How we deal with loss as a child forms the way we deal with it as adults. Most children have a natural ability to deal with grief unless taught otherwise.
The death of a hamster
In their book When Children Grieve, John W. James and Russell Friedman of The Grief Recovery Institute give a wonderful example of a friend’s four-year-old son whose hamster died. When the friend called to ask them for help, they told her that she probably wouldn’t have to do much because he was only four. He would probably get it right all by himself.
Sure enough, when she watched to see what he did, she was amazed at what she saw.
‘He stood in front of the cage, looking in at the dead hamster, and with tears in his eyes he said, in four-year-old fashion: “Mr Hamster, you were a good hamster. I’m sorry for the times I didn’t clean your cage. I was mad the time you bit me, but that’s okay. I wish that you didn’t have to get sick and die. I wanted to play with you more. I loved you, and I know that you loved me. Goodbye, Mr Hamster.” And off he went.’
If you’re familiar with the Grief Recovery Method explained in detail in the authors’ books, what is so fascinating about this story is that this little boy’s final words to his hamster cover in just seven short sentences all the primary elements of apologies, forgiveness, significant emotional statements and fond memories that form the cornerstones of moving through a loss or bereavement.
Most children know how to do this naturally if they are allowed to tell the truth about their feelings, but by the time we grow up most of us have developed so many survival techniques for coping with loss that we need to relearn what this four-year-old knew intuitively how to do all by himself.
It didn’t end there, of course. The hamster was buried in the garden and for a few weeks the boy visited the spot from time to time and continued to talk to his hamster whenever feelings about its death arose. He ended each conversation with ‘Goodbye, Mr Hamster’, which is so important to the process of completion. After a couple of months, when his grieving had run its course, he announced to his mother that he would really like to have a new hamster.
The story concludes: ‘The very first thing the little boy did when he got his new pet hamster was to tell the new hamster all about Mr Hamster, who had died, and to say that he hoped they could become good friends too, just as he’d been with Mr Hamster.’
In other words, he hadn’t been emotionally scarred by the experience. With the support of his parents, he’d completed his grieving and was ready to move on. He was able and willing to open his heart to the new hamster just as much as he had opened to the old one.
Recommended books
I love the simplicity, wisdom, and heart-warming outcome of this tale. For anyone reading this who has experienced the death of a pet, a person, a relationship break-up or any other kind of loss, I sincerely recommend one of the following books by John W. James and Russell Friedman:
The Grief Recovery Handbook
The action program for moving beyond death, divorce, and other losses
The Grief Recovery Handbook for Pet Loss
How to become emotionally complete with your pet
Moving On
For anyone who has experienced the end of a romantic relationship, whether recent or long ago
When Children Grieve
For adults to help children deal with death, divorce, pet loss, moving, and other losses
Copyright © Clear Space Living Ltd, 2020
Related articles
The best place to store ashes
Pet loss grief
Like to read more articles like this?
Subscribe to my newsletters to receive news, articles and information about upcoming online courses by email. And I promise you – no junk mail ever.
I like to keep my shoes on a small shoe rack next to the main door. This is probably easier for a single person, nevertheless, one need only keep the few shoes one uses throughout a work week and take out other shoes for other occasions from their boxes in the wardrobe. Seasonal changes can also dictate the shoes that are out on the rack by the door. Such racks are cheap, light and can take up very little space. Some models can be stacked on top of each other if needed – but I prefer to avoid that as it starts to look like clutter, shoe become more elevated from the ground (whereas I feel they should stay close to the ground) – and I really don’t have that many shoes.
I read in one of your other blogs the recommendation for The Grief Recovery Handbook. I felt a pull toward this, as I have experienced many deaths in my family recently, including both my parents, two aunts, and a very close friend.
What I came to understand through reading this marvelous work, is that grief through loss is rampant throughout our lives, disguised as depression, anger, absentmindedness, fear, withdrawal, and a host of other aspects, yet they are all one thing: unresolved grief.
This book has been pivotal for me in reclaiming the joyful, enthusiastic, and vibrant person that I was born to be. It is a process that takes focus, but is well worth the journey. I have recommended it to my son, who is studying to be a clinical psychologist, and he feels that it will greatly enhance his ability to counsel his clients.
Thank you, Karen, for sharing your wealth of wisdom with us, and for recommending this book. It has potential to change lives in a dramatic and positive way.
Very nice story, Karen. Thank you!