Still Here with Me : Teenagers and Children on Losing a Parent

This book is a moving and thoughtful anthology of the experiences of thirty children and teenagers who have lost a parent. In their own words, children and young people of a variety of ages talk openly and honestly about losing their mother or father. They describe feelings of pain, loss and anger, the struggle to cope with the embarrassed reactions and silence of others, and the difficulties involved in rebuilding their lives. They also share happy and loving memories of their parents, and talk about the importance of remembering while learning to accept their parent's death. The accounts cover a variety of circumstances in which a parent died, including death from cancer, heart attack and involvement in an accident. Taboo experiences which are often avoided about are also covered, including death through alcoholism, natural disaster, war, suicide, and domestic violence. The book displays a courageous and insightful group of children and young people who prove that it is possible to talk openly about these subjects without stigma. "Still Here with Me" will be a valuable source of information and comfort to young people who are struggling to cope with the loss of a parent. It will also provide insights into the needs of grieving children for parents, teachers, social workers and other professionals. Winner of the Young Minds Book Prize 2007 This book is a moving and thoughtful anthology of the experiences of thirty-one children and teenagers who have lost a parent. In their own words, children and young people of a variety of ages talk openly and honestly about losing their mother or father. They describe feelings of pain, loss and anger, the struggle to cope with the embarrassed reactions and silence of others, and the difficulties involved in rebuilding their lives. They also share happy and loving memories of their parents, and talk about the importance of remembering while learning to accept their parent's death. The accounts cover a variety of circumstances in which a parent died, including death from cancer, heart attack and involvement in an accident. Taboo experiences which are often avoided are also covered, including death through alcoholism, natural disaster, war, suicide, and domestic violence. The book displays a courageous and insightful group of children and young people who prove that it is possible to talk openly about these subjects without stigma. Still Here with Me will be a valuable source of information and comfort to young people who are struggling to cope with the loss of a parent. It will also provide insights into the needs of grieving children for parents, teachers, social workers and other professionals. Cover......Page 1 Still Here with Me: Teenagers and Children on Losing a Parent......Page 5 Contents......Page 9 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ......Page 11 PREFACE ......Page 13 Rikard, 13 years old ......Page 19 Ida, 18 years old ......Page 27 Kristoffer, 10 years old and Alexander, 8 years old......Page 33 Julia, 13 years old ......Page 37 Sten, 14 years old ......Page 41 Ebba, 13 years old ......Page 51 Armin, 13 years old ......Page 59 Madeleine, 18 years old ......Page 63 Fredrik, 16 years old ......Page 69 Felicia, 9 years old ......Page 73 Pontus, 11 years old ......Page 75 Fanny, 11 years old ......Page 79 Magnus, 17 years old ......Page 81 Caroline, 20 years old ......Page 87 Ismail, 18 years old ......Page 93 Saga, 18 years old ......Page 97 Gustaf, 19 years old ......Page 103 Johanna, 13 years old ......Page 111 Martin, 19 years old ......Page 117 Lina, 11 years old ......Page 123 Wilhelm, 18 years old ......Page 127 Tove, 17 years old ......Page 133 Sammie, 12 years old ......Page 139 Jennifer, 17 years old ......Page 143 Robert, 20 years old ......Page 153 Norah, 10 years old ......Page 161 Kalle, 1 year old ......Page 165 Sara, 20 years old ......Page 171 Marcus, 16 years old ......Page 177 Charlotte, 16 years old ......Page 185

in This Moving Anthology, 31 Young People Tell Their Stories Of Losing A Parent. They Talk Honestly About Their Individual Experiences Of Bereavement; Feelings Of Pain, Guilt And Anger; The Embarrassed Reactions Or Silence Of Others; And The Struggle To Rebuild Their Lives. They Also Share Happy Memories Of Their Parents And Describe The Importance Of Remembering, Proving That It Is Possible To Discuss The Uncomfortable Subject Of Death Without Stigma. Still Here With Me Is A Valuable Source Of Information And Comfort To Young People Who Are Coming To Terms With Their Loss. It Also Provides Insights For Parents, Counsellors, Teachers, Social Workers And Other Professionals Into The Needs Of Grieving Children And How To Respond To Them Sensitively And Appropriately.

'What is exceptional about this book is that it offers the accounts of children and young people themselves about the loss of parents. This is a book which includes deaths due to natural causes, accidents, suicide and murder. It tells important truths in the clear direct voices of those children and young people themselves, aged from one upwards. It is a brave book, full of complexity that, like the children and young people themselves, doesn't duck the painful and difficult issues it explores. It is a book helpfully to be read by adults and children alike. Yet again it confirms that children A collection of stories by young people who have faced the death of a parent. Each child and adolescent creates a picture of their journey through grief with compassion and insight