Introducing Story Time w/Neshia 🧡
One of the joys of my work is getting to support intergenerational families. Even in the midst of death, the rambunctiousness of children and the wisdom of great-grandparents all in one place can bring an immense amount of tenderness to an end-of-life process. Meeting each member of the dying person’s community where they are in their life stage is a welcome challenge.
One of the supports I pull out when young Relatives are involved are children’s books about death and grief. I walk their caregivers through how to use the books as a conversation starter and coach the family on how to experience their particular grieving together. Kids deserve to be a part of a thoughtful end-of-life process. As adults we can can help shape safe, honest and age-appropriate ways for children to participate, learn and mourn.
In Storytime with Neshia, I will be sharing the books I use with A Thoughtful Death clients. This month’s book is “Empty and Me” about a young girl grieving the death of her mother. The book itself doesn’t use a lot of words. However, the beautiful illustrations and gentleness of pacing leave a lot of opportunity for sharing thoughts and questions between grown-ups and children.
Neshia introduces a new feature called “Storytime with Neshia” where she reads a children’s books on death or grief. This month’s book is “Empty and Me” written by Azam Mahdavi, illustrated by Maryam Tahmasebi and translated by Parisa Saranj.
Questions for facilitating your own story time reading of “Empty and Me” with kids:
What or who is Empty?
Why do you think Empty came to the little girl in the book?
Who was able to see Empty? How did they react to Empty?
How do you think the little girl felt throughout the book?
What did you notice about the girl and Empty as the story was told?
Do you think the girl’s dad also had an Empty?
Have you ever had your own Empty?
If someone in your life had an Empty, what could you do or say to help them?
