My longtime boyfriend died last year. Is it too soon to date someone new?
Only you can know when you are ready, but a year is not long to process grief, and you seem to have doubts about this man
TL;DR
- The writer lost her longtime boyfriend last year after a 16-year relationship, and they have a young son.
- She has developed a crush on a colleague who is also a single father and has recently recovered from cancer.
- Concerns exist about the colleague being 'hot and cold' and the writer's limited time as a solo parent.
- A psychotherapist suggests the writer might be looking outside herself for validation and may be unconsciously trying to skip grief stages.
- Grieving is a long process, and accepting the death and the end of the expected life narrative is crucial.
- The advice is to take it slowly, put herself and her son first, and consider therapy or support groups.