This is my first post as "Unregistered". It will be my only one, as I have no intention of sticking around, and will register if I change my mind.
I don't know what the rules are on profanity here, but to those commenting on the "unnatural" responses of grieving parents, I have to say a big, fat "fuck you". I lost a child at birth five years ago. I'd had a long labour, an emergency c-section, and developed a raging systemic infection (complete with a nasty infection at the incision site), in addition to fairly severe anemia. I was physically unable to walk, and could barely stand up, for well over a week. I had all the grief of losing a much wanted child piled on top of that. And...I didn't cry all that much. When the tears came, they'd often go on for a long time (can recall crying jags of well over an hour, despite the physical pain they caused). But, sometimes, they didn't come. Sometimes, I'd be talking to a friend, and chatting, and laughing, like everything was okay. A couple times, I could even talk about it without breaking down. Other times, I couldn't. And, my husband, who was grieving just as much as I was...he functioned. He rarely cried, and always in private. He kept house, nursed me, and looked after the kids while I was physically incapacitated. Most of the time, you couldn't have guessed in a million years that this man had just lost a child. Once I was physically back on my feet, I was more or less the same way - most of the time. I had three other children to look after, and things that *needed* to be done.
I'm not "unnatural" for being able to laugh sometimes, even when I was going through my own personal hell. My husband isn't "unnatural", because he was able to function and take care of his family, instead of being sedated. I don't give a damn what your conspiracy theories may be - judging the way other people grieve is the act of a heartless (or extremely immature), shallow jerk. I wouldn't wish what we went through on my worst enemy.
Tell me, was I only a "real parent" when I fell apart over a "baby's first Christmas" (our son was born in November) stocking while shopping for our other kids? Or, was I also a real parent when I didn't? A part-time real parent, maybe?
You arrogant, judgmental, unfeeling jerks really, really need to get over yourselves.