Dear Queenie,
A woman who has been my friend since we were kids lost her husband a few months ago after a long illness. He was also my friend. She says she is ready to get on with her life and I have asked her to go out with me, but she is not sure if it would be right.
Queenie, what would be a proper period of mourning before we could start dating?—Uncertain
Dear Uncertain,
There is no set period of mourning. It depends on circumstances. Does your friend have children? If so, how old are they? You would want to consider their feelings in the matter and give them time to adjust to the idea.
On the other hand, how old are you? If you and your friend are still fairly young, it would be appropriate to wait six months to a year. However, if the two of you are getting along in years, surely her friends and relatives will understand that you don’t want to waste any time.
