what do u think about?

Question

my 10 and 8 year olds attending their great grandmothers funeral.it will be closed casket?

Answer 1

i'd say let them attend. dying is the reality of life. it won't do them any harm to see that their great grandmother has already passed away.

my condolences to you and your family.

Answer 2

This is reality. They need to experience the good times and the sad times.
Last August I lost my Grandmother.
I thought hard about it and decided to bring the children.
They were 7,8,11. My 11 year old chose to stay outside. Later on he joined us, staying right by my side for most the time. Each one of the children were able to go, by choice, to the casket. They placed a photo with her and I think a drawn picture. My daughter, 8, asked to go a second time. My other son, 7, was curious about where his 'Nana' would go. I answered him with what I believe.
They didn't cry, although, I believe they felt sadness.
I cried...they saw me.
My son brought me a kleenex. my daughter held my hand.
Death can be a teaching of true sadness, peacefulness, and love.

You have to make the choice.
God Bless

Answer 3

My son was three when he attend his great grandpa's open casket funeral. I don't it should be a big problem since its closed. Just sit down and explain to them that she is sleeping.

Answer 4

They are most certainly old enough. Death is a part of life. My kids attended funerals several times starting from when they were under 2.

Answer 5

Ask yourself how close they were to their great grandmother. But ultimately, I would say it should be OK. They are old enough to deal with the concept of death. Maybe it would be helpful to talk with them about death from a biological and or religeous perspective prior to the funeral.

Answer 6

What's the question? Whether or not to open it? Death is a natural happening that needs to be dealt with and explained. It can't just be hidden and ignored.

If you have a religion, explain she went.....wherever dead people go in your religion. The younger they are to learn about this, the more time they have to accept and decide for themselves on how to take it.

Answer 7

Be very honest with them, and try to explain what is going on before you go . But don't expect them to act mornful they are children and do not think like adults. Appreciate them for their love of life and hug them often.

Answer 8

you know i think about how parents try to keep the tragedies of the things in this world that happens everyday--and the more they try to keep them from it---the harder it will be for them if something tragic happens to them as they get older and they wont know how to react---
lets say a teenager - a boy--he is gay--and we keep the fact thet other gays exist--he will feel like a loner --an outcast--and wonder where and what his purpose in life is--
lets say another boy--kept from the fact that violence exists--and when he is 15 he gets attacked from behind and doesnt know what to do--all he can do is wonder whats going on
death is a part of life no matter what perspective it is--from the thousands of lives lost in war--or on 9/11 or any other event--where people die---we al lmourn for their loss--and mourn for their families-- and that death is a terrible thing and it doesnt matter how rich you are or how religious one gets---nothing can keep us from this--all good things must come to an end--we sadden ourselves for it--and as days go on we dont forget it--but we live it everyday for the rest of our lives
and these events become lodged in our minds somehow and remember it---now and 20 yrs from now---because these people and events in our lives need to be remembred--as the make us who we become in the future--
people think 8 an d10 yr olds arent open to things like death--but kids are more resiliant than others think..i had babysitted this one boy years ago--i was like 17 he was 7 almost 8--and he tellsme about his pappa dieing and how he is in heaven -- and he tell sme the things he nd his pappa did when he was around his pappa---
and then he says to me that he was there when his pappa died--i said you were--he says yeah--and i asked him how did he feel about it-- he says it saddens me that i cant be with him no more--but i know he is with me and one day i will be with him..i asked him how does he know this--someone told him? and he says no--i just know that one day that i will be with him and everyone else that i love..
he says he will be with him and eveyone else that he loves--not loved--this fascinated me at how smart he was..

--
--

--
--
so please dont sell these kids of short--kids are smarter that alot of people give credit for --

Answer 9

It will be one way for them to say goodbye. There is no pat answer for this one. You have to decide whether your children are up to it. You might also want to talk to them and get their input.

Answer 10

as long as you explain beforehand what is going to happen, it won't hurt them, but they may get bored. We took my 10 year old grandson to a friend's funeral, he was fine.

Answer 11

I say let them go the need the closer and need to know whats going on.