[ckelly]

I am an adult daughter who essentially was at my fathers side through a 16 month terminal illness of my mother. they were married for 40 years and truly best friends. one month after her death he met a widow of 18 months. they have been inseparatable since. but i see that when he is with her he is strained, he is not the same person he seems very stressed around her. it also seems that he is trying to make something work no matter what is there just because he doesn't want to be alone. i don't think he ever truly grieved for my mother and yet he won't admit that. I feel like I have lost both parents. Aside from my mother I was my father's closest friend. My brothers never had that type of relationship. Since this new person we have really drifted apart and it hurts more than anything. I hope that he does find someone, I don't want him to be alone but I am worried that he will just stick with this person because he is too scared to look elsewhere. He also talks about his money around her too much, I think he thinks he must show her that has enough???

[Jill]

I am sure you are right when you believe your father is still in mourning for your mother. In grief we all behave differently, and your dad needs time for everything to settle - meanwhile I think he is probably rather lost. Stay close and be there for him in any way you can. He probably needs all the support he can get at this time.