Last Updated on June 26, 2019 by Marie Bautista
Losing a parent is never easy for anyone, so there is no point in trying to explain how one feels since those that are reading this are most likely painfully aware of it already. Hopefully, by the time you are done reading this, you will have at least some idea regarding how to manage all the confusion, duties and sorrow that follows.
Take a Moment
When you get that call, it will always be something that affects you deeply, whether you realize it or not. So, the very first step would be to sit down and take a few minutes to mentally steady yourself.
After reorganizing yourself from the shocking news, prepare yourself mentally for the things that are about to come next, mainly the phone calls for informing others and funeral preparations.
Informing Others
This is as much a duty as it is a coping mechanism, so make sure that you only inform people who are the closest to you and your deceased parent first. You will possibly have to inform a lot of other people as well, but that can wait for now.
It is important to have close family and friends with you at this time because sharing your grief with those that will understand it is an important step towards coping.
Making the Funeral Arrangements
Sometimes, the funeral arrangements can even be made beforehand by seniors or other relatives, so in such cases, all you need to do is give the pre-booked funeral home a call and let them know.
Do not worry even if the arrangements have not been made in advance, because services such as the Baldwin Brothers makes it convenient and easy for the deceased’s relatives to book a cremation service with them immediately. They have been serving the Central and South West Florida region since the 1980s so have plenty of experience behind them to handle it professionally.
Let Your heart Heal the Way It Wants to
Different people deal with grief in different ways, so let your heart guide you in this regard. If you want to be alone for a week or so to recuperate amidst nature, take that leave from work, and set out on a hiking trip to your favorite location.
In case you would rather be surrounded by close family members and friends during the initial days, it’s perfectly understandable and even advised by psychologists to keep depression at bay.
Don’t Deny or Suppress Grief
You don’t necessarily have to express it to everyone if you do not want to, but don’t suppress it and act casual when you are hurting inside. When a parent passes away, nobody expects you to behave normally, so do not waste energy in putting up an act you don’t need to. Besides, denial of grief can and often leads to psychiatric problems later on.
In the end, there’s only so much that we can do to overcome a loved one’s loss and perhaps the key is in not trying to overcome it forcibly but simply letting it fade with time.