Parenting after bereavement

[Spottyblobby]

Just interested to hear about other peoples experiences of parenting after the other parent has passed away. This has happened to me & despite us being estranged prior to ex partners death (he was living abroad & had minimal contact with our son) it’s changed me fundamentally as a person & a parent. I feel like I need to be near my child all the time, I’ve become a bit overbearing but I can’t stop. Ex died of cancer quite young (mid 30s) so I don’t know if it’s the thought that I could lose DS to the same thing or if it’s the thought of being his whole world with nobody else to take my place if something happens to me but it has changed me. Wondering if this is normal or something I may need support with.

It is normal. But if you find it overwhelming please go get support - there are bereavement groups.
My DH died suddenly when our children were 4 and 6. I saw our whole future disappear in an instant. My biggest fear for some years after was what if something happened to me - this actually hasn’t stopped but I’m more rational about it now. I no longer think every headache is a brain tumour. It’s also made me very tough. So many people said ‘I don’t know how you do it’, but you have to so no point in saying that. I’ve had to make some very hard decisions since then. And deal with some hard situations. But I’m still here and my kids are now 22, working full time and living away, and 20, away at uni. They need me very much still but I feel I’ve successfully got two great kids to adulthood. I wish every day my husband was still with us though.