Regression
Going back to an earlier stage in life when things felt safer is a normal part of grieving. A four-year-old may want to drink out of a bottle, a potty-trained child may need a diaper, a seven-year-old may start wetting the bed and a ten-year-old may want to sleep with the light on. Allow them the comfort of regressing without shaming them. If you’re concerned, contact our Child Life Specialist at Nanny Angel Network or support group such as Gilda’s Club or Dr. Jay’s Children’s Grief Centre.
Re-grieving
As children grow and develop, their understanding of death evolves and their mother’s absence comes to mean different things to them. Special occasions and milestones such as puberty, graduation, etc. can bring intense feelings back to the surface. Grief is a lifelong process – revisiting those emotions is normal and healthy.
Withdrawal
Children who are grieving can become quieter and engage less with others. They may spend more time alone in their room and not want to go to school, play or spend time with friends. Check in often and give them a chance to connect with people they feel comfortable with, such as a trusted friend, caregiver or support group. Continue to model feelings and share that different emotions are natural as you grieve.
