Explaining death to children.

[Intimae_Hasta]

I have just read an article in my local paper regarding a young father who kept himself ultra fit, but died following a visit to the gym. In the article, it goes on to explain how the mother found it very difficult to tell her children. Up to now, we have a very sad, tragic event that has devastated a family. I have empathy in bucket loads for them, but when it goes on to say that she told the children "Daddy has gone to Heaven to live with the angels", I have a problem. This is just an example story, but every similar one you read involves patronising children and comforting them with fairy tales so they grow up with a warped view of what I call the cycle of life. I honestly believe we should be bringing up children to know about birth, life and death. The sudden loss of a 31 year old father, hitherto fit and healthy, is going to generate far more questions than answers when it is considered from the god, heaven and angels point of view. When these kids ask, "why my daddy?" no doubt the answer will be "god has his reasons". Yeah, right.