My six year old sat on my lap and cried uncontrollably last night but wouldn't say why.
Eventually, she told me that she was worried about me dying. We talked about being born, getting to be very old and how it makes your body slow down. We also talked about nature and that all things die eventually and that people die when their bodies wear out. She is not a clingy child, but this sudden upset has concerned me. Has anyone else had this with their littlies? If so how did you deal with it please?
Thank you,
Shelley Bee
My son was about the same age when he started worrying about his grandad dying. I just was very open and explained that anything living dies when when it gets too old, or damaged or sick to live and if someone does die you don't forget them, you just can't touch them anymore, but the things that were around them stay.
After this we had some very philosophical conversations and he accepts life and death (he's 19 now and he's had to experience his father and two of his friends dying) and he deals with it very well.
Sounds like you took care of it nicely. You talked. She calmed down reassured that you are not going anywhere.
Is there still a problem? I have recently read an advice column in Life Learning Magazine about this subject. Maybe you can find it.
My children talk about death a lot. I make it a friendly theme. Maybe no one ever talked about it with her, so she was scared by the fact that it was an unmentioned subject? Sometime could have happened or a story may have triggered her awareness. I don't know. We just talk about it with a benign flair just like talking about life. I think you are doing fine. If you are still worried seek advice from Dr. Aldort by phone. She is the author of, Raising Our children, Raising Ourselves.
Yes its happened to me. I told my daughter that this is natural, everyone dies eventually, and when I do I want her to celebrate my life, as I would not want her to be sad. It helps to have faith, I told her I will always love here where ever I am. I explained there are many other people here for her too, that love her. Having a pet that dies,can trigger this, but also can help children to understand too.
