Dear Everybody, Admit There's Hurt

Are we Doing Everything To Address Hurt? After a loved one, neighbor, member of the community has died, how do you explain it to the children? What words do you use? What actions are taken? It is important to have open conversations with children about death in a way that helps them understand it is a part of life and that grief is an emotion experienced by everyone in various ways.

This book is intended to be read with a child or group of children to facilitate a discussion about death and grief. Grief is not only experienced when a loved one dies. It can also be experienced when someone leaves unexpectedly, when a tragedy occurs in the community, or even when major life changes occur such as a move to another city.

Children are resilient. That capacity for resilience is strengthened when trusted adults are able to communicate honestly, openly and empathetically with children about difficult transitions that occur as a part of life.

Grief is not something we get over. It is something we get through.