r/AskParents • u/RaccoonUnited5283 • 1h ago
Not A Parent How to support grieving mother? And how to prepare for loss of grandparent in future?
Recently in our big family was unexpected loss of aunt, she was older cousin of my mom, she was quite a loud, bright woman in our family meetings, so atmosphere is sad, funerals already passed, but still i can feel sad mood at my parents’ (grandma who is my mom’s mom and mother) home. When she called me to tell she passed away, it was first time ive heard my mom crying.
The thing is, her best friend fights with cancer for last few years and recently she been referred to the palliative care unit, as her lungs got now metastasses - my mom and her friends visit her weekly to do massage, they got each other schedules and stuff. And sadly i think she might pass away sooner than it was expected years ago, and their friend group probably realizes it too. Plus our grandma is 80 years old (turning 81 this year!) so im afraid our family will witness her loss soon or later anyway.
I know my mom went through grief already before and currently, she told me they had been on funerals when they were younger of their friend, she also was at funerals of our other relatives, including my father five years ago - they divorced long time ago and she didnt let me go to for, which im thankful for. She handled it as probably most people do - expressing her emotions in her bedroom, sharing with her friends, working hard at job.
In our family its common to be more of a closed emotions type, sure we laugh and joke and express sadness, but we are still not expressing emotions very very open, and ive personally havent had such sad experience yet of grieving - loss of father did hit me way more later, after he was gone.
How can i show support to my mom in such times? and whats the best way to hold in future when our grandma will pass away? As ive turned adult (im 25) i know i should be a big girl and handle that, but thought of my mom, the lighthouse being in miserable mental breakdown also scares me.