The Astonishing Things People Say to Grieving Widows

Short and Sweet Summary: Questionable communication and social skills are on display when you come across some of the astonishing things people say to grieving widows. Don’t you wish people said nothing at all rather than blurt out some of these zingers?

Have you ever come across those folks who, in their attempt at profound insight, tell you they know how you feel because their dog died and it was the most painful experience ever?

Well, it could have been their dog or Great Aunt Bertha or their best friend’s sister’s college roommate, but the point is, they have no flipping idea what you’re going through.

NO CONCEIVABLE IDEA.

Losing a spouse is at the top of The Holmes-Rahe Life Stress Inventory. 

NUMBER ONE. With a POINT VALUE of 100.

The stress can’t get much higher than the highest value at the top of the scale.

The death of a pet didn’t even make the list of high stressors. Our 13-year-old Dachshund died the same year my husband died and it was awful. But our dog’s death in no way compared to my husband’s death.

IN NO REASONABLE WAY.

I get that people want to say something, anything to fill the awkward silences and gaps in conversations.

But I for one have had it up to my eyeballs specifically with the following things people say to grieving widows.

They serve no purpose. And, it makes our grief seem small and unnecessary.

So uncool.

Here we go.

Hang on to your hats…I feel a massive rant coming on.

The Agony of “At Least…”

I loathe the “at least” conversations. This might be the worst offender in stupid things people say to grieving widows.

Have you heard these doozies?

What the hell does it even mean? At least.

Whenever I hear the words “at least” I feel like people are trying to minimize my pain. It’s like people are trying to help but only end up making grief seem inconsequential.

I don’t think people realize that what they say and what we hear are two very different things. The “at least” comparison never serves its intended purpose.

You know the ones that go like this:

At least you had time to prepare

My husband died of an incurable brain tumor and we knew from the day of his diagnosis that he was going to die. So according to the general population, I had an ample amount of time to get used the idea of him not being around.

The thing is, no amount of “preparing” helps anyone accept the finality of death. There is no measure of readiness that magically gives you a head start on decreasing the devastation.

This “at least” sentiment needs to be retired. Immediately.

At least you’re young and can get married again

I’ve never understood why it seems like a good idea to offer up another marriage scenario when the ink on your spouse’s death certificate is barely dry.

It’s like people, in their feeble attempt to make me feel better, like reminding me that husband’s death now frees me up to exchange another set of “till death do us part” wedding vows.

How lucky am I that I get to do that all over AGAIN!

Ugh.

As if the heartache, pain and sheer misery of my husband’s death disappears with a new man.

Thank you for reminding me that my husband is replaceable. Woo hoo!

What most people don’t realize is when they utter this “at least” sentiment, it makes them feel better, not you.

At least he’s not suffering anymore

I get that our dead spouses aren’t suffering anymore. That’s a given.

But what about our pain? What about our suffering? I know my husband isn’t suffering anymore, BUT I AM.

Now, I have to hide my own pain and misery because I’m supposed to FEEL BETTER that he’s DEAD and NOT SUFFERING ANYMORE.

I wish people would see the ridiculousness of this platitude. It doesn’t make widows feel better. In fact, if you’re anything like me, it makes you feel worse. Because it doesn’t allow for our grief. It doesn’t allow for OUR sadness or anguish.

I wish people would just say, “this sucks and I’m at a complete loss for words” instead.

Let’s retire the at least sentiments and comparisons once and for all.

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The Worthless “What Would…?”

The next contender for the worst words to say to a widow are theoretical. As in, hypothetical.

As in, NOT REAL.

I call this the “Let’s Speculate” game. It’s a stupid game where someone asks me what my husband would do in a particular situation if he was still alive.

Only, he’s dead.

So what’s the practical purpose of guessing his reaction to a situation he will NEVER EXPERIENCE? I get that people fall flat trying to figure out what to say to someone who lost a loved one.

