Children, Pet Loss and The Power of Story

The one best place to bury a dog is in the heart of its master. ~ Ben Hur Lampman

Death of a pet may be a young family’s first encounter with significant loss, and one of the questions parents will face is how to explain it to their children. Depending upon their age, personality and level of development at the time, children may have a tough time understanding death and the grief that accompanies significant loss, and parents may be at a loss as to how to explain it to them.

Voices of Experience: When My Story Ends

Music can touch and heal that secret wound of the soul which nothing else can reach.  ~ Debasish Mridha

The Mammals are an indie-roots trailblazing band founded by Mike + Ruthy (Michael Merenda and Ruth Ungar). In the group’s first incarnation (which featured founding member Tao Rodriguez-Seeger) the band energized audiences in the ‘00s with its “Trad is Rad” folk message. The Washington Post described them as “gleefully aware that the sound barriers separating old-timey music, vintage pop and contemporary folk are as permeable as cotton.”

Understanding and Managing Grief, May 13 - May 19, 2018

Best selections from Grief Healing's Twitter stream this week:

Powerful: After a Teenager's Death, Metaphors Fail, http://j.mp/2IrHgZe « Modern Loss 

'Keep living your story' ~ Shadow Narratives, http://j.mp/2IqnihH « Bryan C. Taylor

Woman Has Photos Taken of Herself in Wedding Dress after Death of her Fiance, http://j.mp/2rSqGHH « Seven Ponds Blog

Understanding and Managing Grief, January 14 - January 20, 2018

Best selections from Grief Healing's Twitter stream this week:

Does It Ever Get Easier? http://j.mp/2rnmF0f « Grief Watch

Dark Night of Grief, http://j.mp/2rny7sA « Widower's Grief

How Telling Your Story of Loss May Help, http://j.mp/2EM4hQn « Grieve Well

Caregiving and Hospice, December 17 - December 23, 2017

Best selections from Grief Healing's Twitter stream this week:

Caregiver Abuse: The Role of Personality and Illness, http://j.mp/2DmXaxS « Stan Goldberg, Ph.D.

The Long Goodbye: Coping With Sadness And Grief Before A Loved One Dies,  http://j.mp/2p7Cxmt « California Healthline

How Will the Story End? http://j.mp/2BbrD4s « HuffPost

Your feedback is welcome! Please feel free to leave a comment or a question, or share a tip, a related article or a resource of your own in the Comments section below. If you’d like Grief Healing Blog updates delivered right to your inbox, you’re cordially invited to subscribe to our weekly Grief Healing Newsletter. Sign up here.

Understanding and Managing Grief, May 21 - May 27, 2017

Best selections from Grief Healing's Twitter stream this week:

Never Long Enough - A new book of comfort and hope amidst grief and loss, http://bit.ly/2rZjdFr « Read The Spirit

The Long Game After Loss, http://bit.ly/2rGMh7h « Christina Rasmussen

When We Blame Ourselves, http://bit.ly/2s3v7Nt « The Grief Toolbox

In Grief: Needing To Tell The Story

[Reviewed and updated July 24, 2022]

A reader writes: I feel like I am losing it. Both my mother and my sister were killed in an auto accident two months ago. I find myself talking about it over and over again, to anyone who will listen. But no matter how many times I tell the story, I can’t seem to wrap my mind around it. I am trying to believe that it really did happen, because at this moment in time, I really cannot believe it myself.

Understanding and Managing Grief, January 22 - January 28, 2017

Best selections from Grief Healing's Twitter stream this week:

The Emotions of Grief After A Breakup, http://bit.ly/2jIXYmJ « Psychology Today

It’s Called “Grief Work” Because It Is Work by Brandy Lidbeck, http://bit.ly/2jx3wkc « The Gift of Second

This Love, this Love, this Love ~  http://bit.ly/2kt2CoP « Soaring Spirits International

Caregiving and Hospice, October 30 - November 5, 2016

Best selections from Grief Healing's Twitter stream this week:

A story that needs to be told, http://bit.ly/2eFuGTb « ehospice

The costly Medicare boondoggle that’s wasting tax dollars and infuriating doctors, http://bit.ly/2flPGOQ « Kevin MD

Dangers of Morphine for the Dying, http://bit.ly/2ftoS46 « Barbara Karnes, RN

Coping with Pet Loss, September 6 - September 12, 2015

Best selection from Grief Healing's Twitter stream this week:

Using Story To Explain Pet Loss To Children, http://j.mp/1ENwK70 « Grief Healing

Your feedback is welcome! Please feel free to leave a comment or a question, or share a tip, a related article or a resource of your own in the Comments section below.
If you’d like Grief Healing Blog updates delivered right to your inbox, you’re cordially invited to subscribe to our weekly Grief Healing Newsletter. Sign up here.

