Neighbour has died, what to tell ds?

[HappyNewFrannyandZooey]

Our neighbour has died and I don't know how / if to explain it to ds who is 2.9. Ds was not particularly fond of the man (in fact was scared of him), but is friendly with his bereaved wife. The neighbour was fairly ill, getting old etc. so I guess the death is at least simple to explain. What should we say?

[marthamoo]

I would say it in as simple terms as possible. That the neighbour has died - which means we won't see him any more, and that his wife will be very sad and we will have to be specially kind to her. He may need reassurance that he isn't going to die - or that you aren't (I would do the "he was very old and ill and his heart just got very tired and stopped" thing). Alternatively, he may just take it in his stride and thoughts like that not even occur to him. I would let him take the lead - don't pre-empt questions and make it unneccessarily complicated.

HTH.

[Mud]

analogy - put your hand in a glove (ro sock). tell him the hand is what he is, what he feels and thinks, the glvoe is hsi body. sometimes the body gets tired or ill so it gets left behind (take yoru hand out of glove and keep it dancing along) that is what we call death and that is what happended to neightbour -her spirit (hand) is still alive but she has left her body (glrove) behidn. if you belive in reincarnation you can thne talk tout that

[HappyNewFrannyandZooey]

Yes, I am concerned in case he understands all too well and wants to know when we will die, when he will die etc. Also wonder what to say if he asks where Alan is now - I have vague non-Christian beliefs and dp is atheist. If I say his spirit has gone somewhere, I am worried ds will ask where his body is now and what will happen to it.

I think you are right moo, he may just take it very easily. And I like the sock analogy, Mud! Will remember that one.