  (Enough making excuses for the social worker).

I would put the ornament away for this year, it could be that there would come a day when you wanted to look at it but if not it hurts nothing sitting at the bottom of the Christmas decoration box.

Remember that just because someone has gifted you with something you won't have to love it, or even use it

[Diane R. E.]

Missy1; my heart goes out to you. Yes, the social worker was terribly insensitive. I imagine your relative felt they were giving you something memorable in a good way, but it was inappropriate. Like others say, unless someone has experienced this loss and grief, they don't understand. But what was your relative thinking???

[KayC]

Oh my gosh!  That doesn't belong on a Christmas ornament!  It's not something merry and cheery!  They are both off!  I hope you can find a way to let them know how inappropriate you feel it is, insensitive at best.  I can't even imagine!  I don't know what I'd do with that, maybe smash it?!  I mean, I want to keep everything of George's but NOT things that are a bad memory!  First thing I did was get rid of anything associated with his job, as I fault them for the stress that killed him.  They wanted more and more and more from him!  No excuse!  The blasted company stole all his tools (worth thousands of dollars) and didn't even send a card, flowers, or company rep. to his funeral.  Blank them!  

I guess you can see that's a sore subject still.  Sorry.

7 hours ago, jmmosley53 said:

Hello Missy1,

It would be my guess that the social worker thought they were giving you something meaningful.  Unless they had lost a spouse they would have no idea how much pain a gift like that would cause.  (Enough making excuses for the social worker).

I would put the ornament away for this year, it could be that there would come a day when you wanted to look at it but if not it hurts nothing sitting at the bottom of the Christmas decoration box.

Remember that just because someone has gifted you with something you won't have to love it, or even use it

Better advice than my response.