How do I handle grief when my children are around?

The opportunity for your child to see your authentic emotions and know that it's okay to feel them is so important. To know there's nothing wrong with expressing these emotions no matter how scary they can feel, can sometimes feel incredibly overwhelming. How powerful it is to actually teach our children that this too is part of being human. You are allowed to do this. You can do this and also let them know, "Your mom is okay. Your mom's hurting right now, and your Mom's not going anywhere." 

It may not necessarily feel like that in the moment; it may feel like you're not going to be able to stand and go on, except that you do. So, on the one hand, creating permission to be authentic with your child means you don't need to shield them. BUT, you do need to communicate with them. You need to be able to say out loud, "Daddy's sad. Daddy's hurting". 

The opportunity to allow yourself to heal in the presence of your child, to allow your child to be part of the healing while you stay present with them, this is powerful gift. Giving your child the opportunity to make a difference for you, not because your child needs need to, rather, because your child can. This is an extraordinary gift.