Article Link: http://www.exchangepress.com/article/good-grief-dealing-with-loss-by-listening/5023534/
A timeless question: What do we do with our grief and how do we help those around us who are mired in the cycle of grief — all at their own stages?
Our center was tragically thrown into the orbit of these questions full force one February. What started as a simple kindergarten child complaining of a headache turned into a center searching for resources and pulling together as a community to deal with a devastating loss. In short order, doctors diagnosed our young student with an inoperable brain tumor. Two months later, she died. Our early learning center faced one of the toughest times in our history as we grappled with how to support the family and our learning community throughout the grief process that must be traveled.
Death is a difficult and sensitive subject to talk to children about. Most of us adults are at a loss for words and often do not want to feel like we have said the wrong thing. Since many do not know what to say or do for children, families and/or colleagues who have lost a pet or someone close to them, many adults wind up avoiding children’s questions. Some adults feel it is best ...