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Bereavement

mum of boy in my class may die. advice please

9 replies

Tuzz · 27/06/2011 21:22

A mum of one of the little boys in my class, he is 6, has been having treatment for a brain tumor. This morning his dad came to tell me that she has been rushed back into hospital and things are not looking good. He is very scared and the boys, he has two brothers, have not been told quite how serious it is.
I want to give any support I can but I'm not quite sure what to do. There aren't any books I can find at school that deal with this sort of thing. I know that the boy in my class is worried, his behavior is not as good as always and he has become 'invincible' telling all his friends how he can do this and that.

Can anyone here offer advice on how to talk to the class and to this little boy without over stepping the line. I don't want to go against anything that his family are doing i.e protecting him from the terrible truth that his mummy may die.

OP posts:

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Tuzz · 27/06/2011 21:23

OP posts:

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thisisyesterday · 27/06/2011 21:25

how awful :(

a mum of one of the boys in ds1's (yr 1) class died last week after a long battle with cancer, so this struck a chord with me. it's just too terrible :(

is the headteacher in contact with the family? or are you able to talk to them and ask how they'd feel happy with you approaching it?

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LadyDamerel · 27/06/2011 21:26

Get in touch with Winston's Wish - they will be able to give you (and the family) lots of advice and support.

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MaryAnnSingleton · 27/06/2011 21:27

Cruse may have something...I'll check...

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NonnoMum · 27/06/2011 21:29

You sound a very caring teacher. In our local (huge) secondary school, a bereavement counsellor visits about once a month to offer time to all those students who may have suffered a bereavement. I think she is attached to the local hospice. Do you have a hospice in the local community?
Winston's Wish sounds a good suggestion too.

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MaryAnnSingleton · 27/06/2011 21:31

mm,the Cruse stuff online seems to be for older children-but it might be worth contacting them. How very sad and awful. It will be frightening for the other children in the class too.

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timetosmile · 27/06/2011 21:33

Also look at the McMillan(sp?) and Marie Curie websites, and phone the local hospice for some general advice - they ususally have a children's liason/support worker.

There are lots of good books out there, again contact the hospice, or even one of the specialist nurses on a local children's oncology ward.

I'm assuming OP that you're a teacher, not a concerned other parent?

I'm not a teacher, but I know that sometimes not going too 'overboard' with
the issue at school can be a real help to children in this situation, as school becomes the only 'normal' bit of their life left relatively untouched.

Hope you find some help x