• Skip to content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Home
  • Shop ModernMom
  • Become An Insider

ModernMom

The premiere destination for moms

  • Parenting
    • Pregnancy
    • Baby
    • Kids
    • Tweens and Teens
    • ModernMom Monday Videos
  • Cooking
  • Living Healthy
    • Breast Cancer
    • Health & Fitness
    • Body after Baby
    • Beauty
    • Relationships
    • Love
  • Lifestyle
    • Crafts
    • At Home
    • Education
    • Travel
    • Pets
    • Decorate
    • Money
    • Brooke Burke
  • Celebrate
    • Holidays
      • Easter
      • Valentine’s Day
      • New Year’s
      • Christmas
      • Hanukah
      • Halloween
      • Thanksgiving
    • Birthdays
    • Parties
  • Must Have
  • Contests
  • Entertainment

Grieving the Death of a Mother

January 5, 2011 by ds_65371 Leave a Comment

Losing a mother is a difficult thing for anyone to bear. As hard as it is for adults to deal with the unfortunate eventual death of their mom, it is even more challenging for children who often still depend so heavily upon this female parent. If you are tasked with helping a child deal with the death of his mother, there are things that you can do to help him make it through this period of grief and enable him to see the light at the end of the tunnel of loss through which he’s traveling.

Grieving vs. Mourning

While many people use the terms “grieving” and “mourning” synonymously, as MayoClinic.com reports, there is a difference between the two. Mourning is an outward demonstration of your upset over a loss, such as wearing black clothing immediately following the death of a loved one, whereas grieving is an internal process. Mourning traditionally goes on for several weeks or months after the death of a loved one, but grieving can continue considerably beyond, extending for potentially years after the death of a key parent.

Learning to Grieve

Grieving, like many things, is not something that a child is born knowing how to do. If you are helping a child move through the grieving process, he’ll need assistance in understanding how this grief process works. One of the easiest ways to help him grieve is to discuss his loss with him. All too often, people shy away from discussing the death of a mother, as they feel that this discussion will only further upset the already distraught child, reports the Association of Jewish Family and Children’s Agencies. However, without this discussion, the child may not understand how to deal with the emotions he is feeling and, as a result, may fail to properly grieve.

Role Revisions

Whenever a child loses a mother, she must cope with new role development. The tasks that her mother once completed must now be undertaken by another adult. It can be challenging for children to see someone other than their mom take on these tasks, as it is an indication that their mother truly will not be returning. Because experiencing the role revision often proves so challenging, many children initially rebel against people who try to fill the role vacated by their mother.

Help for Grieving Kids

When a child loses his mother, he will likely grieve for an extended period of time. Regardless of how well-intentioned you may be, it might not be possible for you alone to fill this void. If you are helping a child grieve, don’t take on all the responsibility yourself. Instead, speak with the counselor at the child’s school — a professional counselor who deals with children or the child’s pediatrician — and ask the professional what she recommends you do to help the child overcome his struggles. By getting input from an assortment of people, you’re likely to increase your effectiveness in helping the child.

Potential Impact

Children who lose a parent are at a greater risk for an assortment of mental challenges later in life, notes the Association of Jewish Family and Children’s Agencies. Children who lose a parent are more prone to experience anxiety and depression than others their same age. While nothing you can do will minimize the likelihood of the development of these disorders, you can be aware of the child’s increased risk and monitor him accordingly.

Comments

comments

Filed Under: Parenting

About ds_65371

Erin Schreiner is a freelance writer and teacher who holds a bachelor's degree from Bowling Green State University. She has been actively freelancing since 2008. Schreiner previously worked for a London-based freelance firm. Her work appears on eHow, Trails.com and RedEnvelope. She currently teaches writing to middle school students in Ohio and works on her writing craft regularly.

Reader Interactions

Primary Sidebar

Search

Tell a friend

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

ModernMom TV

Featured

spot a child molester

The Stranger You Know: How to Spot a Child Molester’s Tricks

Do you think you would be able to tell if a sexual predator … [Read More...] about The Stranger You Know: How to Spot a Child Molester’s Tricks

Must Have

STEM-related Toys to Include in Your Child’s Easter Basket This Year 

April has arrived which means it’s time to pull out the food … [Read More...] about STEM-related Toys to Include in Your Child’s Easter Basket This Year 

Did you know?

Negative Effects of Single Parent Homes

The Negative Effects of Single Parent Homes on Children

Use Frozen Bananas for Baking

How to Use Frozen Bananas for Baking

Quick Ways to Cook a Round Steak

Quick Ways to Cook a Round Steak

early signs you are pregnant with twins

Early Signs You Are Pregnant With Twins

When to Take a Toddler to the Emergency Room With a Fever

When to Take a Toddler to the Emergency Room With a Fever

Natural Remedies to Increase Sperm Count

Natural Remedies to Increase Sperm Count

Male Fertility Tips

Tips on Exercising While Pregnant

Tips on Exercising While Pregnant

Signs You're Having a Miscarriage

Signs You’re Having a Miscarriage

how much weight should a baby gain

How Much Weight Should a Baby Gain?

Footer

  • About Us
  • Contact ModernMom
  • Advertise With Us
  • Press
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Contributors

Copyright © 2023 Modern Mom. All Rights Reserved.

Reproduction of any portion of this website only at the express permission of Mom, Inc.

The information provided on ModernMom is for educational use only. It should not be used as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.