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Ways to Hold our Children through Collective Crisis and Grief
Our children are going through a crisis of epic proportion that they will remember for the rest of their lives. They will experience existential questioning, changes in community and social behaviors. And it is very likely that they will grieve someone they have loved or watch their community grieve for a loved one.
Ways of being are changing. Though a lot of good, joy, and creativity is coming from the adjustment of this time, we are facing collective anxiety, uncertainty and grief. We are experiencing anticipatory grief. Recently Scott Berinato wrote a beautiful piece on the topic “Anticipatory grief is that feeling we get about what the future holds when we’re uncertain.”
As a lifelong educator, I offer a few ideas and books to support our youngest ones during this time of uncertainty and anticipatory grief. I am not a counselor and so please do understand, that you should always seek help if you or one of your little ones is suffering greatly. I wish you profound care, the stories of your elders and ancestors to remind you and carry you through, and a rooted devotion to the well-being of humanity.
Books
- The Fall of Freddie the Leaf by Leo Buscalia: I remember my grandmother reading this book to me when I was five. It tells the story of a beautiful leaf…
