by Amy Jo Browne

Created on: January 06, 2009   Last Updated: October 14, 2010

How does one speak to a young child about death? Although it may seem difficult to begin, it is a necessary task. Kids are curious and will ask of these things, and we, as parents, need to give age appropriate responses so they are not confused.

I will share some personal experience in this matter, as this topic of death needs to be dealt as easily as possible. It was far easier than I could have ever imagined it to be.

My granddaughter, Alexis, who is four and a half is a big sister to John who just turned one. Both of these children have an older sister, Kylie Anne, that none of us has met as she died in my daughter's uterus at 31 weeks due to a cord accident.

When Kylie Anne was born forever dreaming on November 24, 2002, we all were in a state of shock. Babies are not supposed to die, before they take a breath but God had other plans for this precious baby.

In my grief I had began collecting angels and I have quiet the huge collection now, six years later. Alexis knows those are sissy's angels, and that she should never touch them. She also knows that the small photograph on top of my television is of Kylie Anne, her big sister. In that photograph, it appears as if Kylie Anne is sleeping, so most people do not know it was taken after her death, unless they know the story.

It was bound to happen one day, where Alexis would ask who the baby was or even about the angels. It happened when Alexis was just a little over three years old in early 2007. She asked about Kylie Anne's photograph, and my daughter told Alexis that was her sister, as she would be baby John's big sister when he came out.

Where is my big sister was her next question. God took her home, was the answer she got. She knows whom God is, so she wanted to know where he lived. We told her God takes his chosen home with him, and his home is where her little kitten went. She liked the idea of her kitten being with God and her sister. Little bits of information that a three year old could handle is all she received.

When Baby John came in October of 2007, she asked if Kylie Anne was his big sister as well. To her it is nothing to include Kylie Anne in a conversation, because she is comfortable with it. She often asks if Kylie can see flowers, the birds, and even the snow.

On November 24 last year, my daughter went to purchase balloons for Kylie's birthday and got an extra one for Alexis too keep. We released our balloons one at a time, while Alexis watched. I repeated what I have always said "happy

• 1
• 2
• Next Page >>