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AIBU?

to let her go to the funeral or wake?

54 replies

MissMuesli · 20/10/2013 15:41

I'm really not sure if I am being unreasonable on this one.

My DD is 2 1/2 years old, and I am separated from her dad. Sadly, there has been a death on his side of the family and the funeral is coming up- he wants to take DD.

I personally don't want him to at all, the person who has passed away is a distant cousin who my DD has never actually met, but he feels she should go as after all they are still family.

I also worry about how the day will emotionally impact my daughter. She is very good with speech and her cognitive ability is pretty good aswell. She defiantly is at an age in which she would notice and understand that people are sad and crying. That's not necessarily a bad thing I know, however I'm not sure she is at an age that she could understand even a simple explanation. I feel she would be thrust into an unknown environment with lots of adults upset which is something she hasn't witnessed before but without the ability to understand why or how to deal with it.

It's "my" day to have DD on that day, and I feel inclined to say it isn't appropriate, although I don't want to cause any more upset to my ex. Also, I do understand that children can help "lift" the atmosphere at funerals I'm not sure my DD should have the responsibility of that.

Am I being unreasonable? Please by kind..!

OP posts:

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CelticPromise · 23/10/2013 20:30

Glad to hear it MissM, sounds like it was the right choice for you.

MissMuesli · 23/10/2013 15:55

Hello, just thought I would update. Ex isn't Irish by the way. So the funeral was today and we stuck to DD just going to the wake. Turns out quite alot of families did the same, adults at funeral, children join after. I'm pretty glad we agreed that as, as I dropped DD off her dad was visibly upset (understandably obviously) so think it was the right choice, and one that other members of his family chose aswell. DD skipped off to play with with cousins, so the day worked out really well after all!

OP posts:

Heartbrokenmum73 · 22/10/2013 00:20

Wow, did I actually write 'performing seals'? Sorry for that - obviously need to read what I've written before I post!

I'm massively projecting here. Ex is Irish descent (can you tell?) and all social events involve huge amounts of alcohol in crappy little pubs and social clubs, usually followed by some lovely violence. I backed out of these gatherings some years back and have tried to keep dc out of it as much as possible. And have had some real spite back from it too - apparently I'm a snob!

Sorry, didn't mean to derail the thread or cause upset - didn't have me thinking head on!

BackforGood · 22/10/2013 00:19

It's definitely a cultural thing. I've been to loads and loads of funerals over the years, and can honestly not remember any child younger than a teen being at any of them - Oh, no, wait - one I can where the youngest brother was 9 and it was his Mum's funeral. But, him aside, IME children just don't go to funerals.
However, as I've read on MN before, apparently in some families they do. I really agree with OP, but I'm probably very much influenced by what my own experience has been.
Sounds like a good compromise though.

Arudonto · 22/10/2013 00:08

is your xp Irish or from Irish backround by any chance OP? it would be fairly normal for fairly young kids to be at wakes removals and funerals esp family ones over here....I cant even remember the first funeral I went to.I used to go with my dad to loads! I swear he used to go to a funeral a month!there was usually a gang of kids around at the wakes to keep each other company while the adults chatted.I dont really have any bad memories of funerals death was never a unspoken thing...close family funerals were still incredible emotionally charged times but going to less close family funerals and wakes is usually a good way to meet up with people you havent seen in a while...

moominleigh94 · 21/10/2013 22:39

I went to my brother's funeral at the age of three - I have vague memories of my brother, but I know that if my parents hadn't let me go, I'd have been furious when I grew up and found out. To find out that everyone in my family was there but me would have been awful.

As it was, my family were glad I was there as I provided the light relief - halfway through I piped up "Do we get to have sandwiches?", because my cousins were there and whenever I saw my cousins was usually for football matches, and we'd have cheese spread sandwiches

According to my parents, my understanding of what was happening was very good and I was sad, but not traumatised, and - with the exception of my innocent question, I was very well behaved. To this day I've always been better-adjusted to death than friends of the same age, and I credit this to my parents for teaching me that it is something that happens, and to being allowed to attend my brother's funeral at 3, and my great-uncle's - I was very close to him - at 5.

SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius · 21/10/2013 22:32

Ds3 was 3 when my dad died - he came to the funeral and the wake, but didn't go to the crematorium - and he was just fine.

JoinYourPlayfellows · 21/10/2013 22:30

When you're a child many circumstances are unfamiliar anyway.

Because you haven't been alive long and so you have to do loads of things for the first time.

CelticPromise · 21/10/2013 22:28

I'm intrigued at what should be done with the children who are not going to funerals. I've had to travel to all three of the funerals I've been to in the last 12 months, and all the people I knew in each place were going to the funeral. My DS would have been much more confused at being left for the day with a stranger than being with me albeit in unfamiliar circumstances.

MigGril · 21/10/2013 22:13

I feel very strongly about this. Probably as I was never allowed to go to my grandparents funerals as a child. All children no matter what their age should be allowed to attend family funerals. and better it be someone she isn't too clos,e to the first time. Its part of life why hide off from them.

Took me years to accept my grandfather's death as I never got to say goodbye. I was left confused as I'd seen him last happy and alive. Then told he was dead, I had no closure at all. I don't know how anyone could do that to a child, my parents where trying to protect me but it just left me confused and upset. In the end the first funeral I got to attend was my mum's, I wish I'd been to others first. I didn't know what to expect.

