After the News
When someone you love just got hard news and is bracing through it by planning.
Before You Start
- You don't have to fix this or make it make sense.
- Staying near them matters more than saying the right thing.
- If they're controlling it by planning, that's how they're getting through tonight.
What You Can Offer
What I want them to feel from me:
What I might rush to do instead of just being there:
What I'm afraid of in this moment:
What Makes This Hard
- I'll want to fix it or look things up too soon
- I might correct them to be accurate
- Silence will feel like I'm not doing enough
- Seeing them scared will be hard to sit with
- Something else:
What Matters Most
What do I most want them to know I'm there for?
Things You Can Simply Say
- “Okay.”
- “I'm here.”
- “We can figure it out later — whatever you need.”
When They Pull Back
- “I'm just here.”
- “I'm around. Whenever.”
- “Okay. Your call.”
- “Whatever you need.”
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