I get so emotional when I hear of the death of a parent. My dad got a headache one morning and we brought him to hospital and he was dead by 4pm. We couldn’t believe it. I had left to go home to get his bridge machine and crossword puzzles and the next thing you know, we are going home with his things in a bag. Stunned.
You never really get to grieve the parent that dies, properly, because you’re trying to support the one who’s left. My poor mother was in a very fragile state, but soon after, she went for a walk alone on the coast road. Some gang of teens threw eggs out of the side window of their car and hit her bang on the chest. She had to walk home covered in egg and her chest was bruised. Imagine? So random - I’ve never heard of it happening before or since.
Anyway, she had to get used to living alone which she had never done before, having married at 23, straight from home and being with my dad ever since. It was so, so hard watching her struggle. The only way you can help is with the practical stuff like utility bills and the like, to make things easier.
When you lose the second parent, I think that’s when you grieve for both. Anyway, it’s the saddest thing. Sending love to you all. Thanks for friendship and listening.