Author here: I find it quite strange that my kids have lost their mother, but I have not. I still have both my parents. That's so backwards.
Therefore I can't compare the grief of losing a parent to that of losing a spouse, and even when my parents do die (they are both in their eighties) it won't be the same because it will, to some extent, feel like the "right" time.
Losing a spouse is definitely disruptive as well and I have had to learn a lot of new skills, but they were probably overdue anyway. That part has been challenging, but quite manageable in comparison to the loss part.
Therefore I can't compare the grief of losing a parent to that of losing a spouse, and even when my parents do die (they are both in their eighties) it won't be the same because it will, to some extent, feel like the "right" time.
Losing a spouse is definitely disruptive as well and I have had to learn a lot of new skills, but they were probably overdue anyway. That part has been challenging, but quite manageable in comparison to the loss part.