When Children Grieve – Grief is Normal and Natural
I hope the definition of grief given earlier will be helpful as you read the series. Here is another statement that illustrates the fact that you already may be very well qualified to help your children:
Grief is the normal and natural reaction to loss. Of itself, grief is neither a pathological condition nor a personality disorder.
That’s a pretty powerful statement.
It indicates that you don’t need advanced degrees in order to help your child. And it would be wonderful if that statement alone could give us all the information we need in order to help. The problem is that while it is true that grief is the normal and natural reaction to loss, most of the information we have acquired during our lifetimes about dealing with grief is neither normal nor natural.
When you watch an infant . .
respond to life, you see his or her natural reactions to loss. If a baby has something and you take that away, the baby may cry, loud and long. Many of you will remember the first time you left your child with a baby-sitter. You baby might have put up quite a fuss. Yet you knew that the baby’s reaction to your leaving was very much within the range of normal behavior for an infant.
As a society, we seem to be willing to allow very young infants and small children the privilege of normal and natural reactions to loss, but as they grow older, we begin chastising them for being normal.
From the book. . When Children Grieve written by John W James and Russell Friedman with Dr. Leslie Landon Matthews
There is help . .
If you are interested in participating in the Renew Your Possibility – As Children Grieve 6 week Study group, sign up here.
This is a complimentary study group that will provide you some incredibly valuable safety tips and tools that you will be able to use for the rest of your life and your children’s lives. I guarantee it.
Or, if you are not ready to take that step, purchase the book “When Children Grieve here . .
Or download one of the ebooks under the resources page and read up on grief.
Another option is to Schedule a 15 minute complimentary call to share what your experiencing so you can ask me questions.
Just take that first step. Do something that you have not done before. It’s ok, that your not ok, yet please don’t stay stuck in grief. There is light on the other side.
Remember, “The beginning is the most important part of the work.” Plato
Yours in Gratitude and to Renewing Your Possibility. . .
Debbie Your Grief Recovery Specialist®