That’s a very heavy situation to carry, especially at 25. Becoming the primary caregiver for two 10-year-olds after losing your mom is a major life shift—practically, emotionally, and financially.
A few grounded things that might help you right now:
🧠 First: what you’re dealing with is a big adjustment, not just “stress”
You’re:
- Grieving your mom
- Adjusting to sudden parenthood
- Managing two children who are also grieving
- Likely handling legal/financial responsibilities
There’s no “normal pace” for this—it’s a lot at once.
👧 For Lily and Maya (most important day-to-day needs)
At their age, they usually need:
- Stability (consistent routines matter more than perfection)
- Emotional safety (space to talk about their mom without pressure)
- Predictability (school, meals, bedtime routine)
- Reassurance they are not “a burden”
Even small consistency helps a lot more than big gestures.
🧑💼 For you (this part matters too)
You don’t have to become a perfect parent instantly.
Focus on:
- Keeping basic routines running
- Asking for help where possible (family, close friends)
- Not carrying everything alone mentally
Grief + responsibility together can quietly burn people out if there’s no support system.
⚖️ Practical angle (often overlooked)
Since you mentioned sudden guardianship, it may help to ensure:
- Legal custody is clearly formalized
- Insurance / benefits / school records are updated
- A backup guardian exists (in case of emergencies)
If you already handled this, good—if not, it’s worth prioritizing.
🧠 Most important truth
You’re not “just coping badly”—you’re handling two major life events at once: loss + responsibility shift. That’s inherently overwhelming.
If you want, I can help you with:
- A realistic weekly routine for you + the girls
- How to talk to kids about grief at their age
- Or ways to avoid burnout while raising them alone 👍
