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Men´s loss vs Woman´s loss

The death of a loved one affects all differently, be it man or woman.
The thing to do is respect their needs. If the person wishes to talk, sit and hold the hand (and your tongue).
The best thing you can do is be a good friend, someone to lean on and offer what they need, at the moment.
Don´t forget to offer to cook, drive or be that friend that this person, man or woman needs.

Busying Himself

Men will sometimes throw themselves into work to overcome the loss of a loved one. The father/spouse may start working over-time, going to a club or tavern, or getting involved in social clubs or activities. He is not avoiding his grief, but is actually trying to find a place to “fit in” and a way to deal with his grief. Though this absence may be difficult for the family, try not to push them. Remember the key phrase: “We all deal with grief differently.”

Feelings of failure

Fathers are considered the “protectors” of their families. Although we know that the blame for the loss of a child doesn't fall on anyone, fathers have a tendency to blame themselves for not saving his child from harm. Not only that, he may blame himself for not saving his family from experiencing this tragedy.

The Strong One

Many men feel the need to be the “strong one” at the time of a loved one´s death. Men are often conditioned with the idea of “being brave” their entire lives. We often expect men to cry at the time of death, but not much after that. We may perceive their lack of tears as them not being affected. This is not the case. Men sometimes have a harder time crying than woman because of how they were raised.

Reluctantly

While grieving the loss of a loved one, many men feel the need to “stand on their own two feet”, and do things themselves. Because they feel the need to be self-sufficent, they are reluctant to seek help from professionals and others. This leaves the male battling to deal with his feelings and emotions, questioning where, who, and how to express them. Offer help during these times.

Inactive Grieving Role

Often times, for many reasons, men avoid grieving loss of a child by fulfilling an inactive grieving role. That means they basically “numb” themselves or busy themselves with other things. This strategy keeps them from having to deal with the loss.