Where Did You Go?
by
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When a child is young, they learn to be separated from their parents or caregiver for a short period of time. They learn that mom or dad will return sometime later and they make the necessary adjustments because they know their parent will return sooner or later. In other words, the child will adjust to being separated from their parent because they come to recognize it as a temporary state of being.
But what happens when the parent of a child dies? What happens when the pattern of mom or dad leaving and returning is changed due to death? Adults must be careful to view death through the eyes of a child that has been accustomed to their parent leaving, but also returning. When the adult begins to address death with a child that has lost one or both of their parents it is important to understand that this type of separation must be explained to the child in terms of temporary, permanent and eternal separation.
Children are accustomed to their parents leaving and eventually returning. However, after a couple of days of separation from a parent, the child will begin to ask questions and even demonstrate distinct behavior issues which are often erratic and unpredictable. Those questions and behaviors are magnified upon the death of a deceased parent who no longer returns. The question that lingers for the child is “Where did he or she go?” This book has been designed to assist in answering that question.
It is my prayer that this book can serve as a tool to aid you in helping your child better understand death whether it came through illness or a sudden unexpected demise. In other words, it is my hope, that through the use of this book you will be able to help your child better understand the separation from their parent and where their parent has gone.
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“Unanswered Questions”
Author: Rhoda Whitfield
Where are you?
Where did you go?
I don’t understand and I really want to know.
I saw you on yesterday, but you’re gone today.
And every time I ask, no one will really say.
Why didn’t you tell me you were going away?
Was it my fault that you left?
Did I do something wrong?
Where are you?
Can you please come back to stay?
I’m missing you dearly every day.
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About the Book
This book is based on the many questions children have when they lose a parent or a caregiver. The questions that linger the most are “where did he or she go?” and “why can I no longer see them?”. When death occurs in the life of a young child it is difficult for them to understand because they are accustomed to their parents returning eventually. With the situation of death, the child now has to learn the difference between temporary, permanent and eternal. This book has been designed to answer questions and help bring understanding to a child with the assistance of an adult.
About the Author
Rhoda Whitfield studied education and graduated from Florida A&M University in Tallahassee, Florida. She is a 22 year elementary and middle school veteran teacher that was identified as a highly impact teacher by the Department of Education for the state of Florida and the Leon County School District for three consecutive years in March 2016. She has always had a love for children and worked hard to meet the needs of them educationally, emotionally and spiritually. She is no stranger to authorship. Rhoda and her husband have co-authored a book and developed an app for android devices that speaks to married couples and persons interested in marriage. The author’s knowledge of children and families is due to her long interaction with students and parents, as well as her own children and grandchildren. She has been married to her college sweetheart for 35 years and they presently reside in Florida.