FamilyLife Blended®

When a parent dies, a child needs to stay in touch. Children of divorce can stay in contact with both parents. When a parent dies a child can’t. In her book, Stepparenting the Grieving Child, author Diane Fromme points out the need to maintain an emotional connection to a parent does not end when a parent dies. The living parent and stepparent can help with this: acknowledge the deceased parent; write letters and look at pictures and talk about them. Help the child bring the deceased parent along with them and a healthy connection will endure.