Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

to be pissed off about the reaction to my son's bereavement

137 replies

elizadoestoomuch · 05/02/2011 20:57

My Exp has recently died - he is the father of my DS.
People I regarded as good friends have actively avoided the subject with DS despite me saying how much he needs support.
How can they ignore what he is going through?
These friends are people that I have gone out of my way to help and to support and yet when it comes to something big like a bereavement they are nowhere to be found.
My son needs acknowledgment about what he is going through. But apart from a couple of friends I've heard nothing. I AM prepared to lose friendships over this.
Please tell me if IABU and how would you react to a child who had lost a parent?

OP posts:
elizadoestoomuch · 07/02/2011 13:08

Hi myfriendflicka. DS school are being fantastic - there really are no comlaints there.
I'm gutted because I was hoping my DS would be able to speak to the minister tomorrow before the service but the lack of information from the family is stopping this.
Sadly its like groundhog day - this is how they were when ExP was ill - they gave me no information and got pissed off when I asked.
I'm just petrified that in years to come DS will ask questions re the funeral and I won't have the answers and I don't want him to blame me. Selfish I now.

OP posts:
elizadoestoomuch · 07/02/2011 13:08

know

OP posts:
Suchffun · 07/02/2011 13:13

Contact the crematorium, explain that your son is the son of Mr X and you need to get in touch with the minister and please can they give you his/her contact details?

If that fails, could you ask the funeral directors to at least pass on a message to the minister asking him/her to call you?

Good luck, you are doing everything right for your son.

thumbdabwitch · 07/02/2011 13:14

Oh eliza, that's so sad all round. And YANBU - your friends are being a little pathetic to be simply avoiding your DS to get round having to mention the issue.

Sad that your ex's family are being painful about it all as well. :( - after all, they are related to your DS as well, do they not care at all about him or his feelings??

elizadoestoomuch · 07/02/2011 13:16

suchfun I have spoken to the crematorium - they say they don't have the details of the minister.
Good idea re asking the funeral directors to pass a message on to the minister. I will try that.

OP posts:
myfriendflicka · 07/02/2011 13:17

He won't blame you, I am pretty sure. It isn't selfish to worry about that, but I don't think you should. You are doing everything you can to help him.

Is there any way you can telephone the minister, and then that takes the family out of the equation, you can make an arrangement for your DS to speak to him, or he can look out for both of you. Could the funeral directors put you in touch with him?

You and your son have had a terrible shock. And you will both be feeling a lot of anger.
Is there anyone who could come to the funeral to support you while you are supporting your DS? I think it is awful that you are having to go through this with your exp's family being so hostile.

elizadoestoomuch · 07/02/2011 13:18

No, just phoned the funeral directors. ~They won't give me any information.

OP posts:
myfriendflicka · 07/02/2011 13:18

Sorry x post

elizadoestoomuch · 07/02/2011 13:19

I have no way of knowing who the Minister is and no-one will tell me.

OP posts:
myfriendflicka · 07/02/2011 13:20

That's ridiculous! I am sure the minister would want to help you/talk to you - that is really frustrating.

elizadoestoomuch · 07/02/2011 13:22

I think we will not be part of the funeral cortege and will get to crematorium early to see if we can just have 5mins with the minister. DS wanted to write a few lines that could be read out about his dad but it is unlikely to happen now.

OP posts:
Suchffun · 07/02/2011 13:24

What a nightmare, the funeral directors sound completely callous to be frank.

I know its all happening some way away from you but do you have any clues/ideas as to who it could be? Was your ex/ are his family from a particular religion? (Or particularly NOT religious in which case try the local humanists) Did you say the family had originally told you it was at a church - you could try googling that church and call their parish office?

I am gobsmacked by so many people showing such lack of care to a young boy. So glad you are fighting for him.

Suchffun · 07/02/2011 13:26

x-post. I would encourage/suggest to him to write the lines out anyway, if he wants to do that - he might want to tuck them under the flowers afterwards.

elizadoestoomuch · 07/02/2011 13:28

Thanks suchfun. I did phone the church that is in the same place as the crematatorium but heard nothing back.
I could spend days ringing round all the churches near where he lived.
I'm going to go and keep myself busy now - thankyou for all your responses. I'm dreading tomorrow - dreading how they will behave towards DS, they'll either be over the top or barely glance in his direction.
my poor boy Sad

OP posts:
elizadoestoomuch · 07/02/2011 13:29

Good idea suchfun. Think I will suggest that to him. Thankyou.

OP posts:
Suchffun · 07/02/2011 13:33

Good luck, let us know how it goes. Remember your son has all of Mumsnet standing with him!

Suchffun · 07/02/2011 13:35

I have just had one more idea - try emailing the church that didn't phone back. If it is run by volunteers/minister working funny hours, an email may get through where a phone call wouldn't.

Anyway will bugger off now with my useless ideas!

Silver1 · 07/02/2011 13:37

Can I suggest Winston's Wish as a charity you could contact. They are amazing at dealing with childhood bereavement in all sorts of circumstances and they have a helpline.

