“THE TALK”

So, I’ve finally managed to have ‘the talk’ with my kids. It was tense and very awkward, but it had to be done. I think every parent dreads talking about it, but someday, u have to have the talk. NO not THAT one, the other one..

I’m talking about the ‘Dreaded D’ Word – DEATH…

As morose or morbid as it sounds, it still needs to be addressed. I was inspired to write this after hearing about an accident that left both parents dead, survived by two young children, 8 and 10 years of age. The family is yet to decide where the children will be living and if they would need to be separated. Very ,very sad, indeed.

In my humble opinion, I feel parents should sit their kids down and have a not so intense conversation about death, and what happens if parents are not around anymore. Where would they go? Which family member will they live with? which schools they might go to, etc etc

For most people, this topic is definitely taboo. They feel that children should not be exposed to the darker side of life.

Personally speaking, I wish someone had warned me or at least prepared me for what was in store.

I lost my parents at an early age, and my brother and I had to move in with family. The disruption of our lives, the changes that were taking place so fast and the fact that we didn’t have enough time to grieve for our parents was devastating.

As a young child, you feel lost and confused. First you lose your parents, then you are taken away from everything familiar to you, your home, toys, friends, etc..

It’s amazing how resilient and understanding a young child can be. We try to shield our kids from topics like this, but, they  are much stronger than most adults.

To avoid shock, and confusion, which may lead to other issues later in life, it is best advised to sit your kids down and reassure them about their future (should you not be in it).

I think I may have made it sound more exciting than it actually is, when I told my kids that they will live with their favourite aunt if something had to happen to us, because, instead of looking sad and worried, (which I expected), they seemed to be more excited at the possibility of living with their cousins…and ‘hanging out’.

Which proves my point even further. Kids don’t think about the future, and won’t know how to react when something happens. This is life and we need to prepare our children for it.