Nicki - I'm so sorry for your Mom's loss, and yours, too. It must be so sad for everyone in your family. A month since your Dad's passing isn't that much time. We are all different in how we process loss and everyone does it in their own time.It sounds like you are doing everything you can to help ease the sadness. It does help to have children around and being able to think and laugh about the happy times you remember with your Dad. Whenever there is a life change, having to get used to a new way of doing things, there is that "what now" feeling - an emptiness - until a new routine and new responsibilities can be established. Your Mom is still so young - perhaps she could use some grief counseling? Just being able to talk to someone and share the feelings can be helpful. - Or even keeping a daily journal of feelings and thoughts that can be referred to later if need be. Would she consider having a pet to care for? Even if it's just on a temporary basis? It does help to keep busy with a new routine each day, maybe volunteering at a local hospital or animal shelter. There is a really good little book called "How to Survive the Loss of a Love" by McWilliams, Bloomfield and Colgrove which really helped me a lot when I was grieving over a loss. It is a collection of short meaningful phrases and it encouraged me to start my own similar journal. One thought I remember from the book went something like "I can't make it to church today, God - please make a house call". I hope that in time, you and your Mom and the rest of your family can be able to find some peaceful moments to soften the sadness and share some of the happy times spent with your Dad.