Hi there, I'm really not sure how to handle this and I would really welcome your advice, I tend to be more practical than emotional and I want to be supportive and sensitive but I'm really struggling right now.
My husband's younger brother died a week ago by his own hand whilst we were on holiday with our young kids. His parents only told us when we got back a couple of days ago (quite rightly I think, as there's nothing we could have done). Obviously it's been a huge shock.
DH's parents are elderly and have been writing individually to people using pen and paper to let them know. They have had friends over every day to comfort them which I am so grateful for but we haven't been able to tell anyone because they are still in the process of writing to people and are struggling with the fact that we want to be able to tell our friends and acquaintances sensitively via Facebook rather than sending individual messages. We're not even sure that BIL's friends all know about it because we don't know them and our only contact would be through his FB. I totally understand that this is a generational culture shock for his parents but right now both DH and I feel that we can't tell anyone yet and it is weighing on us very heavily. I've told my best friend because I needed her advice but there are many other friends who I feel would want to support us and that we would like to lean on and I feel like we are bound to silence until we are allowed to share the news.
I am especially anxious to tell people via a more general message because we are going to church tomorrow which really is like our extended family and I don't want to lie and pretend everything is fine, but equally I don't want to have to have to announce the death several times over as people come to say hi, it would just be horrific; I would much rather they knew already.
I just don't know what to do and feel stuck. Any advice on how to handle this?
Please or to access all these features
Please
or
to access all these features
Find bereavement help and support from other Mumsnetters.
Bereavement
How to announce a death
37 replies
2016sucksbigtime · 20/08/2016 16:04
OP posts:
Coconutty ·
20/08/2016 16:11
This reply has been deleted
Message withdrawn at poster's request.
Please create an account
To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.