What is the best way to explain the death of my two year olds grandpa to her?

Question

I am at my wits ends I have tried telling her he is walking with Jesus and she now is asking if everyone we see is Jesus. Please be very sensetive to the subject we are in alot of pain I truely need help and if your not serious please do not awnser.

Answer 1

Grandpa's body got broken & doesn't work anymore. The doctors couldn't fix it. We will miss him. He was great, wasn't he?

It might take a while for her to get it. Be patient with her. Just keep reminding her that he is gone, now, whenever she wants to see him. She will get it eventually. Take the opportunity, when she brings him up, to talk about the things that were wonderful about him. And, to let her know that you are feeling sad that you can't see him again. It's OK for her to know you are sad about it.

Answer 2

I'm sorry for your lost. I recommend looking for a picture book, you can find books with that theme at any "Border" or "Barnes & noble" bookstores. If you don't have any where you live, ask in any other bookstore or library, this are usually in a section of the bookstore called "growing up" here you''ll find books with those themes difficult to talk with a child.
I know some called "When someone special die" ,"My heart is sad" "where is grandpa?" there are more but don't remember the name, just ask in the bookstore, read them and choose the one you feel more easy to understand and you like better.
Also, if this don't make it more difficult to you, make a small scrapbook specially for your child to remember him, something small, yet memorable, so she can know she can still look at him.
Children have problems to understand that Jesus is not a person they can see, I still have that questions with my son, I usually wait at night and point to a star, then I say, that's where Jesus is, that worked for me when lost my grandpa and I was 9, it could sound silly but just having a specific point to look and remember that person make it a little easier.

Be strong, I undestand is difficult. We lived similar problems when my best friend lose her husband having a 2.5 year old, the child will keep asking no matter how many times you explain or how well.

Answer 3

When you tell her no that a person she sees walking is not Jesus tell her that she cannot see Jesus he lives in heaven and now grandpa lives there too. When you say this to her point to the sky.

Please remember a child her age doesn't need a lengthy answer to her question nor would she understand the answer.
Short and sweet. Do not elaborate and offer more information then she needs to know.

My sympathies for the loss of your dad. May your memories of him stay close to your heart. Remember he is always with you.

Answer 4

there really is no way to explain death to a 2 year old. Tell her that Grandpa has left to be with Jesus forever and one day she'll see him again. Just don't leave any open ends that may lead her to believe she'll be able to see him again or anything. "walking w/Jesus" does sound like anybody that's walking around could be Jesus. Maybe say he's walking with Jesus in the sky now and thats his new home....I'm really sorry about ur loss

Answer 5

You have a diffulcult situation. You cannot expect a two year old to understand. When this happened to my good friends Grandpa; we explained to the child that Pops had gone away on holiday. He had gone to a place called Summerland.
( In my faith this is another name for heaven). He was going to stay with a good pal of his called Jesus. We even got some friends overseas to send postcards from their lovely home.One or two presents also were sent. Now we know this isn't true. It's what is termed a "white lie". But God in his wisdom would not want you to suffer with this diffulculty. Bring your child up properly and at the right time and age,you can say - gone to Heaven. For me that is a real place,although we exist as essence not flesh. Remember to in god's love,light and truth. God Bless.

Answer 6

Your daughter is very young still and death is really hard to understand.. You can explain that "dead" means a that her grandpa has stopped breathing and his body doesn't work anymore. Let her know that people usually only die when they have grown very old in case she worries about it happening to you. There probably is not much more that she will understand yet. She may not be able to cope with the philosopht of faith yet so just keep that explanation very simple otherwise your little one will be more mystified than ever. I know as a parent you will do well and give her lots of cuddles as she will see you are upset.

Answer 7

I wouldn't have taken the Jesus angle because that opens up a whole lotta other hard questions that a 2 year old would have absolutely no concept of.
I would explain that Grandpa was tired and went to a much nicer, quieter place to rest. If you have other loved ones on the other side tell her that Grandpa is with them.

Answer 8

I am sorry to hear about your dad. There is never a easy answer when a child is young. They are to young to understand the life and death cycle. Try explaining to her that you can't see Jesus but He is there watching after her. Tell her that Jesus needed a angel and her grandpa was so special that Jesus wanted him. That's what I told my girls. If she gets upset so much that you you are concern,your doctor might be able to help.

Answer 9

I am sorry for your loss.There is no easy way to explain deatyh to a 2 year old.Too young to understand yet about the concepts of death.Just keep telling her about the fact that he is in the arms of Jesus.I f you d have not had the funeral yet my advice is not to take the child to the service if it is an open coffin.My young niece and nephew could not cope with seeing their grandfather in an open coffin let alone adults.Most people who believe in Jesus see Jesus. Get a minister to talk to her.

Answer 10

So, sorry! That must be awful. I know how hard it is trying to tell my daughter that there is no more of something she has been eating, and she doesn't get it. So I can't imagine how hard it would be to explain to her that a person is gone forever.

Just explain to her that grandpa was really, really old (make sure to emphasize that, so she doesn't start worrying that you will die, too, or that she will die.) Tell her that when people are really, really old, their bodies just get tired and they go to sleep forever and don't wake up. But their souls go up to heaven and live with God, in total happiness. They are so happy, nobody ever comes back. But they look down on us from time to time. You can have your daughter say her prayers at night and say "hi" to grandpa and wave at him, as if he is looking down from heaven.

Just do your best, and give her lots of love. Eventually, she'll get over it. Was she very close to her grandpa?

Big hugs to all of you!