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My dad died last week and now I am the only male in the family.How do I procede?

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My dad died last week and now I am the only male in the family.How do I procede?

#1
Good day to everyone!

As the title says, I[31] lost my dad. I have a sister, mum and mum’s mum. Dad[57] earned good money and supported them. We think he had a stroke or something with the heart. The investigation is still ongoing.

I understand alot has fallen on my shoulders. Maybe not to full extent but some. My sister[16] needs to be educated and before I thought she wanted to go to medical school and I already imagined this to be hard but possible to support her through it. Today I found she wants to be a singer superstar. I really hope this is a phase and don’t know how to talk to her about it. I do not want to discourage her but I also want her to have a good life. I said music is a great hobby. So I kept it at that. But honestly I felt really upset and angry. I have never even heard her sing. She has been attending private tutors for singing and piano for some while. Said she will participate in some contests in the next two years.

My mother earns minimum wage, I hope she gets to have some of father’s earned pension when the time comes. The help from government pratically doesn’t exist. I said I will support her with money. She is being pessimistic but with my support they can be ok. I had other dreams but ok some things require sacrifice. Thankfully dad bought a nice, smaller apartment because it was too big for three of them and the utilities were very high. He got a mortgage for the new apartment and the bank now owns the old one.

Mother should get compensation enough to cover the mortgage if not I will pay up. And then the old appartment could be rented out or sold.

My dad worked in offshore so he would regularly be away. When he would be away me and mum would sometimes get into arguments I don’t even remember about what. When dad was home, we would have great relationship.

My gran, well, she is older so I think she can support me psychologically while I support the other two. First thing she said was that I have to become worthy of my father. My dad loved us very much and never abandoned.

I work away from them in a similar but psychologically harder job than my dad with much less pay and decided to stay working because I have been working here only for two weeks and I need the money. I come back in two months. I don’t know if I did the right thing but my gran says I did. Otherwise after a month I would need to look for another job.(Dad didn’t want a funeral/be burried I remember from childhood and mum also knows this, they agreed to have a farewell party when I come back). I hope I will manage to stay sane.

My dad paid my sister for reading books, she has a newer iPhone than me. I bought mine used. I hope she grows up normal and this financial hit and loss of father won’t sabbotage her, get into alcohol or drugs or promiscuity.

My mum has two rescued dogs that are also female and they live a better life than some people.

I am not married and no kids. Life goes on. Today I already felt this being too much for me. As in they will drive me crazy. I want them good. I cry everyday a bit but after the biggest cry the tears don’t come so much. I dread that they will come when life gets really hard. I sometimes feel anger towards dad for dying. I want it to be alright.

TL:DR Dad died, I[31M] have to support three women - mum, sister and grandmother. How do I keep it together being the only man surrounded with women?

Re: My dad died last week and now I am the only male in the family.How do I procede?

#2
Find a neutral source of financial planning advice. It's important that it's free of tail costs. So either pay fee for service or talk to charities in the debt consolidation space. (who may well also expect fee for service) -just avoid anything tied to a specific financial product or investment company and where the person or company who advises you gets a tail of income from their recommendations.

Don't rush into specific products. Do your research.

Find a grief councillor. Don't expect a quick turn around on your emotions. There are things you need to process your family can, and can't help you with. A councillor is private, and is your advocate, against competing pressures. Good advice will include the not always helping options, the do nothing options, with their up and downsides.

Some choices may hurt like hell. Some choices may tear the family apart. Nobody can really judge which are the best choices but you, with information you can try to make the best short and longer term choices.

Do not seek short term consolations in alcohol or drugs.

As an athiest I can't easily recommend faith based support networks but its possible they can help here, bearing the lead concern in mind: do not accept advice which appears to serve the interest of the advisor.

It's a hard road. You're growing life experience which nobody seeks but at some extent everyone has to undergo.

I'm sorry it's now, and I'm sorry it's hard. Truly, it gets different with time, but it's always going to be a part of your life now, and that's OK, and normal too.

