How to keep bored widowed dad occupied

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is the saddest post. Your Dad is grieving and alone for the first time in his entire adult life. The pain of losing a spouse is tragic, and widows and widower are just expected to move on. Please be there for him. He really should have been invited on your vacation. He certainly doesn't sound like he's a problem to you. This is a definite and tangible thing you can do, please do it. He will learn, over time, to slowly adjust to being alone, but for now, you have this time to be there for him.

+1000.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Oh gosh it’s still such early days; this is temporary. He’ll find his way in time. I would let him join you on vacation.

Nooooooooo. You do not let him join you unless you plan to do this everytime. My widowed mother was grateful at first and then everything became an expectation. We enabled her too much and years later the woman desperately needs friends because she scared off her old ones.

And everybody’s dad is just like your mom.

[Anonymous]

Is your dad familiar with www.seniorplanet.org ? The only chapter in the DMV area is in Montgomery Co., Maryland.https://seniorplanet.org/locations/montgomery-county/contact/ I don't know how convenient that is for him.

However, right now, almost all programming is online. Everything is free. Most of it is exercise classes, but there are also a lot of tech sessions--things like how to use things like zoom, instagram, etc. and what to look for in a new smartphone, computer etc. There is an online book discussion group and some others that may be of interest.

If he's lucky, some of the participants will live near him and he'll get a "feel" for what they are like from their comments online.

Seniorplanet is a totally "legit" operation; it was recently taken over by AARP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My dad found a new wife. Best thing ever.

+1

So did mine, and very quickly. This is probably what will happen, OP. Your dad needs someone to take care of him and the widows his age move fast

Both of these posts made me question humanity.

[Anonymous]

My dad audits classes at the local university. It's free in his state. Are there any classes your dad might enjoy taking?