My cousin died when I was eight. This was my first experience of death so my family decided I was too young to deal with it and I wasn’t allowed to the funeral. However, with some persuasion I was allowed to the gathering after. As a young child I feel I dealt with the death better than many of the adults, appearing more interested in receiving piggy back rides from my head teacher and competing with my brother at how much trifle we could eat. I think there is an honesty and acceptance in children often not found in adults, as they have yet to be socialised in the ‘appropriate’ responses to death
