13/10/2025
Children Grieve Too ❤️🩹
When a child experiences loss while at home, like loss of safety & trust when they are abused, or the bereavement of a loved family member like a grandparent, or the losses experienced when they witness physical violence, CAN THEY REALLY BE PRESENT AT SCHOOL?
As a child I experienced a home life that was tense & violent both physically & emotionally. When the adults in my home were preoccupied with their own fear of safety & trust.
So when I was packed off to school, with the hope that I would learn & be engaged, MY HEAD WAS SCRAMBLED.
I was living with grief & that grief occupied most of my concentration.
Grief is the name for the range of conflicting emotions felt after experiencing loss.
At home I never felt safe. The fear I felt as a result was with me everyday.
At home I hardly ever felt comfort. The insecurity I felt was with me every day.
At home I witnessed & personally experienced abuse both physically & emotionally. The shock I felt was with me every day.
So how could I be present at school? How could I concentrate enough to learn? How could I be calm enough to build meaningful relationships?
In fact any qualifications and pleasant experiences I had at school were due to my innate character that fortunately wasn’t fully squashed.
Many children today endure very similar, & unfortunately much worse in their homes & are then sent to school with the intention that they should learn.
I would have really benefited from someone intuitive enough to notice my emotional discomfort. Someone that gave me time to share how I felt & that intervened to prevent me experiencing further discomfort.
So for me being a Grief Recovery Method Specialist now is so fulfilling.
I teach those that teach, to notice. To see when a child is struggling to concentrate or build relationships.
Then to give them space to share & to put words to the emotions that they feel.
….and then to deliver the necessary communication to recover from the grief they carry.
Children need grief recovery too ❤️🩹
ben.brady@character-matters.co.uk