hello, I would really appreciate some good advice on how to deal with this.
My DP has a nephew, age 11, who is being brought up by DP's mother after the death of both his parents when he was 8 months old. Gran is the legal guardian.
His father died of an accidental overdose (heroin) and his mother (schizophrenic) took her own life very soon after.
The father's family send cards but never see him and are not in any way involved in his life.
He has not been told the circumstances of their deaths.
We may have him to live with us permanently (DP like a father to him, very good, strong relationship) in the nearish future, and so will need to have some sessions with a child psychologist, to decide if this is the right course. I feel this should be combined with giving him appropriate truths about what happened. He is very smart, funny and quite grown up - but of course, still a little boy.
Any ideas? Should we do this just the family and him, or ask the psychologist to help? What can he understand at this age?
If this unusual set-up rings a bell in RL, I'm relying on your discretion.
Please or to access all these features
Please
or
to access all these features
For free parenting resources please check out the Early Years Alliance's Family Corner.
Parenting
telling children awful things
39 replies
peachyfox · 21/04/2009 09:47
OP posts:
Please create an account
To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.