Funerals

As I have said in previous posts, Kieron was exceptionally close to my Dad, so when his Grandad died Kieron was devastated. I decided that at less than 4 years old he was too young to go to the funeral. My childminder looked after Kieron then my best friend picked him up and brought him back for 'Grandad's party'. Kieron was loving and concerned throughout and we spoke a lot about his Grandad and I gave Kieron all my Dad's vintage handtools although we agreed that I would look after them until he was older. What I did allow was for Kieron to come on the Dover-Calais ferry with me to throw my Dad's ashes over the side as my Dad was frequently going to France and I knew he wanted his ashes disposed of in this way. I felt that this was a way for Kieron to say Goodbye and he was brilliant. He clutched a single red rose and then threw it in the sea on my command. I also took some of my Dad's first hair cut to Latvia and threw it into a river in Riga as he had been born there. A fact that fascinates Kieron and he is  proud of his mixed heritage.
                 

       
When my mum died, Kieron was even more supportive. A little boy has absolutely no idea of the power he wields when he spontaneously hugs and Kieron did this frequently. Again, I felt that Kieron was too young to go to the funeral as he was only 6 1/2 so he stayed at home with an elderly relative and was present throughout 'Nanny's party'.

Kieron became very aware that he now had no Grandparents as there has been no contact with anyone on his birth father's side since Kieron was 1 year old. We spend many hours talking about Nanny and Grandad, with me telling him anecdotes of how my parents were when I was a child.

I used to hope that I would live to a ripe old age, so that none of my children would still be young and vulnerable when it's my time to go. I didn't like the thought of Kieron as a child going to a funeral.

He did though, didn't he.