How do children really grieve—and why do we so often miss it? On this deeply moving episode of M.E.S.H., Dr. Pamela Brewer welcomes Kelly Edmondson, a nurse executive, certified grief counselor, and founder of Timely Presence, an organization she created after the sudden loss of her 28-year-old son. 💛 With extraordinary openness, Kelly shares her own story and then turns toward the children in our lives, helping us understand that just because kids grieve differently doesn't mean they grieve less. From the danger of well-meaning phrases like "grandpa went to sleep," to the compounded grief of a child who lost a parent they never knew, to the very real heartbreak of a lost toy or a missed team, Kelly offers compassionate, practical wisdom. Her "three R's"—regulate, respond, remain—give parents and caregivers a gentle framework for showing up. This is a tender, hopeful conversation about helping children feel seen, heard, and safe, and about how loss can reshape us without defining us.
🌟 Topics Covered:
How children grieve differently than adults—but no less deeply
Why clarity matters more than protective euphemisms
Magical thinking and the literal minds of young children
Compounded grief and losing a parent never known
Honoring loss when the other parent is absent or estranged
Treating a child's lost toy or missed team as real grief
The "three R's" of guiding any loss: regulate, respond, remain
Modeling healthy emotion instead of emotional perfection
Key Takeaways:
Children grieve fully, even when their grief looks like play and joy.
Clear, honest language protects children more than softening euphemisms.
A child's "small" loss is real loss—your job is to help them feel seen, heard, and safe.
Regulate yourself, respond to their need, and remain present over time.
It's healthy to let children see you grieve, within steady, supportive limits.
Loss reshapes us, but with care and connection, it doesn't have to define us.
Learn more about our guest:
Organization: Timely Presence — sends meaningful gifts on emotionally charged days like birthdays, holidays, and anniversaries
Website: thetimelypresence.com
Instagram & Facebook: Timely Presence
LinkedIn: Kelly Edmondson
KEY WORDS
#ChildhoodGrief #GriefSupport #Parenting #Loss #Healing #MentalHealth #ChildrenAndGrief #EmotionalHealth #MESHPodcast #PamelaBrewer #KellyEdmondson #Mourning