DEAR DEIDRE: MY husband died from cancer six months ago. Is it too soon to begin dating again?
I know it sounds quick, but we hadn’t been romantic for a long time. I’m 59 and my husband was 67.
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He was really sick for the last three years of his life, and so I was essentially his carer.
My days revolved around making sure he was fed, watered and had taken his medication.
I always thought I wouldn’t ever want another man after he died.
But, for a while, I’ve been talking to a lovely man at my Pilates class.
He lost his wife at a similar time, and so we’ve helped each other through the last few months.
Recently he asked me out for dinner and told me he has liked me for a while.
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I’m going to go. He’s very attentive and makes me feel really special.
But I’m worried my friends and family will think it’s too soon.
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DEIDRE SAYS: Grief is different for each person. There is no set way of coming to terms with loss, no right or wrong time to feel anything.
My support pack Coping With Bereavement explains in more detail.
But remember that you are very emotionally vulnerable right now, so take things slowly to avoid being let down.
If you’re worried about what your friends and family may think, you could tell them that you’ve met someone and you have met a few times.
You don’t need to furnish anyone else with lots of details.
That way, they will already know you have a friend if things become more serious.
