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Mumsnet has not checked the qualifications of anyone posting here. If you need help urgently or expert advice, please see our domestic violence webguide and/or relationships webguide. Many Mumsnetters experiencing domestic abuse have found this thread helpful: Listen up, everybody

help- their Dad is Dying-

74 replies

happytalk · 27/04/2007 23:39

Really neeed support

OP posts:
happytalk · 30/04/2007 11:07

Mamma2kids- I have now added about his partner.I suggested to my daughter that she finds out which nurses etc are in charge of his care,and gets a contact number for one of them,as i believe there are people involved in this who will keep the family informed in a situation like this.I am going to ring up one of the organizations i am in contact with today,find out who this is likely to be,then pass this info to my daughter.

OP posts:
happytalk · 30/04/2007 11:14

Thank you Tiger moth for those positive thoughts too.Sorry for your difficult times too.Money and babysitting is not a problem,both my kids know I will help in any way.I am planning spending much more time with both of them at the momemt,if they are happy with that,i live 3 hours away from daughter,but i have plenty of time,i do not work.
I think my kids are both feeling that they want to remember him how he was-they find it v difficult spending time with him,cos he is not the same person.he is not in pain,and sleeps a lot.

I

OP posts:
hoolagirl · 30/04/2007 12:58

My dad died from a brain tumour 3 days after I had my DS, it was an incredibly difficult time, especially the running up and down to the hospital when I was heavily pregnant.

My mother 'hated' my father, but she would run me up to the hospital every day that she could and wait for me while I visited him.

She was on hand when I appeared in tears and she helped me and my brothers with the funeral arrangements afterwards.

If your ex-h is not married then Im afraid it will fall to your children to sort out his funeral and financial affairs as we had to.

I think the practical help my mother gave me was invaluable at the time. HTH.

happytalk · 30/04/2007 13:09

Thanks hoolagirl,sounds like you have a very loving mum.I am glad you felt supported,and thats what I aim to do too.

OP posts:
onlyjoking9329 · 30/04/2007 15:34

sounds like you are doing the right things, hospitals are not always good at giving out info, my DH has a brain tumour and has bad memory loss but the hospital wont give me any info unless i ask at appointments

mamma2kids · 30/04/2007 15:43

Happytalk, you sound as if you're being very strong and level headed at the moment, good for you. You've had good advice from the others (I will be appreciating my dh more from now). Don't forget to look after yourself as this is a stressful time for you too. Goodluck

happytalk · 30/04/2007 17:28

Only joking,yesterday i thought things were better communucation wise-today-its gone pear-shaped.Sister told brother what she believes is the situation,brother now very low,taken day off work-says he has spoke to his Dad and partner and they say it is not as bad as my daughter says.my son said he doesnt know who to believe-then he doesnt want to talk anymore,i was on msn.

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happytalk · 30/04/2007 18:12

I am feeling so crap-i am blaming myself for her ringing him-perhaps she shouldnt have spoken to him-perhaps she is wrong-my son is going to see his Dad next week so he can make up his own mind.Perhaps my son will resent me,his girlfriend will be angry with me.My daughter has only said what she believes is true.What do i do?

OP posts:
hoolagirl · 30/04/2007 18:19

There's nothing you can do, it will sort itself out in time.
Maybe your ex's partner does not want to dramatise things to avoid upsetting your son.
Giving him best case scenario etc.
Perhaps your daughter is being more realistic.
Believe me, your daughter would be over the moon if she was wrong, she is probably trying to prepare her brother for the worst and he may not want to face it.
Im sure once he see's his dad face to face he will find out what he needs to know.
I could be talking out a hole in my bum here, its a distressing situation and everyone deals with it differently.
I think that your daughter and son should talk to each other, who else knows better what they are going through just now than each other iykwim.

