I just found out on Monday that my mom passed away. It’s been a lot on me time-wise, I’m an only child and her next closest relative is my 92 year old grandmother, so all of the legal and technical work is falling on me, I’ll need to go home and clean out her house by myself as well. She also died far from family and I’ve been spending the last several days trying to find out where her body is and get her identified so the funeral home can take her.

I know the grieving process is different for everyone so there is no definitive answer to my question. But I’ve already have taken this week off just for technical affairs alone. I have support through the school, but I just don’t really know what I should ask for from my professors, and I want to make sure I’m not asking for too much time off while still having enough time to sort through all my moms stuff and still give myself time to grieve. I’m also a 5th year and I really did want to graduate this spring and am hoping not to withdrawal from any classes.

Should I tell my professors the amount of responsibility I have for my mom’s death or does that not really matter? If you’re a professor what is reasonable accommodations/time that students have asked for from you?

EDIT: Im reaching out to professors individually today after all your advice, and am just so overwhelmed with everything going on right now to get back to everyone. But I am reading every single comment as they come in and I am so so so grateful for everyone’s condolences and the time everyone has put into their responses. Even related stuff like information about processing grief is really helping me right now. Thank you thank you thank you.