YANBU Either about your friends or your former in laws, and you are a very strong person to do this for your son, some might have just brushed it under the carpet.

humanheart · 07/02/2011 15:47

OP, I know this is hard, but I tend to think this is your son's bereavement, not yours. that's a hard phrase to start with - it is meant kindly. I have been in the exact same situation and I had to learn to take second place. Admittedly my kids were slightly older than your ds but ex's family hated me - and tbh I had to take a back seat and let my kids grieve with the people who loved their dad. I didn't belong to that circle iyswim. It seems that your ds is being excluded by ex's family bcs of their hatred for you - can you let him contact ex's family directly and go to the funeral with them? it's a risk, for sure, as they hate you - but to go to the funeral (and also the wake) is essential for your ds to come to terms with his dad's death imo. You could maybe have a word with them that, yes, they hate you and bcs of that you are proposing ds goes on his own to the funeral with them (ie not with you) but ask that, please, to not put you down in front of him - he has lost one parent and can't 'lose' the other.
Ask them to do it for him and to put aside their feelings about you just for the day? If you can find it in you, offer your condolences to them? I'm only thinking to pour oil on a very painful situation. They have lost a brother/son/etc and will not be thinking straight, feelings running extremely high - I read somewhere that grief is the only time you can go legitimately mad. Their bullying of you has nothing to do with ds, so step aside? I appreciate this is hard to do.

My boys didn't want to talk about losing their dad for years. I got everything in place - books, counselling etc - but they absolutely did NOT want to know. dd reacted very differently to the boys, grief apparent almost instantly, but ds1 told no-one but his best friend as he didn't want to be known as the boy whose dad died. Both boys were calm and dignified during the funeral etc but to this day I have not seen either of them cry about their dad. I had to butt out and leave them to it, even though it was tough for me - they specificially asked me to back off. Boys behave in a way that looks suspiciously like a stiff upper lip but is, imo, just male (I am generalising, but this is what I found with my boys).

As for your friends, it could be that they have picked up some strong 'piss off' vibes from your boy and have acted accordingly. They also may have approached him privately when you weren't there. I wonder if your own bereavement (re your mum - I am so sorry it was such a tough bereavement) is clouding how you are viewing your son's bereavement and you are panicking, wanting him to do it 'properly' in those early weeks/months. I did this ie panicked but had to accept that they will do it their way and I can only be on hand should the need arise.

Hope I haven't offended you OP. I do know first hand how tough this situation is.

humanheart · 07/02/2011 15:52

PS I also had to find some support for my own grief at losing ex. It's called a complex bereavement - and was, indeed, very complex for me. I didn't know much of my grief was for my kids or for me iyswim (we had been married and I had loved him deeply, he was the father of my children) but, well, there were MANY issues which were very confusing and difficult. Things have been high-octane between you since October (was it?) and now this.. Sad

ChippingInSmellyCheeseFreak · 07/02/2011 18:49

Sorry, I didn't see your updates earlier.

I am very suprised that the Funeral Directors are refusing to give you that information when you are the guardian of the deceaseds son.

I hope you have found out who he is this afternoon. If you haven't, you should be able to sort it out when you get there tomorrow. I doubt any minister would deny a son the right to speak at his father's funeral.

Has DS tried ringing any of the family to ask them himself - he may get further than you.

:(

cubbie · 07/02/2011 19:52

I'm so sorry for your son. (and you, I'm assuming that you loved him at some point in your life, hope that doesn't sound cheeky)

I haven't read all the posts but just wanted to reply. I'd be very upset in your shoes, YANBU.

As a primary teacher, i've always made a point of acknowledging when a parent or grandparent has died, and if the child is in my class, then I will mention them when appropriate. I check with the child first if it's ok to mention, them, no-one has ever said no, most like being given the chance to share memories or just have their loss recognised.

I hope your son and you get the support you need. Sending a wee hug for your boy.

elizadoestoomuch · 07/02/2011 22:26

silver1 My DS school use alot of resources from Winston's Wish, hence why they have been so amazing. Truly fantastic.
humanheart no you haven't offended me in the slightest & I do think that some of what you say is true. However, no friends have approached him to offer their condolences (sp!).
It isn't that I want my son to grieve in a certain way its more that I want him to know that his way of grieving is ok
However - my son has a next to nothing relationship with his grandparents and aunt & uncle so there is no way I could send him up to the funeral with only them for support. They talk about how much they love DS (& I believe they do) but when it comes to showing that love they fail miserably. They will cause him more harm than good if he is left with them tomorrow hence why I will be there. My DS has made sure again & again that I will be there with him & I am not about to let him down.
Chipping the funeral directors wouldn't give out any info, they said they can only talk to the people who have arranged the funeral.
I have text ExP BIL but he replied that he is too busy at work.
We will get to the crematorium early to hopefully catch the Minister.
There is no way DS would ring the GP - he has a very awkward/strained relationship with them.
I am truly worried now because I will need to contact the family because my son is asking for photos plus a keepsake & I know they will be arsey plus if my son is left anything.
I understand about grief - I REALLY DO but I have never come across a family being so mean to an 11yr old child - what is wrong with them?

OP posts:
bubblewrapped · 08/02/2011 00:57

Hope it all goes smoothly for you tomorrow Eliza. Can you contact the crematorium and get any information out of them in the morning perhaps?

ChippingInSmellyCheeseFreak · 08/02/2011 17:08

Eliza - their grief explains nothing nada BIL is at work FGS, hardly so falling apart he can't call his nephew. Lousey excuse for a family, all of them, they're a disgrace treating your son like this, he's a child who has lost his Dad - really, nothing comes before that. Bastards.

I hope you got through it OK and managed to keep it all together resisting the urge to thump each and every one of them.