How to Help Someone Grieve the Death of a Child

No parent wants to outlive their child. It’s not fair to not get to watch them grow up, graduate from school, get their first job, get married and have kids. The death of a child is the type of loss that many parents and close family members are not prepared to deal with, yet losing a child is not all too uncommon. Remember, everyone grieves differently, and there is no set timeframe for healing. Don’t rush the grieving process, and do be there to lend your support.

You want help someone grieve the death of a child, but you want to do it right. What should you do? Here are some suggestions from a funeral service provider in Lake City, FL:

• Be there for them: When a child dies, let the parents decide whether they want to talk about it or not. If they sit there quietly, you should also sit quietly until they are ready. Know that they may not want to talk about their loss when you’re around. If parents bring out photographs and videos to show you and talk about their child, let them. The most important thing you can do is be present. Be a good listener, and be available.
• Ask what happened: You might be the friend or family member of a parent who has recently lost a child, or you could be a counselor not associated with the family. Either way, if you don’t know what happened or don’t have all the details, gently ask the parents how their child passed away. Never pressure a parent to talk, but assume that parents may need to or want to talk about the details with somebody. Always use the child’s name to keep the conversation as personal as possible.
• Offer to help the family: Some people shut down after experiencing a loss, while others need something to do to keep busy. At this time, the best thing you can do as the friend or family member is offer to do chores or help make arrangements. Chances are, the family won’t ask for assistance because they don’t want to feel like a burden. Just jump in and do certain tasks without asking—like cooking, cleaning, checking the mail, yard work and laundry. Be clear that you are willing to watch their pets or children if they need alone time.
• Encourage plans for a memorial service: Close family members and friends may want to encourage parents to plan a memorial, celebration of life, funeral, burial or even cremation for their child. These are important steps toward healing, but difficult subjects to talk about. Never put pressure on a parent to do anything they are not comfortable with. Let them know they can always reach out to you later when they are ready.

If you know someone grieving the loss of a child and want to help, plan to be available, understanding and non-judgmental. Talk to a funeral service provider in Lake City, FL that has your family’s best interest in mind. For more information about burials, funerals or memorial services, please contact ICS Cremation & Funeral Home today.

Categorised in: Funeral Services

This post was written by Writer