Children are very matter of fact when that young it won't have any negative effect on her.

JoinYourPlayfellows · 21/10/2013 22:05

Yeah, I've never witnessed a punch up at a wake.

IME they are lovely family occasions where people reminisce and tell a lot of funny stories.

squoosh · 21/10/2013 21:57

Wow, I've been to lots of wakes, they've all had children present but certainly never had punch ups!

Children 'lightening the mood' doesn't mean they're 'performing seals', it means people enjoy children's carefree and lighthearted presence.

JoinYourPlayfellows · 21/10/2013 21:49

She's a toddler, she'll go to the funeral and make a bit of noise and people might have a bit of a giggle at her.

Really, this is HER family.

If they have children at funerals, then I'm not sure it's really your place to refuse her father's request to take her.

There's nothing harmful at a funeral. Just adults being a bit sad and then sitting around talking about someone they loved.

I was at my Granny's funeral recently and my 3 children (5,3,1) were all with me.

I didn't bring them to the wake, or to the grave, but they came to the funeral and the meal afterwards and had a lovely time playing with their cousins and being admired by the extended family.

DameDeepRedBetty · 21/10/2013 21:43

Forgot to say - I wouldn't have taken dds to a funeral service at that age anyway. Five or six is the minimum (or tiny babies who can't be left, rather like weddings....) - when they've started school and have got used to being told they have to be quiet now. But the tea and buns bit afterwards - before serious drinking starts if it's THAT sort of wake - children are part of the extended family and should be present for.

DameDeepRedBetty · 21/10/2013 21:39

So pleased to see you've gone for the compromise OP.

The 'wake' after a funeral is a very important time in our family, as births, deaths and marriages are the only times we all get together. Totally understand why ex wants his dd to be present, and it is right and proper that she should.

Well done OP - and OP's ex too!

Heartbrokenmum73 · 21/10/2013 21:30

Maybe I missed it (and sorry if I did) but what are his reasons for wanting her there? She never met the deceased, so what on earth is the point of taking a toddler to that funeral.

I don't believe in taking children to funeral's either. Every funeral I've attended where there have been small children present, they've got bored and fidgety and LOUD.

There have been two funeral's in exes family that our dc were 'invited' (for want of a better word) to, as apparently 'everyone takes their dc to funerals in this family'. Erm, no they don't actually, and we didn't. Dc were too young to understand what was going on or to behave appropriately.

And I'm also a bit at kids being used to 'lighten the mood' at wakes. They're not performing seals, there to entertain people. And the wakes I've been to (and the ones ex has attended without me) there has ALWAYS been a punch-up. Just my own experience though.

MissMuesli · 21/10/2013 21:23

FlapJack- my ex tells me what to do plenty but that's a thread for a different day! :-)

OP posts:

FlapJackOLantern · 21/10/2013 10:55

but I do genuinely believe this has the potential to upset and confuse her.

I doubt that very much (not unless her father starts wailing and gnashing his teeth). She will find, honestly. And you would not want your Ex to be telling you what to do, would you?

AppleAndBlackberry · 21/10/2013 10:44

I took my 2 and 3 year olds to a family funeral last year. Oldest told me afterwards she had had a wonderful day! I think they are more matter of fact at that kind of age, although I have to say it was an elderly relative and there wasn't masses of crying so I guess if it was an unexpected death or someone younger it might have been more upsetting.

ebwy · 21/10/2013 09:54

my son was nearly 2 when my nan died. He waited in the car with his uncle (not one who new my nan) while we were at the funeral, and then they came in for the food and socialising at the house where he did seem to lighten everyone's spirits a bit. I never even considered taking him in to the actual funeral, he'd have been bored at best, and at worst he'd have been distressed at seeing me so upset. bored or distressed toddlers certainly wouldn't be appropriate in the crematorium!

Chunderella · 21/10/2013 07:59

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Dubjackeen · 21/10/2013 07:00

Sounds like a good compromise OP. in my view, there is no right or wrong in deciding whether children attend funerals. For small children, the parents can only try to make the best decision they can, based on how they think the child will be able to deal with it, and how the child will behave, particularly if there is a long ceremony involved, for example. When it is a relative who was a part of the child's life, (which I know is not the case here),it is a decision for the parent(s) to make, as best they can. It can be good, to help the child to understand why that person is no longer around.

ProudAS · 21/10/2013 06:40

I attended a family funeral at weekend and deceased's 2yo GS wasn't at service but was at wake. It was lovely to have him there and he had a positive effect on the mood.

TallulahMcFey · 21/10/2013 05:18

I can see in some circumstances there may be a place for young children at funerals but I really cant see how the under 5's would ever benefit. My mum didn't let me go to my granddad's funeral at 11 and then my aunt's at 14 and to be honest, I would have liked to go. I did give my daughter the choice but did say to her that I didn't expect her to be there and felt that there was no need to go simply as a sign as respect. I think that all that is done in a person's life time. I think for me to think it ok for children to be present, it would have to be a close relative or someone they were close to and they would have to be over 5 and express a wish to go. But that is only my opinion of what I would apply in my family. I don't think other people doing different things are wrong.

bababababoom · 20/10/2013 23:38

I don't think I'd let her go if she didn't know the person. However, would if it was someone she knew. I disagree with saying funerals are not a place for small children. I think they need to say goodbye, and understand death, and that in order to do that they need to be helped to deal with it, not hidden away from it.

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