answer:So are the children still being home schooled? I have nothing against homeschooling, in fact I am very positive about it, but I think the younger kids should be put in school for now. Your mom is overwhelmed and depressed. Understandable. It will not pass quickly, it will probably take months for her to get some normalcy. If the young children are in school it will be one less thing she has to deal with is what I am thinking. I never support the idea of older children having to parent their younger siblings, but this is a unique circumstance having had your father pass away, and for a year more or less the older siblings probably do need to pull together and handle the needs of the family. If I lost my husband I would be inconsolable. Did your mom have outside work before, or was she always a mom and homemaker? If she has never had a job it would all be terrifiying for her. She must feel paralyzed. With so many children and home schooling I am going to assume, I know always bad to assume, that possibly your family is part of a religious community that will be helpful during this difficult time? Let people help your family. Your mom needs some therapy probably to work through her grief. Your mom already knows she is not being productive, she just can’t get herself out of it probably. It’s difficult.