(Excerpted from our book, Lost My Partner – What’ll I Do? Revised and Expanded Edition)
Part 1
Although most of you will be reading this some time after the funeral has occurred, some of you may be facing that experience and wondering whether or not to have your child attend.
While funerals can be helpful for children, whether they attend or not depends upon:
1) The child’s wish to participate.
2) His or her age.
3) The child’s level of understanding.
It’s appropriate to let your child take part in any mourning ritual, as long as they’ve been given a choice and know what to expect.
If your child chooses not to attend the funeral, sit down with him/her once the event is over and in a clear, sensitive way, describe what went on. Together, you might draw pictures and create a memorial ritual that enables your child to say goodbye to the parent.
An option to consider is holding a separate service for your child and his/ her friends that your child can help plan and participate in.
In Part 2, we’ll talk about ways to prepare and support your child if you decide to have him or her attend the funeral.
Part 1
Although most of you will be reading this some time after the funeral has occurred, some of you may be facing that experience and wondering whether or not to have your child attend.
While funerals can be helpful for children, whether they attend or not depends upon:
1) The child’s wish to participate.
2) His or her age.
3) The child’s level of understanding.
It’s appropriate to let your child take part in any mourning ritual, as long as they’ve been given a choice and know what to expect.
If your child chooses not to attend the funeral, sit down with him/her once the event is over and in a clear, sensitive way, describe what went on. Together, you might draw pictures and create a memorial ritual that enables your child to say goodbye to the parent.
An option to consider is holding a separate service for your child and his/ her friends that your child can help plan and participate in.
In Part 2, we’ll talk about ways to prepare and support your child if you decide to have him or her attend the funeral.
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