"Sid" wrote in message
u...

Hi, i just found this group as well. I have recently become a single
parent,
my wife passed away 6 weeks ago from cancer barstard of a disease. We
have been offered help by councellors from the kids high school but so far
i
don't think we have needed it. The kids, 2 girls and a boy, 13, 12 and 10
are doing really well, better than me i think. I draw most of my strength
from them.

I'm in the UK and lost my wife to cancer just about six years ago so my
feelings on it are very similar. Having a son, who was then not quite 5, to
look after certainly helped to get me through the first year or so when I
was pretty much running on "auto-pilot".

Be glad that the kids are doing well but keep a watchful eye on them 'cos
sometimes they're affected in ways that don't become apparent immediately.
Communication is the key here. You need to talk to them and they need to be
able to talk to you and about *anything* at all. Don't feel you need to put
on a brave face for their benefit as they'll expect you to be sad so that
won't be at all confusing for them.

Everyone will be saying the same to you, I'm sure, but it really *does* get
easier to deal with as time goes on. Oh and I wouldn't recommend making any
major, life-changing decisions for the next couple of years at least. It'll
take you that long just to properly come to terms with this IMHO.

It's going to be very different bringing up teenage kids as a single
parent
i'd imagine but it seems looking around this group that plenty of people
do
it.

Yeah plenty do and many very successfully. That you're concerned enough
about the situation to even bother looking around for support is a good sign
I'd say.

Welcome and good luck.



--
Paul Griffiths