Those who study the effects of stress on marriages report that the death of a parent can put a great strain on a good marriage (if there is an inability or unwillingness to communicate feelings, one partner is left feeling excluded from the life of the other), so pay particular attention to your spouse.

Go on at least one date, and try not to focus on the events surrounding your parent’s death.

Your spouse may not fully understand what you are going through, but whatever help s/he tries to give will be done with the best of intentions, so receive it graciously.

Melanie Hack
Author of Who Killed My Sister, My friend
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