Telling Your Child About a Death
Going through the death of a loved one is something that can be harrowing, but telling your child about this loss is something that can make things even more difficult. Most parents do not know how to tackle this subject and it can make a serious difference to have a few tips in mind when you begin. Here are some things that directors of funeral homes in Laguna Woods, CA want you to remember when having this conversation with your child.
You need to be as honest as possible and use language that is clear. Instead of using euphemisms like “passed away,” you want to say “died”. This can ensure that your child is not confused. You need them to understand what has happened and that can only happen if you are clear in the wording that you choose.
Another thing to remember is that you want to allow your child to ask the questions they may have. Children tend to have lots of questions about everything and the death of a loved one is no exception. You want to answer the questions as honestly as you can. If you do not know the answer to some of them, be honest about this, as well, and let your child know that you will do your best to find out for them what the answer is.
You want to also let your child know that you are going through the same emotions they are. Children can sometimes be afraid of upsetting adults with what they are going through and so they may not want to express their grief. By letting them know that you are also sad about the death, they will feel like they can share and express what they are going through, as well.
If you consider that your child is old enough to attend a funeral or memorial service, you will want to give them the option of whether to attend or not. This is something that can offer the closure that your child needs. If they do not want to go, however, do not force them to do so. This can cause more harm than good. You need to respect your child’s wishes in this regard.
These are all crucial things to remember when getting ready to speak with your child about the death of a loved one. It is never going to be an easy conversation to have, but it can be a bit less stressful when you keep these things in mind. To learn more about this or to get started making funerary arrangements for your loved one, you can reach out to a Laguna Woods, CA funeral home like us at O’Connor Mortuary. We are here to help you with any funerary needs you may have and we can guide you in any questions you may have. You can give us a call right now or you can stop by one of our locations today to learn more.
