Leaving children behind

When someone sadly passes away, it can have such a profound effect on everyone close to them, be it friends, family or even work colleagues. The person might have been much older and perhaps was poorly prior to their passing. When someone passes away very suddenly and unexpectedly, it can be more devastating. What happens to the children of a parent who died under the age of 50? Who supports them? Who helps them through their grief and is there to take over the parents role, who deals with the most daunting of tasks life throws at us all, like cooking, cleaning, paying bills, all whilst trying to cope with the sudden loss of that person they loved with their entire being. For most of us, we can only hope and pray, that we will be old and grey before we pass over, passing knowing our children are happy, functioning adults, perhaps with their own family.

Recently, we looked after a lovely lady who died without any warning, leaving several children behind. Leaving them alone to cope with absolutely everything, from arranging the funeral, changing over the house lease, registering a death, to the eldest having to support the younger siblings whilst trying to manage their own grief and still attend the local college.

For most of us reading this blog, we might never give this a thought. If you are in this position, please put things in place for your children. Remember tomorrow isn’t promised. We don't have a crystal ball; we will never know when our time here on earth is up. It doesn't always need to be financial, although that is a big help; but recording your wishes, leave a telephone/address book, write down passwords you created to enable them to access important stuff, add them to phone and utility accounts to allow them access to discuss details and change over the service. It will certainly make things easier for them. It was truly heart-breaking to see this lovely young woman having to cope with it all. However, that said, she did her mother proud, she is an incredible young woman and I'm sure her mother gave her the good stable grounding she needed to get through the worst time of her life.