Calling Hours

[Solange]

When do we bring this part of "life" into our children's?
How does this work in your family and is this age range ready to feel the huge feelings we suffer as adults with the passing of a loved one?

[rainbowmoon]

from birth

death is a part of life and we are all going to die. I think hiding it is an injustice to our children and ourselves. our lives should be honored, even through the painful sad moments. death can be beautiful or it can be scary. it's all in how we ourselves perceive it.

[KatWrangler]

I agree with Rainbowmoon. My Dad died last October. My son was just over 3 1/2 and my daughter just over 1 1/2. We took them to the wake and to the funeral (it was a military funeral with the gun salute).

So, not that they really understood, but they were there. Which for myself, I needed them there.

[StephandOwen]

I agree with rainbowmoon, to the extent that the child can handle it. My ds has been to one funeral (my sisters stillborn son). He was almost 2. He had no idea what was going on, but neither did his almost 2 year old nephew (my sisters other son). I hope we don't have to deal with any more funerals for a long time to come, but if we do we'll include ds in it as much as he can handle.

[Solange]

thank you guys for replying..this helps