Re: My dad died last week and now I am the only male in the family.How do I procede?

#3
I'm sorry for your loss and the difficult circumstances your family finds itself in.

Not sure what to advise you. This is a very challenging set of circumstances you are in.

Two thoughts:

1) You must keep it together as the alternative is unproductive.

2) I believe a defining power of humans is our ability to adapt. You will adapt. So will your family.

Just do the best you can. Work hard to earn but be careful to not self-destruct. Think of an engine that is pushed beyond its limit. You must not damage yourself through too much stress and work.

Don't make false promises such as "Don't worry ... I have it all figured out" .. especially if that is not true. Discuss the reality of the situation and your plan. This could mean no new iPhones or anything beyond the bare necessities of life (not forever but at least for a while).

Remember, you will hopefully earn more money and have an easier job as time goes on. Upskill yourself as you get the opportunity and avoid bad habits.

Best of luck to you.

Re: My dad died last week and now I am the only male in the family.How do I procede?

#4
Since others have talked about grief and handling that I want address how to think about this situation. You frame the problem as, "you have to support three women". This will sound insensitive but that's not my intention. You do not have to support them. Instead I think you want to support them. It's a choice to make to do because there is no external compelling force like the government that's forcing you to it. Instead it's a cultural sense of family obligation that's driving you to do this. So realize first and foremost you have choice in this matter.

As parent it's one of the cruelest things I see in many cultures where parents burden their children in a way they were never burdened by their own parents. You say your dad had a good job but instead of investing in life insurance or the future he invested in iPhone and possibly other useless trinkets instead of a solid investment in the family stability. Now the worst case scenario has happened these failure are now a burden you must bare.

Since it seems you will choose accept this, it's quite likely you'll never have a family of your own. If you don't moderate the expectations of your family they will grind you too dust and happily take anything thing you give. You should have an honest conversation with them about what you're able to do and what you're not able to do and that the lifestyle must be different. Possibly they need to get jobs.

You need to consider long and hard about what you can do and how much of your future you're going to sacrifice for them. It's not wrong of you to consider yourself first. It's never wrong to do that. Because if you can't care for yourself then you can't ever care for anyone else.

I know this is blunt and I've traveled the world enough to know this goes against many cultures, but the time for that cultural mindset is changing. No longer is caring for the parents simply having them in village or in your home and giving them space and food. The modern expenses are much greater and therefore that cultural idea breaks down. Stealing 30 years of your child's adult life is unforgivable, I say that as a parent, especially when that part of your life is time you need to be earning money and establishing your own family.

If you were 50 and had raised your own kids and then taking care of your parents that's different because you've established your lineage.

Re: My dad died last week and now I am the only male in the family.How do I procede?

#5
if you're grieving, grieve.

if you see them grieving, give them time, listen to them, and do chores for them.

that is enough.

if however you can support financially for the fam, that is a bonus, but dont think they cant function without your support. they should be able to as you are all adults, except your gran lol. your sis go support her but always be there for her even when her plans dont work out. if it works out it's a nice bet isnt it.

anyway thats it, please take your fucking time man go talk with your friends go have a drink. you obviously need to rant about how much you miss your dad and how much shit he left you to deal with hahaha.

source: my dad also died many years ago lol

Re: My dad died last week and now I am the only male in the family.How do I procede?

#6
I am also very sorry for lose, it takes some time, take the time before making any rush decisions.

The only advise I would give you: talk to your mother, talk to grandmother and tell them exactly what you have told us. Do not have fear or shame to show your emotions to those you believe you should support.

You have to support each other and that only works if all of you are open and honest about the situation.

Re: My dad died last week and now I am the only male in the family.How do I procede?

#7
post #4

Since others have talked about grief and handling that I want address how to think about this situation. You frame the problem as, "you have to support three women". This will sound insensitive but that's not my intention. You do not have to support them. Instead I think you want to support them. It's a choice to make to do because there is no external compelling force like the government that's forcing you to it. In…

Wow, I had an idea I might not have my own family but when you said it.. I wrote this last night, after I wrote it I calmed down and have slept the night since and it does not look so grim now. I might have put too much responsibility on my self. I believe you are right, I have to put my foot down. My mother has to continue working, I will pinch in. My sister will have to work when she studies and she might have to take out loans. My father would not have allowed that.

