I first shared this post a couple years ago when it became obvious in our closed bereaved parents groups that many moms and dads were struggling to help their surviving children deal with grief.
One of the hardest things as a parent-any parent-is to have to stand idly by while one or more of your children are suffering.
Child loss is so very often sibling loss too. And the familiar structures kids come to depend on have shifted and sometimes disappeared as parents try to process their own grief.
This post is longer than many and more detailed than most. But I think it’s really important for parents to realize that children’s grief responses vary by age (right now) and change over time (as they get older).
Feel free to skim and only focus on what might be helpful. Skip the rest.
❤ Melanie
Grieving parents often face the additional challenge of trying to help their surviving children process the death of a sibling.
While there are many factors that influence how a particular child understands and works through his or her grief, age at time of bereavement plays a significant role.
Children’s grief can look very different than that of the adults around them. And that grief may resurface later on as the child grows and matures, even long after the death of a loved one.
Read the rest here: Bereaved Parents Month Post: Sibling Grief Reactions By Age Group
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thelifeididntchoose 
Your article and the one you shared did not address how a bereaved mom can help her 3 sons, who are grown men in their 30’s and 40’s, grieve & understand their mother’s mourning for their youngest brother who is 27 Forever and rushed Home to Heaven 3 1/2 years ago!! I have been so hurt, realizing that my grown sons seem to believe that I need to “move on” and stop talking or mourning my Ethan. I wish they’d go to a meeting of bereaved parents and hear others express what I express! It’s like my own sons, Ethan’s big brothers, think I’m crazy. They seem to be telling me how I should grieve and THATS crazy. Heartbroken 💔
Diane
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Diane, If you type in “siblings” in the search box on the blog post you’ll find some other articles I’ve written that might help. My children were in their 20’s when their brother died so most of my sibling articles have been written from the perspective of adult children. I’m so sorry that your sons are making it harder on your heart.
I will try to write something specifically about adult siblings soon. ❤
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