For young widows, a massive amount of support is generated in the first few days and weeks after a death. The hardest time for them, however, comes in the third and fourth months. By then, the flurry of concern expressed by family and friends has eased and nearly stopped. Young widows report that keeping busy by going into the workplace, returning to work if they were previously employed or volunteering more of their time, etc., is helpful during this period. Having children is a blessing.
Children are a great blessing when there has been a death.
Because they need love, nurture and attention, grieving mothers are naturally provided with ways to invest their energy and temporarily distract their mind from their own grief. Yet, children can also complicate a young widow's grieving because they face helping the children cope with the loss of their father at a time when they are themselves emotionally devastated. When widowed, Couric had two children aged six and two, while Bono's were nine and six. Their dilemma is one faced by many younger widows. Young widows have no peer group.