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Bereavement

Find bereavement help and support from other Mumsnetters. See also your choices after baby loss.

Losing a much loved husband and daddy

68 replies

vic777 · 14/12/2008 00:22

I am new to mumsnet but desperately need some advice. My husband died nearly 2 weeks ago in a road accident and I am trying to make sense of this. My children are 2 and 4 and very very confused. I need to make sure I am doing the right thing by them - my little girl doesn't seem to understand but I'm sure she picks up on how we are all feeling. My eldest is just so angry and thrashing out at everyone around him. I am trying to be as open and honest as possible with him considering his age but would appreciate any advice on how to handle this awful situation.

OP posts:
LedodgyChristmasjumper · 14/12/2008 00:24

Oh I am so very very sorry about your husband. I think you are doing the right thing but maybe contacting an organisation suh as winston's wish may be of help.

LedodgyChristmasjumper · 14/12/2008 00:25

Winston's wish

ToysAreLikeDogs · 14/12/2008 00:27

Vic I am so sorry for your loss

It's such early days yet - I cannot begin to imagine how you are feeling

The children are very young, and will take time to process the reality of what has happened.

I am sure that somone will be along very soon to talk some more

TisTheSeasonToBeSolo · 14/12/2008 00:27

So sorry for your loss.
No advice from me, but lots of sympathy for you.
I know there are many(too many)people on here that will be able to help you I'm sure.
All the best to you and your family.

wrinklytum · 14/12/2008 00:27

I'm so sorry.

Have you tried CRUSE? will try to find website..

wrinklytum · 14/12/2008 00:29

crusebereavementcare.org.uk.

herbietea · 14/12/2008 00:35

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

ravenAK · 14/12/2008 00:38

So sorry for the loss of your husband.

My first husband died young, but we didn't have children, so I can't add to what others have suggested already...

But do think of yourself, too. You will be incredibly tired - grief is exhausting & you probably aren't sleeping well(?)

Take all offers of practical help!

thumbElf · 14/12/2008 00:40

vic777, so sad for you, what an awful thing to happen and at this time.

It might help you to go onto this thread which is for widows and widowers support. There are some fantastic people on there who know what you are going through.

Love and prayers for you and your little DCn.

DingDongMerrilyOnEI · 14/12/2008 00:40

im so sorry to hear about your DH no advice from here either but just love and strength for you and your DCs and i am sure someone will be along soon with some practical advice xx
xx ei xx

VaginaShmergina · 14/12/2008 00:57

vic777, I am so sorry for your devastating loss

Long story but a dear friend of mine lost her husband suddenly at the beginning of October and is working through a book designed by Barnado's with her 3 DC's (aged 7,5 and 2)

There are threads on here where you will be able to get some more support tailored to your situation and I encourage you to find them.

So very very sorry.

pinkfrogsroastingonanopenfire · 14/12/2008 01:48

So very sad to hear about the loss of your husband. I lost my 7 year old son in 1992 due to a lorry reversing over him......I have a slight idea about your story. I remember how I felt just a few weeks after Matts death - it is horrendous, it makes no sense. I was lucky, like you, I had another son. He was my reason to get up in a morning and try to make life NORMAL, whatever the hell that is. I think that total honesty is required after a bereavement. There is no other feeling like beravement. No other emotion can even match it. Nothing comes close to it. I wish you peace, understanding and great strength. xxxxxxxxxx

Saturn74 · 14/12/2008 02:04

I'm so sorry to hear of your loss, vic777.
You will receive lots of support and comfort here.
Thinking of you and your family.
x

crazyloon1 · 14/12/2008 06:08

I am so sorry

For what it's worth I think the anger from your son is totally normal in this situation and should be accepted as it will be part of the process for him. and a helpful thing.

But I think you probably know that.
Have you close family to help you through this - to take the children so you can have some private time?

bigTillyMint · 14/12/2008 06:22

Oh, so sorry to hear about your loss

It sounds like a completely normal reaction for your son, and much "better out than in".

I know that there are special agencies/charities which work with bereaved children very effectively - I am sure someone more knowledgeable on here would be able to give you details.

Thinking of you and your family x

everlong · 14/12/2008 08:49

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

JingleBennysAndJooniper · 14/12/2008 08:52

So sorry. No advice to add to what the others have said.

Try to look after yourself. Make sure that you eat.

