MIL unexpectedly died yesterday (we think stroke / heart attack). She was 79.
She lives a good 2 hours away so the children (4 and 5) don't see her very frequently - perhaps for a day or so every couple of months.
I told them yesterday. DD (5) cried for around 15 minutes and since then....nothing. Just carrying on as normal. DS barely reacted to the news - just carried on playing with his toys.
They do understand death - they lost their grandad 18 months ago, and hardly on an equivalent basis, but the cockerel died a few weeks ago. So they understand that death is 'final'
I was also at pains to explain that their dad was very upset because grandma was his mum, and they need to be gentle and kind to him.
However, they are still hassling him for attention as usual.
I don't want to see the children absolutely overcome by grief and I am grateful that they are not too distressed, but if this makes any sense at all, I am a bit peturbed by their apparent lack of feeling.
Is this normal for young children? DD is nearly 6 and generally a sensitive and caring child...
I'm rambling now!
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Peturbed by the dc's lack of grief and also their lack of empathy towards their dad, after MIL's death
27 replies
handlemecarefully · 21/06/2008 08:34
OP posts:
themildmanneredjanitor ·
21/06/2008 08:57
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