Using Story To Explain Pet Loss To Children

Death of a pet may be a young family’s first encounter with significant loss, and one of the questions parents will face is how to explain it to their children. Depending upon their age, personality and level of development at the time, children may have a tough time understanding death and the grief that accompanies significant loss, and parents may be at a loss as to how to explain it to them. In an earlier post I shared my belief that one of the most effective ways to help children understand such complicated matters is to tell them a story, or read together one of the many wonderful children’s books available on this topic. Read on here >>>

Caregiving and Hospice, September 7 - September 13, 2014

Best selections from Grief Healing's Twitter stream this week:

Draw the Lines: The Art of Setting Boundaries, http://j.mp/1tPLHij « Pallimed

The Story of Your Life Carries Great Power, http://j.mp/1us1eU4 « It's OK to Die

The Caregiving and Meditation Connection, http://j.mp/1uzi02I « Maria Shriver

Coping with Pet Loss, July 13 - July 19, 2014

Best selections from Grief Healing's Twitter stream this week:

When is it okay to euthanize a pet? 'Enough Can Be Enough,' http://j.mp/1oRYcSX « Ezine Articles

Learning goodbye: Veterinarians fill a void by focusing on end of life care, http://j.mp/1yBRVSv « DVM 360

9 Questions to Consider When Planning Your Pet's End-of-Life Care, http://j.mp/1tWDFVs « Veterinary Wisdom Professionals

Understanding and Managing Grief, September 29 - October 12, 2013

Best selections from Grief Healing's Twitter stream:

The 4 Letter Word That Leads You Astray (And What to Do About It), http://j.mp/1gzhE5T « Huffington Post

Friday Favorites: Articles about Grief, http://j.mp/19uMLwn  What's Your Grief?

Lou LaGrand: Little Things to Do In Adapting to the Death of Your Loved One, http://j.mp/1attAkP « Ezine Articles

Caregiving and Hospice, October 16 - October 22, 2011

Best selections from Grief Healing's Twitter stream this week:

• Keeping a Wheelchair-bound Loved One Comfortable http://ow.ly/75yP4 MT @CaregiverTweets

• Benefits of palliative care for seriously ill, http://ow.ly/72zwH via @ContinuumHCH @GetPalliative

• Personal stories about people's experience with hospice, http://ow.ly/73Xnq MT @HouHospice

• Jane Gross on the Failings of Medicare - Excellent review, http://ow.ly/74Olk by @geri_doc on @geripalblog 

• Caregiving Dilemma: The Undeserving Parent, nyti.ms/mQrtuO by @nytimeshealth via @emilybarryPR

Caregiving and Hospice, August 21 - August 27, 2011

Best selections from Grief Healing's Twitter stream this week:

• Massage and Hospice, patricksmithlmt.com/2011/08/26/10/… by @PatrickSmithLMT

• Be "wellthy" and live a long life, http://ow.ly/6d0Ed MT @HouHospice

• Free "Choosing a Quality Hospice" worksheet, http://tinyurl.com/3tfb487 from @NHPCO_news

• Hospice program covers pets, http://ow.ly/6dits via @VillageMemorial

• Wonderful story! The Dolphin Named Toy, http://owl.li/ by @ShahinaLakhani

Understanding and Managing Grief, June 12 - June 18, 2011

Best selections from Grief Healing's Twitter stream this week:

• Sacred Journey Retreat for widows, by the Grief Project Leadership Team, http://bit.ly/jOi8M6 via @Joannefunch

• Grieving Well: Meditation To Grow Through Loss, http://huff.to/kOOJNC via @Joannefunch

• Controlling Anger -- Before It Controls You, http://bit.ly/iVzYMC 

• Excellent! There Are No Medications for Acute Grief, http://t.co/EEBill7 by @DoctorKaraPC via @utahpolitics

• Touching! Ten Things You Should Know About Daddy Part II, http://ow.ly/5kcAG by @Kristine_Brite

Understanding and Managing Grief, February 13 - February 19

Best selections from Grief Healing's Twitter stream this week:

• Great read! Grieving at a Young Age http://bit.ly/haZn1C by @LaMuscarella via @Joannefunch

• Wonderful! Doug Koktavy receives an ADC message from mom @BeezerandBoomer http://bit.ly/dJPxsY

• Unique Nature of Sibling Loss, http://bit.ly/idialJ by @Tabitha_Jayne

• Taking action honors loved ones and helps in grief, http://bit.ly/hlEUr1 via @pkassner

• Ways to preserve the memory of the people we've lost, http://ow.ly/3YZVZ by @LaMuscarella

Understanding and Managing Grief, November 28 - December 4

Best selections from Grief Healing's Twitter stream this week:

• ‘We Never Fought’ and other lies Widows Tell, http://bit.ly/dMcgSj by @crazywidow

• Beautiful remembrance of children who have died, http://bit.ly/e1QzqO via @BrknHrtsBigBend

• Dealing with Grief During the Holidays, http://ht.ly/3jBTm by @griefhealing via @Selfhealingexpr 

• Giving the Gift of Story After a Loss, http://ow.ly/3jzVX RT @StoryForHealing

• How to Help A Child or Teen Cope With The Loss of A Loved One During the Holidays, http://bit.ly/ihXVkl 

• You'll find links to dozens of helpful 'Coping with Holidays' articles here, http://bit.ly/3jkKKh 

• Remembering the Late Wife during the Holidays, http://bit.ly/hhTB4U by @abelkeogh 

• Holiday Grief: How To Best Support The Mourning, http://huff.to/gMFtcg via @romans_mama @huffingtonpost 

• Holidays can be horribly quiet for the grief-stricken, http://ow.ly/1agADi via @GriefHelp 

• Supporting grieving children during the holidays, http://bit.ly/dRZgtj via @TAPS4America

• Therapeutic Writing Brings Joy to the World, http://bit.ly/fpNGU4 via @CreateWriteNOW 

• Is This Season About Healing Transitions for You? http://ht.ly/3hTRC via @Selfhealingexpr 

• Trauma to Art: Turning Grief into creative expression, http://bit.ly/dZVxsw 

• Dealing with Grief and Loss: Helpful Do's and Don'ts, http://bit.ly/h3D7nn by @jodiperelman 

• A Gift from Another Father, http://wp.me/pVxlX-4c by @GrievingDads 

• I’m in Shock! But It’s Nothing Personal, http://bit.ly/i7HWWd by @stangoldberg