Drs. Elena Lister & Michael Schwartzman on Conversations with Children About Illness, Death, & Loss

I had such a great discussion with Dr. Elena Lister and Dr. Michael Schwartzman for this episode. I’m going to keep this brief and make just one suggestion: If you’re a widowed parent, buy this book. If you know a widowed parent, buy it for them. Seriously. The stuff the authors cover is exactly the sort of stuff I was wondering about when my husband, Dennis, was diagnosed with terminal brain cancer and my kids were 9 & 11. If you don’t know what to say to your kids about death and grief—and let’s be honest, who does?—then do yourself a favor and read Giving Hope: Conversations with Children About Illness, Death, and Loss.

Summary of Key Points:

  • Importance of Open Communication: Drs. Lister and Schwartzman emphasize the importance of having open and honest conversations with children about illness, death, and loss, advocating for age-appropriate transparency.

  • Understanding Grief in Children: They discuss how children process grief differently at various developmental stages and the importance of recognizing these differences to support them effectively.

  • Role of Caregivers and Parents: The guests highlight the critical role caregivers play in providing stability and understanding, suggesting practical ways parents can support their children through difficult conversations about death.

  • Resources and Tools: They provide insights into resources and tools that can aid in these conversations, including books, therapeutic activities, and professional support options.

  • Encouraging Emotional Expression: The conversation covers methods to encourage children to express their emotions related to grief and loss, including art and storytelling, as a way to help them cope.

  • Long-term Impact of Grief: There is a discussion about the long-term impact of grief on children and the importance of ongoing support and reassessment of their needs as they grow.

 
 
 
 

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Jenny Lisk

Jenny Lisk is the founder of the Widowed Parent Institute. She is an award-winning author and widowed mom who is dedicated to helping widowed parents increase their family's well-being. Jenny’s books, Future Widow and Widowed Parents Unite, and her show, The Widowed Parent Podcast, guide the journey of solo parenting after loss.

https://jennylisk.com/
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Charlene Lam Believes We Are All Curators After a Loved One Dies