There’s nothing more devastating than losing a child and if your child is suffering the loss of one of their friends, you are going to want to do anything you can to take their pain. Grief is something your child will have to go through and you can’t remove that from them. However, you can help them through the grieving process. There are a number of ways in which you can do that. You might, for example, take them to cemeteries in Colonial Beach, VA and visit their friend’s grave to honor them and talk about their emotions. Here are some other ways you can comfort your child through this hard time.
Allow Their Emotions
Your child is going to be feeling a variety of emotions, some of which they possibly have never felt before. You need them to feel those things and understand that it’s okay. Let them vent their emotions and don’t tell them to suck it up and stop crying. Grief is unique for them and they deserve to have whatever emotions they are having. They are valid.
Answer The Questions
When a death occurs, it can bring up a lot of questions in a child who perhaps hasn’t experienced loss before. They might ask you things that you don’t know how to answer, and that’s okay. Answer what you can and let them know that for their other questions, you will find answers together. You might go online and investigate, or visit with a funeral home, cremation provider, or cemetery professional.
Support Them
Your child needs you now more than ever before. You need to support them in every way possible. If they want to take something to their friend’s grave, advise them as to what might work well and then drive them there, stand with them at the grave, and support them when they need a hug. Give them space to grieve, but be there for them when you need them, too.
Take Them To The Cemetery
Your child may need closure and the chance to say goodbye to their friend. Maybe they went to the funeral and burial service, and that’s a good way to get there. But if they didn’t go, or they feel they might need to go back again, take them to the cemetery to honor their friend once again. They might want to place a toy car on their headstone so they have something to play with or they might just want to say something, like goodbye.
Get Professional Help
If you aren’t sure how to reach your friend and you want to make sure they are getting what they need, enlist help from professionals. Cemeteries in Colonial Beach, VA have counselor recommendations as well as support groups, even for children, so you can get your child the professional care they might need to get through this grieving process. It’s not going to be easy, but with your love and support, they can get through this and see the other side of the grief.