Guiding Your Child Through Grief

Chapter One

BOTH OF US WROTE THIS BOOK, BUT IT BEGAN WITH JIM'S STORY.

Here it is in his own words:

June 24, 1989, was a beautiful summer morning with the sweet smell of flowers in the air. Our family had just completed a stressful week as we had gone through the death, wake, and funeral of my father-in-law.  This was the first death of a loved one for my children. They adored their grandfather and would miss his bear hugs and tenderness and guidance. As they peered at his lifeless body at the wake and joined in the prayers at the funeral, I could see them struggle with this new concept, death.

Little did they know just how deep and long-lasting that struggle would be.

The day after the funeral, we climbed into the car for the one-hour drive home. My wife, Mary, sat next to me, and our eleven-year-old, Greg, and our eight year-old, Katie, were in the backseat. Patrick, our fourteen-year-old, had gone home with a friend the night before.

As we drove down the highway, I told Mary about a po ... read full excerpt from: Guiding Your Child Through Grief ebook