It is just about 6 months for me as well, since I lost my father.

I miss calls from my father as well.

There is no returning to the previous "normal", we just keep working on the new normal.

I don't mean to pry, but could you tell us a bit more about you? how old are your children, did they get along as well with your dad as you did?

Gentle hugs, it is a sad journey but reach out to family and friends. That makes it an easier journey to walk.

Well I was one of three of my dad's children, me being the only girl, he always called me his princess. We were very close and lived close to each other as he got older, but he passed not to long after his 62 birthday. The thirty years I did get with him were the best that I could have ever had and I was there all the way until he closed his eyes and went to heaven. My boys are 14, 10, 6 and 4 my oldest two took it the hardest they loved their papa with all their heart, I can see my dad in some of the things my kids do. I'm sorry about your loss as well, it is a hard journey but I know in the end it will be okay, hugs and prayers to you.

Wow, you have a lot of different ages of boys to help through this process! Yes, I can see how the 2 older ones would take it the hardest, they are old enough to know that death is for ever as well as old enough to have good memories of their grandfather.

Hugs and prayers to you and all your family as you go through this.

Yeah my oldest son, was there when my dad passed away at his home and at he had a hard time at my dad's celebration of life it's so hard to see my children be so sad. My dad told me before he got sick he wanted to be cremated so I respected his wishes and we got him cremated and all of us children and my children all got some of his ashes in a necklace and my dad's fianc has the remaining in a beautiful rose cedar box in their home they shared. I had to go through the whole process of making decisions for my dad when he was in the ICU and on hospice because I was the oldest living child here my oldest brother lives in Florida and those decisions were hard for me to make and to see my dad not get any better and pass away in front of me really tore me apart inside. But I do go to counseling, I have a loving and supporting husband who loved my dad very much and took care of my dad as well, my mom is an amazing support too and so are many family and friends.

It sounds like you have a very good environment to grieve in! Let the emotions come, tip your husband that he needs to keep his eyes on the kids more so than normal because you may miss things.

Continuing hugs

Make sure to go through all the steps of grieving. Also remember that there is no time limit on grieving either. I lost my mother a year ago this month on the 8th and I still think about telling her something or even seeing her when someone looks like her. I realized it is not always time that can heal, but what we do within that time that creates positive change. And you know that he is with you always , until the end of time.
I wrote a quotes about pennies. That may help you too. God Bless
Hugs

Hi again Mel
I forgot to add this song for you. It was my mom's absolute favorite and always reminds me of her. I hope it will help remind you of your dad. Extra Hugs

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c4zkBpFOB_w
Angels to close to the ground
Willie Nelson

my name is vader.I am 68 years old and old enough to be your grandmother...I lost the love of my life 7 years ago this May and it is a hard road to follow.Brad was 4 9 years old and I tried to reach out for friends but the people in Seattle are cold and some of them have abandoned me.I am very much alone and in the end things will be okay.Please remember this takes time and time is the healer.Vader.

That sounds pretty normal, vader. It's been 8 years for me, and although it's less intensely painful, I do have moments when my heart aches. Especially when milestones come up... for instance, going to my graduation after achieving my master's degree... Even though I wasn't even close to getting into that program when he died, it was hard knowing he didn't get to see me achieve it. One of the first things that hit me when he died was that he wouldn't be there for my wedding day. I, too, am one of 3 kids and the only girl. I was definitely a daddy's girl. Knowing he won't be there to walk me down the aisle is still really hard. Especially as I am in a very committed long term relationship that will become a marriage, sooner now rather than later.

I agree with pepperman, there is no returning to how things were... to think you can would mean that his passing had no impact, left no scar. Things can be better, but they will be forever changed. Finding a way to be ok with that is one of the biggest hurdles. Best of luck, my friend.

Thank you everyone for the kind words, I know we are all in the stages of grieving and I know eventually it may get easier, but I know it will take time to heal all wounds. I do miss my dad especially when big things happen in my life, like I am going to go back to school and he would have been the first one's I would call and let him know and he would be so happy about it. Hugs and prayers to everyone.

I lost my mom when she was 64. It was hard for me and I did not know how you can go on with life and live and be happy. I am now 64 yrs old. I just lost my dad January 18th he was 94 yrs old. I was with him when he died and it was a beautiful moment in my life. I too was daddys little girl and I always will be. I spoke to him almost every day he had a mine and body of someone in their 60's. He made me laugh and I looked forward to talking to him. He was my go to man who would assure me everything will be okay. I take all that he has taught me and use it every day as he would want me to to enjoy everyday.
The problem I had when he was dying and when he finally passed was I could not cry and I could not understand WHY. I have now realized I did not have to cry like I did with my mother. I had a full life with him and wonderful memories. My grieving is when I just can not pick up the phone and here him say Yo this is your daddy. I told you he was funny. Take Care and live how your daddy would want you to be happy.

I just lost my father a week ago, so I don't know how I'll be in six months, but I can imagine it is still going to be hard. I can't imagine it not being hard. There is no wrong way to grieve from what I've heard. I have some friends that have lost parents and they each grieved in their own way. Some buried in work, others took time off and thought of memories. For me, so far I think about him and cry it out, then I also distract myself. I also get out and about with my mom. I also look at photos sparingly, only when I have the space to cry it out. Sometimes they make me smile, but usually I cry after.

Here for you. HUGS.

I think the only wrong way to grieve is to deny your feelings. It is one thing to stay strong for a few days perhaps a week, but to deny your feelings for too long just does not work. I have seen a couple of people do it that way, and when they finally gave in and confronted their emotions it was a huge relief for them.

We're all so different.. I lost my dad 3 months ago, he was in hospital, discharged, went in again, discharged, then went in the third time and diagnosed as terminal.

I was very brave the first few weeks fighting with the doctors and nurses who said he had unknown fever, then when he passed, I was traumatised as we had our fridge at home stuffed full of morphine syringes. Then I was tough and emotionless because I had to arrange the funeral, give his eulogy and handle his affairs.

After the funeral, I was grieving and crying a lot, then I became numb for a few weeks. Now I'm up and down and work is keeping me focused because I feel like there's no purpose to life even though I have to look after my mom who's acting like a zombie. I don't know if she's shocked, grieving or numb as she won't talk about dad's death and his suffering at the hospital. Maybe she's afraid it will happen to her ... I'm trying hard to understand.

Be kind to yourself and others - I learned that no one around me feels like I do and I have to respect that...