Each child grieves the death of a significant person in his or her own way. Reactions can vary according to age, ability to understand death, and personality, and children in the same family may react differently. Any death can be difficult for a child, and a wide range of emotional and behavioral responses are common including changes in sleeping pattern or appetite; sad, angry, or anxious feelings; social isolation; persistent thoughts about the death; or feeling the person's presence nearby. Children's difficulties with grief vary according to a child's age, developmental level, previous life experiences, emotional health before the death, and family and social environment.
The boy, Nicolas, has been attached to his sister and never left her side. He wouldn't sleep, eat or talk when she wasn't there. Since he was still very young it was hard for him to understand why it happened and why the doctors couldn't help his parents.
While the boy relied on his older sister, the teenager had no one to rely on. She felt like her grandpa blamed her for the car accident a little bit. He hadn't said it in exactly those words but he would do things like make comments about how her parents were out shopping for her birthday and if they hadn't done that then they wouldn't have died. He also just lets the little boy really griefs his parents death while he keeps telling the teenage girl that she can't show anyone that she is crying because she needs to be strong for her brother.
Her grandfather is also very clear on that he do not want the kids to stay at his house and while the grandmother is completely okay with it, she does not go against her husbands wishes.
This has all come down to that they need the kids to stay somewhere else. Their Nonna was very demanding about them needing to stay at a family who is at least a little bit Italian so they would still have their culture and traditions and of course, the language.
"Bambina, you understand that you can come visit us whenever you want, sí?" Their Nonna asked the teenager.
"Sí, I understand but I don't get why I just can't stay here" The girl frowned, now closing her packed backpack with her clothes in it.
"You know how Lorenzo, your grandfather is, I would love for you and your brother to stay here but I don't believe that it would be the best decision for you" The older woman explained, pulling her granddaughter in for a hug.
"Are we leaving today?" Ryan asked her, feeling a lump form in her throat.
"Sí, the car is waiting for you, your little brother is downstairs waiting, don't forget to say goodbye to your grandpa" she reminded her.
"I will miss you" the girl said, giving her one last hug before taking her backpack with her downstairs and putting her shoes on.
"Goodbye" The girl gave her grandfather a wave before she took her little brothers hand in hers and they made their way to the car, putting their bags in the trunk and then buckling in.
"Seattle?" The taxi driver asked them.
"Yes" the girl nodded.
"Sissy? Where are we going to live?" Nicolas asked his older sister, holding on to his little comfort dinosaur that he named Dino.
"Uhm its a house with other kids who don't have- who don't.... It will be our place where we sleep and eat" the girl explained.
She couldn't say the words, if she said the words that her parents weren't alive anymore than it would be the truth. And she didn't want that truth, she just wanted her mamma and pappa back.
And even the thought of calling this group home their home made her feel sick and she got this weird feeling in her chest that made her want to cry.
Because that wasn't her home.
