my 10 and 8 year olds attending their greatgrandmothers funeral this thursday(it will be closed casket).they really want to go.my mom says it's fine(it was her mother)my grandmother.thanks.
2006-06-05 16:04:15 · 5 answers · asked by georgemi74 4 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Newborn & Baby
Absolutely they should be able to go. I went to my dads funeral when I was 10. It would have been devastating for me not to go. Give them this opportunity to show their last respects, and have some closure. It will be very healthy for them. God Bless
2006-06-05 16:27:59 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
I went through this two years ago with my boys, who at the time were 5, 4 & 1 month. My boys had never met their great-great grandmother, but I took them any way. The wake was open casket. Before going to the funeral home I explained to them what to expect and why we were going. For what to expect: she was dead and in a casket, but it was just her body - her soul was already on its way to heaven. We were going to hear people talk about what they remembered most about her and ALOT of praying (mexican catholic funeral) There would be some crying from those who were having a hard time saying goodbye. For why we were going: mommy needed to say goodbye & mommy wanted them to not be afraid because death is natural and something that happens to everyone at some point. And that if we were all lucky like their great-great grandmother we would live a long full life.
I chose to take my boys and have them go through that experience because I come from a large family and it seems that while I was growing up at least every 2 years I was attending a funeral (both open and closed caskets) This experience helped me understand that it was okay to be sad as long as we celebrate the life that the person lived, and I wanted my boys to understand death in their terms without fear. Plus since they did not know her it was more of just a process for them. When the time comes that someone close to them does die, they wont be in a "culture shock" without understanding what's going on.
I believe that your children will be just fine attending their greatgrandmother's funeral. They are older than my boys so you should explain to them what to expect in their terms.
Good luck with what you decide.
2006-06-06 00:20:09 · answer #2 · answered by Just me.... 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I went to my first funeral around this age. I think it's fine as long as it's a closed casket. That may be too much for them.
2006-06-05 23:13:42 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
if kids want to go let them....stuff like this is not good to push on kids
2006-06-05 23:08:51 · answer #4 · answered by sweetblonde 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
tyou should let them go,
2006-06-05 23:10:01 · answer #5 · answered by geet840 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