How to deal with the loss of a pet (and explain it to your children!) – Wired PR Lifestyle Story

A few weeks ago, we said goodbye Bambi“Our family dog ​​and my best friend of almost 18.” He lived a wonderful life and will always be my first child. We grew up together and he taught me a lot along the way about responsibility. He was my stable and constant friend. After having children, Liam and Norah fell in love with Bambi, and although he sometimes tended to avoid them, he also fell in love, especially during the meal. We were always joking because Bambi was deaf at the right time … when the babies were born! Despite his age, I never wanted to think about how to deal with the loss of a pet — I loved it too much.

But 18 years is a long life for a dog and watching it grow old was not easy, as you can imagine. After much deliberation, my husband and I decided it was time to say goodbye and let go. Even though I was prepared for what this experience might have been like for me, I didn’t know how to explain what was happening to our young children. So here are some of the ways I was able to navigate this difficult experience. Hopefully, these tips for dealing with the loss of a pet can also help you when the time comes for a challenge.

We decided to send Bambi to our home with a pet shelter The return of love, and provided me with great resources to help the children experience. Since my children are quite small and still unable to fully communicate their feelings, we have used a coloring book and a very simple statement: Bambi’s body is no longer working and will be leaving tomorrow to go to heaven. She did a ceramic casting of Lap of Love Bambi’s foot and we shared it with the kids.

It’s been a few weeks and the kids are still wondering about Bambi, so I thought it would be nice to turn to some child therapists to see if they had any suggestions for managing this transition. I know I’m not the only one who’s going through such an experience, so if you’re dealing with the loss of a pet and you have small children, I hope these tips are helpful for you too.

Advice for child therapists

Rebecca Kason (PsyD) and Yasmin Henning are two child therapists who have had enough to offer young people some tips to help them cope with this loss. Here are some tips that have had a positive impact on my children.

“First, explain what happened in a simple, clear, and understandable way,” Kason says. “Don’t get too complicated! Something as simple as that Bambi is dead and will not return. There’s no need to tell or tell too much of an elaborate story. Euphemisms can also confuse the baby, so be aware of the use of soft, light language. Encourage your child to ask questions, and be open, honest, clear, correct, and accurate with your answers. Do not give more information than requested ”.

Another piece of advice from Henning is to absorb all the feelings. “Children have all sorts of reactions when they hear about the death of a loved one,” she explains. “Some people will cry and they may be very angry or they may not react at all. Some will bombard you with questions. All feelings are fine. Answer their questions and stay with them through these feelings. ”

But the most important thing to remember is that as a parent, all your feelings are good. As Henning explains. “It’s good to be sad and cry in front of your children. You know, ‘I feel sad right now. I miss Bambi so much. ‘ It’s okay and it’s also important for children to witness a range of emotions. You are showing that it is good to have these great feelings and to pass them on. ”

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If you or someone you know has had a similar experience, please do not hesitate to contact and chat! My DMs @brandyjoysmith you are open if you are looking for help at this difficult time.