How to help him

Just be there for them both. This is a tragic loss and will take a long time to come to terms with.

It is alright to be tearful and if they/he can relax enough with you to talk about his son, this is no doubt a help.
Be there and listen. Nothing you do can make it any worse because the worst has happened.
My DF died in an aeroplane crash. My DM never got over it but life did change for her so you could say that time heals.

My DH died 9 months ago and one friend in particular has been a consistent help to me. She will go for a walk with me when ever I want - sometimes daily, and always has time. She isn't bereaved but she just seems to understand.

Thank you, I've just helped him find something on the web, it has pleased him, and it's also helped my friend. He is very lucky that my friend does absolutely everything for him, and protects him from anything and everything.

I'm five years into my grief journey now and conscious I haven't moved forwards, I'm still reflecting. I have moved house to a small manageable bungalow, which is something.
I wish I'd had my friend here in the early days. The balls in the jar story helped me, I realised my grief would always be the same, I've got to make a different and bigger life for myself. Perhaps tomorrow!

Hugs to you Grammaretto, it is hard xx

I think it's important to realise that you can't do anything to fix this and you shouldn't try to. Just be there to listen, go out with them, be normal with them. See them as them, don't see them as bereaved parents first and foremost. If you try to fix them, they will sense you are uncomfortable with their feelings and either not share or distance.

The time frame you are describing as far as child loss is nothing at all. I found the 2-4 year mark the most difficult. Time will help.

Thanks ~CafeAuLait, I am a fixer, I'll take a step back. Unfortunately I am 300 miles away and haven't been able to see them for years, so it's all been phone calls, care packages and emails, but I've done my best and will just listen in future.

Those communications sound perfect Shandy. Just be a friend, don't raise the topic or avoid the topic. The connection of a friend is probably just what they need.

I found those who wanted to fix things were just trying to avoid their own discomfort with the topic or emotions. I quickly learned it was no okay to have feelings around those people. It did create distance. I didn't want to be around people who were overly sympathetic either. Just, be normal. :-)

Shandy ((hugs)).
You have done amazingly well in this last year alone. Plan some interesting things to do this winter.

Thanks Grammaretto, I still feel as though I've been dragged through a hedge backwards.

Pleased to say I've managed to book a flu jab for tomorrow, must remember to wear a short sleeved dress.

Now I've been here six months, I have more of an idea how to renovate the bungalow and I've just treated myself to a special offer with House Beautiful, a reduced subscription for six months. Anything I buy/have built will have storage potential. I so miss my airing cupboard, and larder, and cupboards in general! I still wonder where the seller kept her ironing board/mop etc, perhaps hanging on the back of a door somewhere! I joked about the kitchen/lounge reminding me of a caravan, now I've said it I definitely won't be having a corner sofa I'm still dithering over an Ikea gateleg table with drawers at both ends - it's ugly and apparently very heavy, but I doubt I'll be moving it.

My other winter project will be sorting the thousands of photographs, a poster very kindly put her procedure for sorting on Gransnet and I printed it off. I have started and am having a sad time going through them all. I've also come across some that I forgot existed, I've just matched one of my husband's golf trophies with photos taken at the event.

CafeAuLait I think that what you've said is spot on and that you've have expressed this beautifully.