Whatever the age of children, the thought of never seeing a loved one again is a hard concept to grasp. That first loss may take the form of a pet or a grandparent and, with this alert to mortality, children may develop a fear of losing a parent or even their own life.
The loss of a loved one can have a devastating affect on us all, taking the form of a heavy presence that drains the light from family life. A grieving parent will leave an emotional imprint on children who are used to observing a positive, functioning environment and if a parent has lost someone who had no significant impact on their children’s lives, then it can be very difficult for children to understand their grief.
Although it is important to grieve the loss of a loved one, the situation can be made more manageable through:
routinely celebrating with children the lives of lost loved ones.
celebrating with children the precious life of all sentient beings.
light a candle with your child whenever a child speaks about their lost loved one.
teaching children that the more compassion and love we offer to our loved ones throughout their lives, the less pain we feel about their sickness and the more comfort they feel when they die.
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