Death

[springsgardner]

A friend of mine had the funeral for her husband today. She and her 4 kids (15 and under) will soon send away their out-of-state relatives. Does anyone have any suggestions about how to help them start their new lives w/o husband/father during the first few weeks after their relatives leave? I'm sure it's going to be lonely at first. It may or may not help that the kids' school is observing a 2 week fall break starting Monday, so they can't resume their regular routine for a couple of weeks even if they wanted to.

My kids have already attempted to share some of their favorite video games with the 11 year old boy- the rest are girls.

I know that everyone mourns differently and on a different time frame, and that the pain they'll suffer is unavoidable. I just don't want them to feel alone and unsupported.

Thanks in advance!

[aggie49]

i feel for your friend all i can tell you is to just try to keep them busy this seems to help get them to do like projects that will make them if nothing else but take there mind away from the pain of losing there loved one

[Optiwoman]

My dad died when I was 12.  Everyone wanted to 'comfort' me, but all I really wanted was to be left alone.   I had one friend who I spent the first few nights with (I didn't want to sleep in the house where he died - and we moved almost imediately).  He talked when I wanted to talk and just let me sit and be sullen when I wanted to do that.  He was the only one I wanted to be around since everyone else wanted to make me 'feel better'.   So all I can tell you is to take the cues your friends and her kids give you.  Nothing will take the pain away, but it does help to know that someone actually cares enough to just sit quietly while you brood.  (everyone is different, but that was how I felt - I just wanted to be left alone to brood).