I am a wife and the mom of an infant daughter. After the accident occurred, I spent my days running to the hospital and keeping vigil at my father's and sister's bedsides. I left my daughter with my mother-in-law and husband. I would leave early in the morning before my daughter woke up and come home after she was fast asleep. She learned to say "Dada" and crawl that week -- and I wasn't there to see it. 

I faced an enormous dilemma. During every other family tragedy, I'd only had the "daughter" role. I was supportive, collected and strong. I also had my parents to help me, and I was able to go home and curl up in a ball and fall apart in private. But during this incident, I had a husband and a baby to take care of, too. I was no longer just a member of a family unit that consisted of my mom, dad, sister and brother. I had my own family, and when I came home, I couldn't curl up in a ball. I had to take care of them. 

My time away was affecting my husband and my daughter. I wanted to be at my father's side, but I knew my daughter needed me as well. I wanted her to feel secure and safe. I knew she would pick up on all of the stress and sadness, because babies are sponges and they sense everything. So I wanted very much to be there. But my first family needed me to be a strong daughter and sister. 

I would talk to my daughter and explain how sad I was, how very sick her grandpa was and, eventually, how her grandpa had died and how sad that made her mommy. But she wasn't used to being away from me that much, and she was showing signs of distress. I felt pulled in a hundred directions, like I couldn't be everything to everybody, and everyone was being let down. 

I consulted my daughter's pediatrician and her child-development specialist, who explained how important it was for me to spend time with my daughter, to show her my emotions so she knows that it's OK to be sad and to help get her life back to normal. How was that possible when my life was turned upside down? 

When I got back to California after the funeral, I was plagued by anxiety and depression. I felt like someone had sucked the joy and happiness out of me in slow motion. Every task felt impossible, and I was exhausted. My mom was home dealing with the aftermath, and I felt terrible that I wasn't there to help. But I had my own family to take care of; I had to get my life back on track. I felt devastated about my father and disconnected from my daughter. And I was terrified that this was affecting her in all sorts of negative ways. 

I know that I am a daughter and a mother. I am not just part of a family, I have my own family. I have to put my family first and take care of them. They need me, and I need them. I did the best I could in a terrible situation. And as much as I wish I could be the baby and my daughter could be the mommy for a few weeks, that just isn't how life works. I also know that I am sad and that is OK.

You can do it all, just not always at the same time.