Personal Research Journey

The topic I've chosen to research is children and their understanding and fear of death and dying. This is a very sensitive subject for most people. Life and death is something that connects all of us, I am fascinated by how different cultures perceive death and dying and the impact that has on the people. People have been creating stories, traditions, rituals, and art in response to this phenomenon since the beginning of mankind. We are eternally curious and have never stopped searching and seeking understanding.

I, personally, now have a new relationship with death since my mom started a painful death during my painful pregnancy, and eventually passed away soon after I went through a traumatic birth. I suffered a lot of post partum depression before I knew what that even was. I saw death and life in a new way and was very preoccupied by it. My son, now almost 8-years-old, has always been an extremely sensitive person. The idea of death has terrified him since he became aware of it. I think mostly the idea of his mom or dad dying and leaving him is what triggers him the most. I have searched many routes to give him the best support and information that he can process and hold on to in a healthy way. I am using this assignment as a way for me to dive even deeper into a topic that has me still stumped to a certain degree.

As my son gets older, and as I continue my own personal journey with this topic, I am open to all of your insights, personal discoveries, and hurdles when it comes to talking to young children about death and dying. Seriously, please feel free to share! And Thank You!