My mother has always considered my dog Sophie as much hers as she is mine. She absolutely loves her and Sophie goes with me on every visit whether it was my mother's home or the nursing home. Sophie passed away last week and I do not know how to break this to my mother. What is your advice?
Please tell her, and tell her how much Sophie always loved her. Cry with her. Take her a framed picture or a small picture book of Sophie, or sit and make one with her, a scrapbook she can keep of better times.
Hugs to you. Those of us who love our pets know what this is for you and for Mom. Huge hugs coming your way. Remember, tears wash the despair and pain out. They cleanse like the rain. Allow them to help you heal.
Unless you're confident that your mother can cope with this loss - bearing in mind that at the moment you can't possibly be in any fit state to support her, can you? - I should delay the news by saying that Sophie is at the vet/dog hairdresser/resting at home with a sore paw.
I'm sorry to ask this so soon, but will you be thinking of getting another dog? I'm sure that you don't WANT another dog, you want Sophie; and I wouldn't even ask, except that another dog will be the best way of distracting your mother's attention.
But listen - don't worry. If the fact is that you can't help bursting into tears when your mother asks after Sophie, and you do end up telling her, that's okay too. Your mother's also entitled to be sad.
I'm so sorry for your loss. Hugs from one bereaved (not recently) dog owner to another.
The other option is to gently tell her what has happened so that you both have each other to lean on and share this difficult time with. The picture idea would be perfect in this case and if it would be helpful for either of you maybe even a small memorial of sorts together or celebration of Sophie's life.
Keep in mind what you need here too, having mom to talk to and share this grieving with might be beneficial to you or it might be easier for you to grieve alone and not have to share with mom...then again maybe being able to shift the focus on getting mom through this blow is what YOU need, don't loose sight of your needs here I'm sure mom would agree with me on this.
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