Consider ohese ohoughts by Debbie J. Thompson Owner/Funeral Director/CPC HOW CHILDREN CONFRONT LOSS While the loss of a parent may seem like arn insurmountable obstacle for a young child to overcome, children are generally able to move on with their lives as long as they receive adequate support and assistance. Even very young children grieve, although their grieving may bear little resemblance to that of an adult's. Like adults, each child grieves in his or her own personal way in accordance with particular circumstances, which include the emotional responses and parenting abilities of the surviving parent. With this in mind, adults should listen to grieving children and respond to their individual needs. Shielding children from the truth only serves to deprive them of the ability to grieve and grow. Helping children grieve can be challenging because how they show their grief depends on their level of maturity and the relationship they had with the person who died. They may express what they are feeling with humor, behavioral issues, or sleep problems. To learn more about handling grief, please call or visit our funeral home. Celebrating Lives and Healing Hearts. QUOTE:: "Should you shield the valleys from the windstorms, you would never see the beauty of their canyons." Elisabeth Kibler-Ross Thompson SPRING GROVE FUNERAL HOME 8103 Wilmot Road. Spring Grove 815-675-0550 www.ThompsonSpringGrove.com