How to deal with family issues at the holidays

DEAR NATALIE: I recently lost my husband and I am not in the “mood” to celebrate any holidays this year. My kids are really pushing for me to join them for the festivities, but I am afraid it will be too much emotionally. I don’t want to ruin everyone’s good time. I’m depressed and sad and want to be alone. But I don’t want to say this to them and worry them. What should I do? — FEELING depression worse. You should try to visit with your children for at least part of the events. Just visit, and if you feel terrible, DOWN just excuse yourself

DEAR FEELING early. But make the effort. DOWN: I am so sorry for Being around your children your loss. The holidays can may lift your spirits be a very difficult time for temporarily, or at least help people, and the first year you to be distracted for a can make you feel numb, almost while. And remember, they like you are walking lost their father, so think of through a gray cloud. But, it this way: Being around isolation may make your them may lift their spirits, too. Just like you are holding in your sadness, they may be doing the same. Grief is a normal human emotion that we suppress collectively with our youth worship. Death and dying are part a life, and if you can’t be around the ones you love to pull each other through this, what is it all for? Be there for them, and allow them to be there for you to help them cope with their own grief, too.