I should be writing my ed. psych. paper that's due in 50 minutes (4 pages to go!) but the thing is that last Thursday my professor's baby died and yesterday was the funeral and I have no idea what state she's going to be in today. It's making me really nervous -- is she going to cry? Is she going to pretend to be all right? When I hand in my paper, should I say anything? Should I pretend that I don't know anything? Should I even go to class? (--I'm really hesitant about this.) If I turn in my paper late, will she be even more upset than she would normally be? If I go to class without turning in my paper will she remember and notice? Will other people go to class, or will everyone else feel nervous and stay home, too? Will she even be there? (I can't imagine teaching right after something like that just happened to me.) What are people supposed to do in these kinds of situations?

i would go to class, and bring a card. that way, you don't have to actually say anything, you can slip it in with your paper so she doesn't have to read it right then and get upset in class, but she will know of your concern. even if you don't finish the paper, just slip her a note or a card in between everyone else's papers. tough situation, no? i have trouble with things like that, also. it's hard to know how to behave in the face of such tragedy.

That was a really good suggestion. Too bad I didn't go to class to put it into use. I did drop by to give the paper to my T.A. (who always waits outside of class), and when I looked into the room, it seems everyone was watching a movie. I don't think my professor came to class. I feel so bad for her! She's such a wonderful person -- a really good teacher, really funny, really easy to talk to. It's so terrible that this happened to her, of all people.

you can still give her a card, right? congrats on finishing your paper, i have an assignment due tomorrow that's not quite done. looks like i'll be getting up rather early tomorrow...

Nice to know we have the same work habits! This paper was assigned three weeks ago, and there I was, just starting it at 4:30 am on the day it was due! Yes, I still can give her a card, but I'll have to slip it in her mailbox, since she hasn't been in school this week. I recently read that losing a child is some of the worst pain anyone can go through. Her baby was born with heart problems, so she knew that the chance of her living very long was slim, but still... I'll say some prayers for her.