MAID, COOK, CONCUBINE, OR WIFE?
We speak often about how alone and desperate we feel after our wife has passed. And we know how this can lead to horrible decisions that can ruin your life going forward. So, what happens when we meet a possible “new best friend”? How do we know that our new friend is the “right one?”
In our messed-up psycho-emotional state it is so easy to make a bad decision and have our feelings dictated by wrong motives. It is easy to think that we want to marry this wonderful new woman we just met. (I know this from personal experience.)
And for some of us, the drive for intimacy can be overpowering. The euphoria of a new relationship can wipe out all reason and lead us down a path without consideration of the possible consequences.
So, what can we do to avoid these traps when we meet someone who excites us and helps us to forget our pain for a while? One thing you might consider is what you are really looking for. For example, are you looking for a:
Maid: maybe you are one of those guys who leaves his clothes all over the place, who never washes the dishes, who wears the same clothes again and again without washing them, and who never mows the lawn… much less pull the weeds. If this is the case, and you were used to your wife doing most of these things… you might just be looking for a maid. I can tell you that hiring a maid to come in once a month is a lot cheaper than marrying the first woman that comes along who is willing to fill this role.
Cook: Or maybe you have never had to fend for yourself in terms of shopping, cooking, and baking… and you quickly tire of eating out (especially now when it is so expensive) or eating frozen meals. There are plenty of widowers who cannot fry an egg, much less cook vegetables or even a crock pot meal. When a gal comes into our lives who unselfishly prepares tasty home-cooked meals for us, we might think we have discovered “the one.” While I am one who is easily impressed by a good meal, I have found that this alone may not be an indicator of how well a marriage will work out. But I must admit that in a good relationship each of you should bring something to the table… and not just money or a home.
Concubine: As some of you know, after we lose our wives we often have deep cravings for intimacy with a woman. We just want to feel close to someone again, to feel loved again, and to quiet the weird and strong sexual physical symptoms we may experience. This can drive us to distraction as our moral compass struggles with the demands of our body and psycho-emotional state of mind. Way too often while in this state we can mistake intimacy with love, leading to poorly informed decisions of the highest magnitude… including getting married. So, if you find yourself in this position, please make a commitment to yourself and your new friend to slow things down and take some time before making rash decisions. Make sure that what you really want is a long-term lasting relationship built upon love and mutual respect.
Wife/Partner: If you feel that there is more to your new relationship than is outlined above, you have come to the crux of your decision-making. And when I say wife, I also mean long-term commitments which may or may not include living together. As a widower in today’s world there are many reasons why you may not want to take the marriage route (e.g. social security benefits, family, legal restrictions in wills and trusts). If you feel that your relationship has matured past the euphoric stage to one of genuine love and respect for each other, then maybe you are ready for this big step. If you have close family and/or friends this step should be taken with careful planning so you can hopefully retain those other relationships which are so important to your mental health and happiness going forward.
In all cases at minimum please consider:
Waiting at least one year after your wife’s passing before making such an important decision. Over 50% of these marriages fail within one year. If the new relationship is real it can withstand a few months of waiting, and
Meet with a grief therapist to talk everything over, just to help make sure your decisions are based upon a solid foundation that can see you through to a successful conclusion.
Best wishes to all my fellow widowers as we all navigate this strange and challenging period of becoming a widower.
© Copyright 2026 Fred Colby
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Fred Colby is the author of:
Widower to Widower - available through most booksellers and libraries.
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