Heartbroken son 17

[Ifeelmuchlessfat]

So my son and his girlfriend have split up today. They’ve been together for two years and were two peas in a pod, real soul mates. He’s at boarding school most of the time but comes back to see her, they talk every night etc etc, but he’s her first boyfriend and I think she’s beginning to want to spread her wings a bit.

So, first day of the long summer holidays, no friends around as spread out across the globe, and he’s miserable as sin and really hurting.

Although I can see that in the long run they’ll both benefit from it, as can now apply to the uni’s they really want to go to etc, any ideas as to how to help him hurt less?

I don't think you can help him hurt less exactly. I think being there and listening without necessarily providing answers could be a good approach. Let him learn that his feelings are valid and he will get through it.

I'm yet to go through it with my son but I am struck by my own recent heartbreak with a man who struggled to accept relationships. Part of his issue was that his mum never listened when he had emotional upheaval. He learned to surpress it and he keeps everyone at bay to stay safe. It sad.

If we can somehow help our children to move through it and know it is ok and that they will grow and learn... I guess that's best?

Just be there. Listen. Maybe some distraction with a movie or somewhere to go or something would be good too?

MyDS went though his first breakup at 19, his heartbreak was awful. He would would at night for hour and hours and we live in a shitty area. It’s as if he wanted an excuse to get into a fight so she’d come and see him.
He never said much but he knew I was here and I only said if you want to talk I’m here.

Could he look for a summer job to distract him. Talk on line to other friends or playstation.
Go out with him for dinner movie a walk.
It is hard but it's part of life.

Introduce him to tinder