How can I best support my 9yo God daughter at her granny's funeral?

[Jojay]

My lovely friend has sadly lost her Mum to cancer this week.

I'm going to the funeral and would really like to be helpful to her DD. She will be the only child there and she was very close to her Granny, so it's going to be a tough day.

Any thoughts? I thought I might take one of those adult colouring books and pens in my handbag so if at the wake afterwards she's feeling a bit overwhelmed, we can sneak off and chill for a bit, and she'd have space to talk if she wants to.

What do you think? Any other thoughts on how I can help her get through the day?

Thank you.

Anyone?

You sound very kind. I'd just give her lots of reassurance, be as relaxed as you can be, and let her know it's okay to feel however she's feeling, there's no right or wrong way to behave when someone dies.

She might find it overwhelming that people are very upset, so maybe talk to her about that, that it's okay and nothing to be scared of.

Can you help her plan something special so she can say goodbye in her own way? Hope it goes as well as possible.

I'm not too sure that you can help her, I'm afraid. But if you can, you are going about it the right way - colouring/drawing whilst talking can be very therapeutic for kids.

My DD10 was heartbroken at my DMs funeral and cried buckets but she perked up and seemed better at the wake. She was distracted with her baby second cousin though.