I just found out today that (are you ready) my future brother-in-law’s mother-in-law is going to die pretty soon.
Now I don’t know this lady, so I’m not distraught.
But now my future mother-in-law is heading up to North carolina to help out.
And of course me, being the selfless, wonderful person that I am offered for her to take her grandaughters back down here with her at the end of the week. They are on summer vacation, and I don’t think homw would be the best place for them when there grandmother is doing so poorly
Now, they will be staying with my future Mother-in-law but it is up to mt SO and I to occupy them.
Now I live in the ultimate center of world tourism, Orlando, so this shouldn’t be hard, EXCEPT I have no money.
So what should I do with my 14 and 8 year old nieces? They will be staying until the wedding on the 5th. So they are going to be in the middle of all that plannign as well…
Any suggestions?
I’m not an expert on this subject, apart from personal experience grieving the unexpected death of my sister when I was thirteen and my grandmother’s death when I reached my early 20s.
Keep in mind that these kids will be grieving (each in her own way) over grandma’s imminent departure. Expect these kids to be especially moody. They may resent being deprived of extra time with grandma before she dies, and express this resentment as if it were your fault.
You don’t have to take them to a bunch of places and spend wads of money. Stay home and make cookies (I dunno if this will be especially appealing to the 14-year-old, but what the heck?) Play boardgames and have backyard cookouts. Go for walks at the public park (the 8-year-old, especially might like the opportunity to run around and play on the monkeybars). Most importantly listen. They will probably be talking about all sorts of stuff, and wil need someone to hear about the time grandma took them to see Santa, even though they already knew, etc.
It will be difficult, especially since the kids might be angry that grandma’s dying, and will very likely take it out on you, since you’ll be a convenient lightning rod. Remember that often, when we’re upset, the thing that sets us off isn’t always what’s really bugging us. Be patient. Remember that these kids will feel like one of the most important anchors in their life is being taken away from them.
