If you are planning on attending a loved one's funeral, will you bring your child? There are some good reasons to bring them with you, while in other situations it isn't the best idea. Here are some tips for deciding if you should bring your child or not.
How old is your child?
Age is probably one of the most important factors when deciding if you should bring your child to a funeral. Infants and toddlers should probably not be brought to a funeral service. Not only will it be hard for them to understand what is going on, but they could be more of a distraction at the funeral. Even older toddler-aged children will have a hard time grasping what is going on and it might be emotionally difficult for them to handle all the sadness that occurs at a funeral. With school-aged children, other factors should be considered. You shouldn't consider their age as the only reason they shouldn't attend a funeral.
Were they close to the deceased?
Another big factor that might sway you one way or another is whether or not your child knew the person who died and how close they were. Even if you have a very young child, you might want to bring them if it was their grandfather and they were extremely close to him. Even if they don't understand everything going on, this is something they will be glad you brought them to. On the other hand, if you are having a hard time dealing with the funeral and your child wasn't that close to the person who died, it might not be a good idea to bring them and further burden you.
Has your child asked to attend?
If your child is old enough to know what death means and that someone close to them has passed, they might ask you if they can go to the funeral. In most cases, this is a good reason to bring your child. They have already showed their interest in paying their respects. When you tell a child that someone they know has died, it is a very overwhelming experience.
However, this is also a good time to ask them if they want to go to the funeral. You can explain what a funeral is, what happens during one, and ask them directly if they are interested in going. Their answer can help you decide if you should bring them or not.
Also make sure you ask the immediate family of the deceased if they will allow kids to attend (or the funeral home, such as Elmwood Meunier Funeral Home). This is a very important consideration you make any plans.
Share20 May 2015
When someone that you love passes away, it isn't always easy to focus on creating a lovely event for your friends and family members. Unfortunately, when it comes to holding a nice memorial service, it is important to know how to stay calm and organized—even during stressful times. I have worked in the funeral industry for a long time, and I know what it takes to create a beautiful funeral. This website will teach you everything you need to know to plan a funeral service. In addition to teaching you how to write a eulogy and how to choose great flowers, you might even learn how to save money on the next service you have to plan.