But theorizing the dead person’s reaction to a series of speculative scenarios is irritating at best.

I get really defensive when I get asked these “what would your husband do/say/feel” questions because it makes me feel as if my current decision/communication/reaction isn’t valid.

Like, maybe I’m making the wrong decision? Doubtful in my expression? Not handling the situation well? 

I could be taking these questions personally and maybe, just maybe, people don’t intend to second guess my decisions. Maybe, just maybe, they’re making small talk because they don’t know what else to say.

But damn if it’s not annoying.

I do the best I can with the information I have at the current moment. We all do.

If I make a mistake, so be it. 

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The Narcissistic “I Know…”

I love the folks who know it all.

No. Not really. I don’t love them at all.

Now, it’s not like I hate the narcissists. Really, I don’t. I just wish they wouldn’t try to tell me how much they know about what goes on in my brain.

I’m not even sure what goes on in my brain half the time, so I’m super impressed that other people think they know.

I know how you feel/what you’re going through

Nope. You don’t.

Burying your 85-year-old father doesn’t count. Circle of life, you know? I’m pretty sure you don’t know what it’s like to listen to your son’s heartbreaking whimpers as he cries himself to sleep every night. Or what it’s like to hide in your closet because you don’t want the kids to hear the wretched sounds you make when you cry so hard you choke on your own snot.

No one knows how I do what I do. Or how you do what you do. Or how you feel at any given moment.

I know your husband would want you to stop grieving

I knew my husband better than anyone. So whenever someone tells me they know what my husband would want, I fantasize about gouging their eyeballs out with sharp sticks.

Because that’s what my husband would want if he knew people were trying to tell me what he would want.

I will grieve in whatever fashion I choose for as long as necessary. One thing grieving widows don’t need is unsolicited advice about how to grieve or for how long.

Oh, how I wish other people would stop pretending to know what a dead guy wants. Seriously.

I know he’s in a better place

Oh really?

Please tell me omnipotent, all-knowing, crystal-ball gazer, what place is better than here with me?

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The Shameful “You Should…”

I bet you don’t like being told what to do. I know I don’t.

So, the folks who decide to shower us with “you should” sentiments can be the most annoying of all. 

You should stop feeling sorry for yourself

Says who? Only those of us grieving know that grief doesn’t have a time limit.

This is the same as “you should move on” or “you should get over it already.” As if the pain and anguish aren’t enough without someone trying to make you feel bad about feeling bad. 

You should stop wearing your wedding ring

Again, says who? It’s up to you to decide how long you wear your ring. Wear it forever if you want. Take it off right now if it makes you feel better. 

Turn it into another piece of jewelry. Sell it. You get to decide.

It’s pretty presumptuous for others to make bold declarations about what we should do with the symbol of our marriage. 

You should quit your job/get a job/move

It’s hard making decisions solo. Especially decisions about jobs or houses or relocating. Other people don’t know what it’s like to make a decision to move from the first house you bought as a couple or stay in the house you raised your kids in. 

To work or not work is another individual decision. It’s silly to think someone else can know if it’s best for you to quit a demanding job. Or if staying in a demanding job is just what you need to prevent getting swallowed whole by grief.

So many factors plan into these types of decisions that no one really knows what’s best for you except you. 

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Widow Wrap Up

We don’t have the luxury of avoiding difficult conversations. We end up getting cornered by well-meaning, but clueless, people who think they know the best things to say to grieving widows.

Only they’ve never been grieving widows.

So, there’s that.

I used to be guilty of these grief faux-pas before I became enmeshed in grief. Now that I know better I don’t say things like “you should” or “if I were you.”

I say, “this sucks” or “I don’t even know what to say.”

I think we would all feel better if people just stopped trying to make sense of the senseless. It’s impossible.

We’ve all tried.

What’s the worst thing someone has ever said to you? Please share in the comments.

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• Where to Find Grief Support Options for Widows
• Resources to Make Widowed Life Easier