My mum's partner has just died after a battle with cancer. My two sons knew he wasn't well. They are 5 and 3. He was in hospital for many weeks at the end, followed by hospice and home. I took them to see him just the other day (we live a way away from my family) They weren't scared thankfully at seeing him so poorly. Now I am at a loss how to tell them. The younger won't understand but he asks constantly for him and where he is. The elder has recently been talking about being dead for a while (not in relation to this, just going through a fascination I think) but I don't think he truly grasps what it means. I was brought up c of e but don't go church and am spiritual now and have various beliefs which I don't talk about really with them. I don't want to scare my eldest but I don't want to lie either.
Am sort of in a mixed bag of emotions myself too right now as it was horrid to see him fade away and in pain so a mix of relief he doesnt have to go through this anymore but also hurting for him because he was such a nice man and made my mum so happy and her him. Wondering how she is going to get through this. Life can be so cruel :(