During the early stages of bereavement, the mind wanders.Your newly widowed father may find it impossible to stay focused.They're also susceptible to unexpected crying spells.

These aren't setbacks -- they're just typical ways that the grieving process resurfaces.One of the best gifts you can give your mother is patience and understanding, long past the time when the outside world has stopped sending cards or asking her how she's doing. Your father may have suffered a long illness, requiring your mother's constant care and attention.Initially, she may remain caught up in taking care of the details after his death, or may deny that she's grieving (because the death was expected). But you should be prepared for her grief to surface at some point.Understanding Your Parent's Grief A grieving person can't function at 100 percent, so the initial months after your mother's death aren't a time for your father to start new projects or make major decisions. Your usually organized father may miss appointments, lock his keys in the car or mail unsigned checks with his bills.His normal functions will return, even though you may find him doing abnormal things. You can help him by being patient, reminding him that these are symptoms of grief and suggesting that he write down reminders to himself.• Disorganization.