http://www.thecheckoutline.org/advice/dying-to-discuss/ Advice for Dying and Death - When Sympathy Isnt Enough Fri, 18 May 2012 10:57:10 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7 hourly 1 http://www.thecheckoutline.org/advice/dying-to-discuss/comment-page-1/#comment-56 Harold Fri, 12 Sep 2008 17:51:37 +0000 http://www.thecheckoutline.org/wordpress/advice/dying-to-discuss/#comment-56 Respect the teenager, respect the family -- AND STOP GOSSIPING about the poor teenager. Don't try and provide thinly disguised "sympathy" by offering to listen, or claim that you know how the bereaved familyy members feel. Frankly, no one does. Respect the teenager, respect the family — AND STOP GOSSIPING about the poor teenager. Don’t try and provide thinly disguised “sympathy” by offering to listen, or claim that you know how the bereaved familyy members feel. Frankly, no one does.

]]> http://www.thecheckoutline.org/advice/dying-to-discuss/comment-page-1/#comment-55 Max Fri, 12 Sep 2008 11:08:30 +0000 http://www.thecheckoutline.org/wordpress/advice/dying-to-discuss/#comment-55 If there are any members of that family you feel comfortable with, you may say something like "I am so sorry. If you ever want to talk about it, I am here for you." Or, if a similar loss occurred within your family, you might try: "I think I know how you must feel." Could just be that the family of this boy has always felt isolated and alienated and this loss has made it worse. Maybe talking will help them cope a little better. Maybe not. But it's worth a try. If there are any members of that family you feel comfortable with, you may say something like “I am so sorry. If you ever want to talk about it, I am here for you.” Or, if a similar loss occurred within your family, you might try: “I think I know how you must feel.” Could just be that the family of this boy has always felt isolated and alienated and this loss has made it worse. Maybe talking will help them cope a little better. Maybe not. But it’s worth a try.

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