Navigating Death As A Family Of A Child With Autism
Navigating death as a family is already hard. But, when you add a child with autism into the mix it makes things a little more difficult. A lot of kids with autism do not fully grasp what is happening when it’s happening, and they need time to fully understand what is going on around them. This alone can make it a tricky situation to navigate, but you have got this. Down below, we’re going to be talking about how you can navigate this difficult time for you and your family, so keep reading if you would like to find out more.
Ask Them What They Understand
In order to help them get through this, the best thing that you can ask them is what they understand about what is happening. Not just that, ask them how they are feeling about whatever it is that they tell you. Make sure that your focus is on their understanding and feelings so that you can best work out how to help them move forward.
Sometimes kids with autism surprise you with a keen awareness of what is happening. It’s important that you do not expect them to react in a way that you may perceive as normal. Everyone grieves in their own way, and your child may choose to cope differently, that’s okay.
Try To Explain As Much As Possible
You also want to give them peace of mind which means explaining things. We know that this must be hard, but you have to do it for the sake of your little one and helping them to understand what is happening. If they ask a question, answer it. If they seem curious about something, encourage them to ask. The more that you can explain, the closer you are going to feel to your child, and hopefully the same will be said for the other way around.
For example, if they are curious about the equipment that is used at funerals, you can’t exactly show them that when you’re there. But, their need to know will outweigh everything else at that point and you’re going to need to do something. You can look up a funeral supplies company like Hilton Funeral Supply and show your child online what everything is.
Be There To Support Them
Finally, you just need to be there to support them. They may need space, they may cling to you, they may cry a lot, they may not cry at all. Some kids will be very unfazed while others will be prone to emotional outbursts. However they choose to cope is okay, and you just need to be there, giving them your support at all times.
We hope that you have found this article helpful, and now have a stronger sense of how you can navigate death as a family of a child with autism. It’s not always easy to do, and there is a lot to think about on top of your own grief. We are sorry for your loss, and hope that you can find a way for you and your family to navigate this difficult time in a way that works for you.
Kori
