Hi Donna57
Don’t hesitate to tell them. Children are a lot stronger than people give them credit for.
I have 2 reasons in why I’m telling you that it’s okay to tell them.
The first is is that my sister had breast cancer from the age of 36. Her & her husband didn’t tell their kids. She lasted for 11 years before her organs shut down, but the single message I got from her children is that they wished she talked to them about it. It actually drove one of her kids to alcohol. Thankfully he is much better these days. She had 5 children.
The second reason is that we have 3 grandchildren ages 4 - 7. They all know that I am dying. My daughter told them as soon as they were old enough to understand. As long as you’re open & honest with them, talk about it whenever they want, & do it in a way they will understand, then I think they will be fine.
We we were around their place having lunch one day. It was a fabulous roast lamb. Unfortunately, I vomited not long after. Apparently, our eldest grandchild, was 6 at the time, thought about it a lot. At bed time, she asked her Mum a few questions about me, & was told that I’d be cremated. She got all worried about Grandpa then, that he’d hurt his back putting Grandma in the oven 😁. So then our daughter explained the details of cremation, & she was fine after that.
As I said, children are resilient far beyond what we know, & they have their own way of coping. The more info the better, as long as they understand it when it’s given.
All the best
Budgie
ps. Sorry about the long reply.
