Woman’s Hour on BBC Radio 4 is one of my favourite podcast downloads. Recently I caught part of a discussion about whether children should be allowed to attend funerals. Having not been allowed to attend funerals as a child myself, and having vivid memories of my feelings at the time, it is a subject on which I have quite stong views.
I think it is important to allow children the opportunity to say goodbye and to include them in the grief. It helps to take the mystery and fear away and is comforting and reassuring even if the sadness must be felt. But, interestingly, on the Woman’s Hour show, views were mixed. One man who, as a child, was made to attend his father’s funeral has never quite forgiven his mother for making him go. Other callers had experiences similar to my own. What they all have in common is the vivid recall of how they felt as a child, and even 40 or 50 years later, they still have regrets.
Woman’s Hour is a very good show and well worth checking out on iTunes if you’re passing.
I was dying to hear the Archers but Radio 4 is erratic in this part of the world and I missed the podcast :( sounded like it was quite an episode.
This issue has been given an outing on the Archers within the past couple of weeks as well – much debate over whether Elizabeth Pargeter would allow the twins to attend Nigel’s funeral. I think it depends what sort of funeral – acknowledging loss and grief is one thing,but sometimes as well it’s an opportunity to celebrate someone’s life at the same time, and that’s good. And somehow in a way there is solidarity and strength, knowing that you and everyone else there feels the same.