Dating after loss of spouse

[Anonymous]

What is the appropriate amount of time to wait? Assuming a lengthy marriage with teen children.

[Anonymous]

How long has it been and you feel ready?

[Anonymous]

Whenever you are ready. I’m so sorry

[Anonymous]

Grief doesn’t have a timeline; it is what is most appropriate for you. You should talk to your children about their thoughts too. Teen years are hard already with stepparents, so I would be concerned about how they would reconcile their grief about parent being gone with the welcoming of a new parental figure. Things could get sticky. If it has been several years and there is some peace around the death, closure and everyone has adjusted to the new way of living, I would have a conversation with my kids and ask them to think about how they would feel if I dated. They are teens so I think that conversation is a good family convo to have. I’m sorry for your loss. Good luck and hope you get good advice here.

[Anonymous]

Read/follow Rebecca Woolf on Instagram. She lost her husband to cancer and is now dating someone a year later. She writes about her journey and makes it all make sense to her but since it makes sense to her, it makes sense. There is no right or wrong.

[Anonymous]

Give it a year. You and your kids need to grieve. You both need to get through the first holidays, first Mother’s Day, first birthday, first Christmas, first anniversary of her death without her. Give yourself that time, and just as importantly, give your kids that time. I’m sure you’ll find nice people to date once a year has passed. Take that year to heal and prepare yourself emotionally to meet someone new.

[Anonymous]

Try to wait one year, my uncle was remarried within 1 year , my mom was really pissed

[Anonymous]

At least 1 year.

even if you are ready, you also need to wait until your kids are ready.

[Anonymous]

Can you share how long have you been widowed OP? It may impact the advice you receive.

[Anonymous]

It’s up to you and no one else. If it feels like the right time it is regardless of others opinions.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It’s up to you and no one else. If it feels like the right time it is regardless of others opinions.

Widower here. I was ready to date before the kids were ready for me to date. Don’t rush them.

[Anonymous]

My dad started dating 3 days after we buried my mom. He doesn't understand why his children found that troubling. The poor woman has been on the hook for 15 years, still hoping for a ring.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My dad started dating 3 days after we buried my mom. He doesn't understand why his children found that troubling. The poor woman has been on the hook for 15 years, still hoping for a ring.

Seriously? He didn’t get it? If you had brothers, did they feel the same way as you about dating so soon?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Try to wait one year, my uncle was remarried within 1 year , my mom was really pissed

Why does your mother feel entitled to even have an opinion about this, let alone be angry about it? What is her fundamental character flaw?

[Anonymous]

I’d want my parent to wait at East a year to start dating