See your dead son....and go for a haircut!!!

Less than one minute read time.

I have been thinking about this since yesterday, trying to allow what grief does to people. We are all different.    But please, am I expecting too much here?

I, my mother-in-law, brother-in-law, sister-in-law and my youngest son were going to the funeral home yesterday to see my husband. We still have 2ft of snow and ice up here and despite my brother-in-law having hired a car, I seem to be doing all the driving. He never even offers, despite knowing his way around, just makes a bee-line for my car and gets in the passenger seat.

Anyway, I digress, we came out of there very upset, still crying as it did not look anything like my Hans, his mouth was all wrong and one of his nostrils was compressed somehow. In a way made it easier to believe he has moved on elsewhere, because it wasn't him lying there.

Brother-in-law then asked me to drive around all the hairdressers in town to find one that could fit mother-in-law in straight away for a haircut!!!!!

Crying my eyes out and I'm driving around, trying to park in snow drifts for a damned haircut.

Is it me?

Anonymous
  • FormerMember
    FormerMember

    No, it isn't you at all!  that's unbelievable!

    People never cease to amaze me with their tactlessness. I'm so sorry about your husband.

    Jeanie x  

  • FormerMember
    FormerMember

    Oh Grace hun, huge hugs to you, I remember so well being in that situation at the funeral home and thinking "That's not Ed, his hair doesn't sit like that and he would never have his hands in that position.  

    You have so much to cope with at the moment and your heart is breaking I wish I could help you get through these awful days.

    A thought for you to try and make sense of what seems to be such odd behaviour on  the part of Hans' family.  It could be a 'generational' thing my darling - it could be that his mother feels the need to look as good as she possibly can when she says goodbye to her son.  I am not making excuses, just trying to find a way for you to make sense of what, on the face of it, seems surreal actions on their part.

    Remember, one day at a time at your own pace.

    Much love - Judi xxx

  • FormerMember
    FormerMember

    Grace I'm so sorry, you shouldn't have to be doing this...someone should be driving you at the moment, how thoughtless.  As a mother myself, if that had been my son, the last thing on my mind would have been worrying about my hair...what is wrong with some people.

    You take care hun

    love M.  XX

  • FormerMember
    FormerMember

    It's truly ridiculous Grace!!  They should be rallying around you and certainly shouldn't be expecting you to drive or be at their beck and call.  Unbelieveable.

    Many people gave me the advice "be selfish", i.e. do only want you want/need to do, and certainly don't do anything you don't want to do.  This is your time, and you have to look after yourself.  Be straight with them and tell them you are not up to driving, running errands etc.  Of course, I realise this is easier said than done, but just think about what Hans would want - he'd want you looking after yourself first and foremost, and I'm sure he'd also hope that his brother, sister etc. were taking care of you, rather than the other way around.

    People do do strange things at these times, we all have our 'war stories' but you will get through this.  Just hang in there girl, and keep your focus on yourself - be selfish!

    Take care,

    D x

  • FormerMember
    FormerMember

    The term "stoma bags" comes to mind.

    I wonder what makes me draw the parallel?