Besides that, my dad loved good expensive stuff. Honestly, I think I should take an example from him here. This is the third appartment he has bought. So after my mother receives compensation she should have four appartments without any debt. One is for them, one is for granma, one I guess will be sold/rented out and the fourth one is where I grew up but we let a family live there for free almost because the appartment is in a state(I have and will ask them to help my mother). Also, I have my own place. This I say because you mentioned useless trinkets.

It is sad, because he was supposed to be already home now and he did not manage to insure his life last time, also he was planning to do the whole medical check that could have saved his life if he had done it earlier..

Somebody aswell said this is not my responsibility, honestly I don’t want it to be. But I do want to help. And this post is about me not being grinded into dust. I don’t want to feel like I will just leave them because it is too much.

Re: My dad died last week and now I am the only male in the family.How do I procede?

#8
post #4

Since others have talked about grief and handling that I want address how to think about this situation. You frame the problem as, "you have to support three women". This will sound insensitive but that's not my intention. You do not have to support them. Instead I think you want to support them. It's a choice to make to do because there is no external compelling force like the government that's forcing you to it. In…

Wow, I had an idea I might not have my own family but when you said it.. I wrote this last night, after I wrote it I calmed down and have slept the night since and it does not look so grim now. I might have put too much responsibility on my self. I believe you are right, I have to put my foot down. My mother has to continue working, I will pinch in. My sister will have to work when she studies and she might have to t…

If there are so many apartments and $$$ is tight tell them to move in together in one apartment to reduce costs and rent out the rest.

The guy to which you are replying is 100% correct. This is not the time for luxury. And if those women won't understand this and complain then ghost them: your life has priority: DO NOT LET THEM DESTROY YOUR OWN LIFE JUST SO THAT THEY CAN LIVE SOME IGNORANT LUXURIOUS LIFE! YOUR (FUTURE) FAMILY/CHILDREN IS WHAT MATTERS MOST! Do not destroy your life with ignorant people!

Also: stop letting that family to live in that apartment rent free! YOU are what matters, not them. Charge them or kick them out and get a new family.

Re: My dad died last week and now I am the only male in the family.How do I procede?

#9
>> First thing she said was that I have to become worthy of my father.

You don't need to be worthy of anyone but yourself. That is manipulation that parents/grandparents do on their children and it's horribly destructive as it will only riddle you with guilt. F** living up to your father, do the things that vibe with you.

Your sister will (somehow) need to come to terms that $$ is needed in life. If money is scarce then stop paying for her lessons and tell her to get a part time job as she must come to understand asap that things cost $$ in real life.

Re: My dad died last week and now I am the only male in the family.How do I procede?

#10

>> First thing she said was that I have to become worthy of my father. You don't need to be worthy of anyone but yourself. That is manipulation that parents/grandparents do on their children and it's horribly destructive as it will only riddle you with guilt. F** living up to your father, do the things that vibe with you. Your sister will (somehow) need to come to terms that $$ is needed in life. If money is scarce t…

Also: you suffer what most people suffer: the indoctrination that "you have to support your siblings or parents": YOU DO NOT! Or more precisely: if they are ignorant and do not understand the harsh reality of the situation you find yourself in then you OWN THEM NOTHING. Only support those who also do everything in their (limited) power to support the family. Freeloaders are to be ignored and ghosted!

You young sister might not be able to bring in a lot of money, but she can atleast get a part time job to cover her own expenses/hobbies. Everyone can do what they can.

But if they refuse to do atleast the things they can then it's byebye, not your problem anymore.

Imagine this scenario: if the women fail to understand that you have your own desire and will to live your own life and instead demand that you bend and destroy your own life so that they can do stupid stuff themselves: well, do you realize how selffish they are and how little they truly care about you?

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