Claire Crowe

You don't need to put other kind of maybe nuances or words onto the other occasions that get missed.

Absolutely show your grief.

You know, I think the temptation as parents is to protect our children.

I'd say if you spoke to a vet, they will tell you so many wild stories about how when a pet dies, the things families will do to save their children from death.

I've heard a few of them before and I just think, gosh, like, let our children experience death and let them experience our sadness with death because that's what's honest.

Like I say, kids are body readers.

They will know that we're sad, but they're also...

focused on themselves.

So they will wonder if that sadness is coming from something that they did, something they've done wrong.

So it's much better to be able to say, I am so sad today.

I loved my mom.

I loved my husband, whatever it is.

And I miss them.

I'm having a sad day today.

And when I'm sad, I cry and that's OK.

And if you want, you can give me a hug today or, you know, allow them to be part of it.

Let them have permission.

Or, you know, I'm going to go for a walk now because sometimes I walk by the sea and I feel a little bit calmer in my body.

Model for them that this is the right way to do it.

Absolutely.