Children Grieve Too

Yes, Children Grieve Too

Today is National Childhood Grief Awareness Day.

It’s kind of ironic, because just the other night, quite seemingly out of no-where, I heard Jelly Bean sobbing in her room.

Sobbing.

Now, she is a very dramatic four year old, so crying is not an unusual event in our home. In fact, I have three children who may all be worthy of Academy Award’s in their future.

But this time was different.

I called out to her and she walked into the living room, tears streaming down her face.

“What’s wrong baby girl?”

“I just really miss Kathryn,” Jelly Bean sobbed.

That took me by great surprise. Although the twins’ birthday is approaching in just a few weeks, and Kathryn day will be on 12/12, I haven’t been talking a lot about her.

When it comes to my children and their need/desire to talk about Kathryn, I try to let them take the lead.

I asked Bean what had brought this on. She reminded me that she’d wanted to make a heart to put on Kathryn’s stone, and that apparently made her think a lot about it. She explained to me that she was just so sad that we didn’t get to bring her home. She misses her baby sister that she never had a chance to love.

I did the only thing I could think of. I took out the pictures of Kathryn, and we went through them and I told her about her baby sister.

We cried. She asked questions. I answered.

It was a healing moment.

Then she insisted on holding Kathryn bear, so I let her have that moment.

Children Grieve Too.

And it’s important that we allow them.

Today, my friend Kathy Glow from the blog Life with the Frog, posted a lovely guest post on the Sunshine After the Storm blog – 10 Tips for Talking with Children About Grief.

I hope you’ll head over and read and share her wise words.