Yorkiegirl · 14/12/2008 08:59

Message withdrawn

ChipButty · 14/12/2008 09:24

xxx

MummyDoIt · 14/12/2008 09:37

Vic, I'm so sorry this has happened to you. I can understand something of what you're going to as I lost my husband to cancer in August. I have two DSs aged 4 and 5. In my case, we knew his condition was terminal and lived with that knowledge for 18 months so had plenty of time to get used to the idea and prepare for his death (I won't say 'accept' because I will never accept that he had to die).

The best advice I can give is take one day at a time. You will be going through so many conflicting emotions that change from day to day, hour to hour even. Plus you not only have to deal with your own grief but your children's emotions as well. That is hard, very hard. I won't pretend otherwise. What I have done with mine is to take their lead. I believe that children instinctively know what they need. DS2 sleeps with me almost every night. He obviously needs the comfort and that is fine by me. DS1 sometimes joins us, sometimes prefers his own bed. Again, that is fine. If they want to talk about Daddy, we talk. We look at photos together. We look up at the stars every night, pick the brightest and say 'that is Daddy's star and he's looking down on us'.

A lot of the time, they just carry on like normal. That can be hard too, especially at the beginning. Your world has come tumbling down and you look at them and wonder how they can laugh and play but it's the best thing for them. Try to stick to their routine as much as they can as the familiarity will reassure them and be comforting. I found it incredibly hard to take over the bathtime/stories/bedtime part of the day as DH had always done that but they needed that continuity.

Your DS's anger is a perfectly normal reaction. My five year old is going through the same stage which is very upsetting as he's normal a sunny, happy little person and these rages are hard to handle. I just try to ignore them as much as possible, give him lots of hugs and reassurance and hope that the phase passes soon.

Above all, don't make too many demands on yourself. There is no 'should' and 'ought to' when you've lost your husband. Do things in your own time, when you're ready. Do try to eat, even if you don't feel like it, as you need to stay healthy but don't worry about anything else.

If you want any advice on practical stuff or just want a virtual shoulder to cry on, CAT me or keep posting on this thread and I'll keep checking.

onlyjoking9329 · 14/12/2008 10:31

Hello Vic, so very sorry to hear that your husband died. It is so very hard to think about and deal with all the practicle things as well as the thoughts and feelings, dealing with the childrens confusion anger and grief is very difficult to do, when you probably want to just curl up in bed and cry scream rant and rave.
children deal with things in such a different way, it is often hard to see how at times they look as thou things are "normal" for them when inside you feel broken, kids seem to dip in and out of their grief, they ask questions that are often very hard to answer.
my husband died from cancer in june, i had prepared the kids as much as i could, i told them that their dad would die.
i think it is normal to worry about getting it right for our kids, it feels like a huge responsibility. i have a huge collection of books on death and dying, some of them have been looked at, some might be useful later on.
i have heard good things about winstons wish, as Yorkiegirl mentioned WAY foundation are very good, i joined a few months ago and have met up with a few widows from there.
remember there are no short cuts in grief, take all the help you are offered, people will want to help if they can.
take care remember to eat and sleep when you can,

cathcat · 14/12/2008 15:44

So sorry Vic. wishing you lots of strength. Lots of people on here to talk to you whenever you need. x

EvenstarofWonder · 14/12/2008 17:25

So sorry for your loss. I lost my DH in June, nothing to add on a practical level I think Onlyjoking and Yorkiegirl have said it all, but I would throughly recommend the Winston's Wish website that Ledodgy linked to. I found the information there on how children grieve very helpful in the early days, my youngest was also very angry, and it is very hard to cope when that anger is directed against you. My husband died unexpectedly and the shock you are feeling will be in addition to the grief, be gentle with yourself and take care. I hope you have lots of RL support, but will check back here and feel free to CAT me. Wishing you strength x

mashedbanana · 14/12/2008 21:02

just wanted to say how sorry i am for your loss.you will find great support on here.take care xx

vic777 · 15/12/2008 00:39

Thank you to everyone who has replied to my message. The one thing that saddens me is all the people who have been through what I am going through now - I wouldn't wish this on anyone. I have contacted the Way foundation and will be calling Winston's wish too. My next goal is to get us through the funeral on Tuesday, something I am absolutely dreading - it seems like I am doing it for everyone else rather than me and the children.

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