When someone dies, the impact of their life and death is felt by everyone around them. Children feel that impact just as deeply as adults do. Knowing that grief can be an isolating experience, it is our hope that when you read When the Tears Come together with your child it will be one way for you and your child to feel less alone. Reading books about death, dying, and grief with your child is a way to communicate safety, trust, and permission to talk about hard things. It can help you and your child process the difficult emotions that come along with grief, provide a bonding experience with a trusted adult, and ultimately help children feel understood as they recognize themselves in the story. When the Tears Come chronicles the grief journey of Master Peter after the death of his Father. Children are fully capable of navigating the grief experience when they have communication and support from trusted caregivers, friends, and family. Talking about death with your child, and specifically the death of someone they know, will take more than one conversation. In fact, your child will have a lifetime of conversations and experiences as they learn over time how to understand, process, and express their grief.
This book was written in partnership with Peter's Place, a nonprofit organization whose mission is to provide safe and supportive environments for grieving children and families and to foster and understanding of the effects of death and grief. Peter's Place was founded in 2001 in memory of Peter Morsbach. After Peter's sudden death at the age of ten, his family and friends became aware that there were few support options for grieving families, especially for those who could not afford it. "Friends of the Morsbach family created Peter's Place, the first family grief support agency of its kind to serve the greater Philadelphia area. Originally designed after a nationally recognized program, Peter's Place has since combined awareness of local community needs, professional experience, and extensive best practices research to produce a unique grieving center that is not replicated anywhere. May you find comfort, hope, and healing along your journey."
