Our across the street neighbor passed away this weekend. The mom and son are pretty much on their own now. No family locally. We know they will be moving away but we would like to do something for the mom (we have that covered) and the son. Is t inappropriate to give him something? Should we just offer our condolences? What can you do for a boy who just turned 7 and lost his dad?
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Maybe take him to do something fun a few times? I'm sure the mom could use some time to process. That sounds so so hard.
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I agree with mrs lion. Offer to take him somewhere or over to your house for a movie or to the park near by. I'm sure time for the mom would be most valuable
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Wow. That's just awful. I guess it kind of depends on how he is grieving? Kids are all so different. Maybe inviting him over for snacks, taking him out to do something?
A little girl patient of mine lost her dad a few weeks before Christmas last year and she told me this heartbreaking story about him. One of her big worries was that Christmas was coming and her dad was supposed to get her a pair of cowboy boots. My office pitched in and bought her the boots so that mom could give them to her.
Maybe there is something special he has been wanting that would come out of you spend some time with him
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Some kids like to find comfort in books. Could you offer the mom a kid's book about grief and maybe a simple chapter book like Captain Underpants and tell her they're for the son if she things they're appropriate?
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After my dad died, my mom and I tried to think of things to get all the grandchildren.
For the girls we did lockets with photos of them and my dad. For the boys, we got these little boxes from shutterfly that had a photo tile on top. We figured they could sort of be memory boxes where they could keep either really special things, or things that reminded them of my dad. If you can't get a photo, maybe even just a really nice wooden box that he can stash things in. Or if you people have memories of the dad and boy together, you could write them and include them in the box.
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@mediagirl: if it's not too late maybe something like this?
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I think it's awesome that you're thinking of them. Maybe offering to take him somewhere or perhaps asking the mom directly. It must be so difficult for that family ... it's really nice that you're offering.
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@bluestriped bee: thank you but the family has moved away. The parents of the man who passed away put the house up for sale 5 days after the father passed away and made the remaining family members (mom and son) move out. Terrible situation.
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That's so sad.
My DH lost his father at 10 years old.
He says he remembered lots of "counselling" that he didn't care for and did nothing for him.
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9 comments