To not want to return after mums death

[Bigboi84]

My mum died very suddenly a few weeks ago,it was a huge shock and everything seems to have passed in a blur. Her funeral was last week and I am still in total denial that she has gone. When she died I was signed off work but am due to return next week.
I'm not sure I'm ready , I will of had four weeks by the time I return but not sure if that's been enough,due to all the organising ,informing people and packing up I've had to do . It's only now I'm able to start to process what's happening.
For context I would only be returning for a week then off for six ( work in education) so it isn't a long period of time, I just don't know if I want to face people. I was wondering what are other people's experiences of bereavement leave?

I’m so sorry for your loss. You need to take as long as you need. If you’re not ready take this extra week then the 6 weeks to give you longer to process your loss. It’s not worth pushing yourself to go in when you are still grieving as it could make you feel worse.

As a GP, I would happily sign you off if you were still struggling. Bereavement varies hugely. Some people are hit after the death, others seem to cope fine at first, but then struggle later on. Don't feel you 'should' be coping. And sorry for your loss

If you're not ready you're not ready
Take all the time you need
I've been there
It's horrible

I'm so sorry for you loss, I lost mine 5 years ago
I would take longer, I took 2 months off and then did a phased return. It was really hard to go back but the phased return helped. I started to return when this had settled and I had nothing else to do and I needed a distraction.

I'm so sorry for your loss. Personally, I would go in for the week as its the end of the term/year so that you don't have the 'having to see people' thing hanging over you all summer and that in September you go back to work without having to go through that

If the thought of returning is making you anxious then take the week off, you've got enough to contend with at the moment and it's only a week after all.

There is no should and everyone's circumstances are different and it depends on your job role as well. If you can squirrel yourself away and do tasks you can plod through it might be ok, if it is performing in class not so much. I would be surprised if they expect you back for a week really.

So sorry for your loss, I lost my mum 6 years ago and I didn’t feel ready to go back a week after her funeral either.

If you need longer ask to be signed off for the week and give yourself the 6 weeks summer, look after yourself it’s an awful time to be going through.

You might well find that returning to some sort of normal routine is actually helpful. You will have the following six weeks to continue processing this.

When my mum died I was given a fortnight off. I had to travel 12,000 miles for the funeral. I burst into tears at the airport (return)as no one could spare the time to go with me. The lady kindly upgraded me for half the journey and thankfully I was sat next to a lovely girl.
I certainly didn’t feel like going back to work but I did and I think it helped in a way to be back in a routine. I also was working in education. If you only have a week it might help you to go in. I had half a term it all seemed surreal.

My Mum died in her sleep when I was 27. I was working in a childcare setting at the time and I had about 8 weeks off I think. It was all a complete blur like you say, I don't remember much of it. Take all the time you need, you've experienced a significant loss. Be kind to yourself.