Stages of grief...

Mom has increasingly been a little difficult to be around. At times she's very pleasant and then the next her words are very biting. What are the stages of grief. Dad's not on his death bed, but that doesn't mean Mom's hasn't undergone tremendous loss:

http://www.cancersurvivors.org/Coping/end%20term/stages.htm

The stages Kubler-Ross identified are:

• Denial (this isn't happening to me!)
  
• Anger (why is this happening to me?)
  
• Bargaining (I promise I'll be a better person if...)
  
• Depression (I don't care anymore)
  
• Acceptance (I'm ready for whatever comes)

I'm no psychiatrist. I do know that it must be a horrific situation to be in for Mom. Your partner of 45 years is now gone. If Dad had passed away, Atleast Mom could go on with her life. Right now everything is in limbo. And may be for some time.

How do I help Mom? I can't make Dad get better. I can't change things. I can't get him home. I just couldn't take being around Mom too much. There's a level of anger that lashes out from time to time. Today it was at me. I tried to take it but it hurt too much. She can't see the trees through the forest right now. There are many people around who want to help. But she sees them as a hinderence. I know she didn't mean it. It's hard to be around her sometimes. I love and support her. These are difficult times.