Dying Mother Creates 'Masterclass in Motherhood' for Husband

[anhtimmy]

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When Jemma Oliver was diagnosed with terminal cancer, she set about preparing her family for her death. But rather than focusing on the funeral arrangements, the mother of two gave her husband, Jason, a detailed crash course in caring for the couple’s two children, son Keaton, 4, and daughter Codi, 2. Jemma, 29, walked her husband through every aspect of being a mom and left him plenty of instructions about what to do once she was gone.

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<p>[Dying</a> Mother Creates ‘Masterclass in Motherhood’ for Husband - ParentDish](<a href=“http://www.parentdish.com/2009/07/17/dying-mother-creates-masterclass-in-motherhood-for-husband/?icid=main|aimzones|dl3|link2|http%3A%2F%2Fwww.parentdish.com%2F2009%2F07%2F17%2Fdying-mother-creates-masterclass-in-motherhood-for-husband%2F]Dying”>http://www.parentdish.com/2009/07/17/dying-mother-creates-masterclass-in-motherhood-for-husband/?icid=main|aimzones|dl3|link2|http%3A%2F%2Fwww.parentdish.com%2F2009%2F07%2F17%2Fdying-mother-creates-masterclass-in-motherhood-for-husband%2F)</p>

<p>A sad, but touching story.</p>

[VeryHappy]

<p>Every once in a while, I tell my husband how to do something that I always take care of. I usually preface it with, "If I die . . . . " He always gives me a strange look.</p>

[mafool]

<p>VeryHappy,</p>

<p>Mine was always, “If I get hit by a truck…”</p>

[aibarr]

<p>Ours is “hit by a bus”.</p>

<p>After watching both our parents go through gut-wrenching divorces, we have also decided that if we ever end up not being able to stay married to one another, we can’t face going through a divorce, so we’ll have to flip a coin and the loser has to jump off a cliff… our euphemism for that is “if one of us has to jump off a cliff”.</p>

<p>Interesting how using euphemisms makes those necessary discussions about unthinkable possibilities a little more palatable.</p>

<p>Sad story, but what a brave thing to do. I can imagine how her guiding notes must be a blessing to him.</p>

[HImom]

<p>Wow, can’t imagine what that must be like for the couple. Some years back, when our kids were in grade school & the docs were giving us pretty gloomy prognoses for me, we just stuck with denial. Not sure what hubby would have done if I had been obliging and died as predicted–fortunately we never had to find out. There are so many little things that we all do to keep our respective homes and kids going as well as we can. Figuring out how to transfer that knowledge is pretty challenging.</p>

[mafool]

<p>I can see where having such a “project” could be sustaining and a way to have some sense of control in an otherwise uncontrollable situation.</p>

<p>(it also sounds like something I would do in her situation)</p>