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Bereavement

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Why do people say/do these things when your child dies?

109 replies

ElsaAintAsColdAsMe · 26/01/2016 11:51

'When I heard about your child I hugged mine a bit tighter' - Like I care, I don't want to fucking hear it.

'If my child died I would never be able to '- So you would be so much more upset than I am, you have no clue what you would do or be like unless it happens to you.

'At least you have your other children/can have more' - I could have a million more children, it still wouldn't replace my son and daughter.

'I know how you feel my dog died and he was like a child to me' - Just no.

'I know how you feel my Granny/Uncle/Great Grandad died' - again, just no.

Then you get the people who make it all about them, so I end up comforting them because my children died.

The ones who don't even acknowledge that my children exsisted, the ones who shuffle uncomfortably when I mention their names, the ones who think I'm weird for daring to have pictures of my children up, the ones who think they should be forgotton, the ones who try and look for a way I am to blame so they don't have to think that it could happen to them, the ones who try to create a history that never happened to try and hijack my grief by making out they were so close, when in reality they never bothered.

Sorry for the rant, I had an email this morning from someone who thinks I want to hear that she is going to the baby garden I can't go to on my daughters birthday and telling me about her plans when she never even met her and fell out with me because she wasn't invited to her funeral (it was a very small funeral).

I can't make out if she is trying to be nice or just gaining attention by grieving for a child she never knew.

She has done most of the above, and it really grates on me that she is going to my place to remember my children when I can't.

I've encountered so many shitty attitudes over the years you would think I would be used to it, but this has really hit me today Sad

Sorry for the ramble, having a tough day today.

OP posts:
dilys4trevor · 11/02/2016 20:14

Elsa, that is awful. I didn't see the last bit of your post (might be my phone). I take it you're no longer close?!

The comment about 'it's alright for you, but I don't get any attention' is just plain weird. Why would a person want attention drawn to their grief?

Weirdly, my FIL said one week after his son's death that he was going to 'put it behind him .' It's his 36 year old son and he had just committed suicide. I couldn't believe it. Could it be a generational thing?

expatinscotland · 11/02/2016 20:57

'Could it be a generational thing?'

NO. Some people are just gits.

cocochanel21 · 11/02/2016 21:20

Agree with you expatinscotland

IWantToLiveInPawnee · 11/02/2016 21:48

Can I just send my best wishes and deepest condolences to you all. Thanks

I think that people are quite insular and it's a reflection of their feelings of 'thank god it's not me' or 'I don't know what to say' emphasising on their feelings, rather than the bereaved's. However, it's NOT OK to share them.

Others just don't think.

I believe however awkward or uncomfortable it is for you (as the friend or relation), you have to find it in the depths of yourself and make sure you say something that absolutely could not minimise, insult or be insensitive.

'I'm so very sorry for your loss, I wish I could do something to help you and if you need ANYTHING, however small, please ask me. I am here for you 24/7 and will be constantly thinking of you, much love' Is the last text that I sent to a bereaved friend.

I hope it was the right thing? I figured that I would have appreciated this kind of text when I was bereaved a few years ago? I agonised over it too, I wanted to let them know I was available to them at any time but I didn't want to pressurise them to talk. I meant every word from the bottom of my heart.

dilys4trevor · 11/02/2016 21:59

Pawnee, it's perfect. You can't go wrong with that.

I do suspect it's the sad case that some people are just huge bellends. FIL also said that he hoped the funeral would 'provide some closure for us all on this event so we can all move forward.' About his son's suicide. To me, his son's widow, and mother of his three young children. Is that fucked up or do some people 'do' grief differently to others?

expatinscotland · 11/02/2016 22:07

'Is that fucked up or do some people 'do' grief differently to others?'

No, that's fucked up.

MrsNuckyT · 11/02/2016 22:22

I think some people are bellends or selfish or inconsiderate.

I also think that most people feel desperately sorry and sad for you, want to say something but just don't know what to say. They want to acknowledge that a terrible thing happened to you but it is such a huge, awful thing that what comes out is wrong. They don't mean it to be wrong and they certainly don't mean to make you feel bad.

sugar21 · 11/02/2016 22:58

expat that is seriously fucked up. As I said to Elsa I showed my colleague my poems to my daughter and she more or less said forget about her. That is also fucked up

Doublebubblebubble · 12/02/2016 15:14

pawnee I would have very much have appreciated that text. You can really tell when someone has taken time. X

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