LilyLoo · 30/04/2007 20:12

I think it's positive that your son is going up at least he can have an honest talk. Your daughter wouldn't say any of these things to her brother if she didn't believe them to be true so maybe his dad is just trying to shield him a little from the situation. You are doing all the right things and the fact that you are there for each other really does help. Unfortunately it is also a time of great anger and all of this is perfectly normal as it's easier to get cross with those closest to you. Take care of yourself as you will have to be strong and whichever way they get their feelings out, we all have different ways of coping, at least they are both talking about it.

happytalk · 30/04/2007 20:38

thanks.To top it all my OH came home-he has a very high pressure job-and started to go into lecture mode with me.He is very black and white.He ended up saying maybe he coudnt support me.
Sometimes he just makes things worse by saying something insensative though he means to help.
Then he starts saying maybe he should give up his job-but we would no longer have the lifestyle we have-..grrr..thanks this is really helpin me

OP posts:
LilyLoo · 30/04/2007 20:46

Ht i guess he doesn't know what to do to help, a bit like you really? It is normal to feel angry with those close to you. Just try and maybe tell him or give him a few pointers in what might help you as it is important that you try and maintain a good relationship with him for moral support throught this

sarah7777 · 29/05/2007 13:31

Thinks are on a relatively even keel at the moment.My son is now aware of how ill his Dad is,and has said to me he has never been very close to his Dad,so he "doesnt know how to behave".Advice anyone?

sarah7777 · 29/05/2007 13:34

My son has said he is glad he knows the true extent of his Dads illness now

sarah7777 · 30/05/2007 08:12

For me,its a shock to hear how my son feels about his Dad.

ChipButty · 30/05/2007 08:24

It's a very confusing time and your son might be expressing emotions he hasn't worked through clearly in his head. Just be there for them, listen and try not to worry (easier said than done, I know). I'm sure they value your support more than you realise. You are being very strong.

sarah7777 · 30/05/2007 12:43

(Sorry-i have changed my name to sarah).Thank you

sarah7777 · 30/05/2007 12:45

Not that he hasnt the right to feel that way-just its not the ideal of family life you wanted for your kids.Its sad.

matilda57 · 30/05/2007 23:47

I'm not sure there's anything for you to 'do' specifically happytalk - this crisis is really your kids', and it's for you to be the facilitator as best you can... which means running around really, listening, being there, doing all you can practically. Really it's for them to sort it out, bcs it is them who are losing their dad, and for you to be always on hand if they want it (they may not). They aren't little, even though they are still very young to be losing a parent. The one thing I would suggest is that you promote they see him and talk to him as much as possible in these last days.

My ex-h was killed about 18 months ago and that was sudden - my kids would have valued so much having some time to say goodbye. Your son says he isn't close to his dad, but he's his dad, and that will throw up a lot of strong feelings. The grief runs for quite a while esp as, although this isn't totally sudden, it is quite sudden iyswim ie the deterioration has been quick .

As someone said, don't forget you Sarah! Although I had been divorced from their dad for donkey's years, and loathed the man (it was mutual), I had some very confused feeling after he died. Tbh I grieved - for what was, I suppose? I still feel extremely sad about it, but how much that is for my kids I can't tell.

I'm afraid it's going to be a long road ahead - you can't hurry grief, and it goes in fits and starts. I may be wrong, but I think boys/men/males sit on grief and it comes out later. I'm still waiting for it to hit my boy (16) that his dad has gone, whereas at the mo it is really hitting my girl (19) and she is having a very wobbly time.

I would suggest they have as much to do with arrangements as possible to feel part of the process iyswim - they don't want to feel left out and irrelevant in their dad's life. IME my kids have been in full shock for at least the first year, then it gradually begins to seep through iyswim. I hope they have a good relationship with his partner, as that will help. Good luck hun X (sorry for long post)

matilda57 · 30/05/2007 23:53

ps Cruse have a bereavement helpline 0870 167 1677, which was very helpful (though I've only got through once in all this time! It is hard to get through). They helped me a lot with how to help my kids (and me!) - they just let you talk, which helps. The young persons helpline number is 0808 808 1677, but I'm not sure what age that is for? It may be that your kids would be better off with the helpline for adults.

sarah7777 · 31/05/2007 19:31

thanks mathilda-you understand because you have been there.

sarah7777 · 31/05/2007 19:33

just to add,i dont have any malevolent feelings towards their dad-the divorce was a long time ago.

summer111 · 31/05/2007 20:24

The one thing to always remember is that there are no rules as to what you should do or say..its a case of judging both your own needs and those of your two children and partner and doing what ever you feel is right. That was a piece of advice given to me when I my mum died unexpectedly not so long ago - it really did help when I struggled to try and 'do the right thing'.

Take care of yourself too.

sarah7777 · 31/05/2007 21:06

Thanks,thats good advice.

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