Has anyone had to deal with the death of a family member from a distance? Are schools pretty good about letting a kid take a day or two off, helping with transportation to and from the airport, etc? Just trying to prepare for the inevitable.
I’m sorry to hear this, @gusmom2000. Hugs to you and your family.
Junior year, our son experienced the death of one of his closest Scout friends from a Jeep rollover accident. He was devastated. We called his advisor, dorm parent, college counselor, etc. to inform them. All the adults rallied instantly, and Choate certainly would have given him whatever time away he needed, including transportation to/from the airport. My husband was working in Hartford at the time, so he was close by, and went to campus to be with him for however long our son needed him. Because the Scout’s family decided on a private funeral and a memorial later in the year, our son stayed on campus, but we were told that his teachers would work with him regarding schoolwork if he needed to be away and, in the weeks that followed, we got updates from his advisor who went way out of her way to make sure he had someone to talk to and to do little things to keep him cheered. We felt he was in good hands.
Again, hugs to you. Call your son’s advisor to start this conversation and see how your son’s school can assist. I’m sure they will give you whatever you need.
Schools are usually SUPER accommodating. Deaths my child has had to deal with this year alone: aunt, grandparent, godfather, cousin, close friend of family and his dog. The school has been amazing. So supportive and accommodating. His dog died while he was home and he worked really hard to not break down in front of his local friends. I asked how he felt about going back to school. He said that he was more comfortable breaking down there because he knew that everyone would be kind and supportive and he’d already gone through so many deaths with that community.
@gusmom2000 sorry, hope all will be well
Hope you and your family have support needed.
Hugs and warm thoughts to you.
I’m sorry.
Our school was wonderful with DS when my niece died last fall in a car accident. She was 16 - same age as DS. I drove up to school to tell him in person, and he kept his emotions pretty checked while I was there. Later that night, un-prompted by me, his coach called us to tell us that DS sought him out and spent an hour unloading emotionally about Jessica. Coach looped in advisor, dorm dean, and chaplain, and everybody was super supportive. They allowed him to take a couple of days to attend the funeral - no trouble.
Sorry for your loss, @hellomaisy. So nice that your son has a bond with his coach and feels comfortable reaching out and confiding in him.