Like the pain of a bad wound, the effect of a deep shock…
“Like the pain of a bad wound, the effect of a deep shock takes some while to be felt. When a child is told, for the first time in his life, that a person he has known is dead, although he does not disbelieve it, he may well fail to comprehend it and later ask--perhaps more than once--where the dead person is and when he is coming back.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Grief and shock often have delayed emotional impact, especially for children who struggle to understand death.
In simple terms: Shock and grief take time to be felt.
Key Takeaway
Allow time for processing loss.
Themes
grief
childhood
understanding
Mood
sad
reflective
Type
educational
emotional
When to use this quote
- family loss
- school counseling
- therapeutic support
- parental guidance
Key Concepts
psychology
developmental stages
Questions to Reflect On
- How can adults gently explain death to children?
- What signs indicate a child is beginning to process loss?
A Different Perspective
Children may need repeated explanations; immediate comprehension is rare.