[tri-wings] Re: How do you tell people?

Sheila,
I went through a similar situation when I was pregnent with Leslie. I was 
teaching a CCD class. They were 6th graders and my Dad was teaching 7th 
grade. I had told my students in September that I was pregnant. Then when I 
had Leslie in November, Dad told his students and when I eventually went 
back to teaching I told mine that she was sick and I explained to them what 
Trisomy was, I even took pictures of her to show them. I had gotten parental 
permission first since she was stillborn. When the director found out that I 
had talked to my class about Leslie, she was furious, saying that their 
parents should have been the ones to discuss death not me. I quit teaching 
after that. I had parental permission. My belief is that death is a part of 
life. If I hadn't told them, could they have trusted me? Would they think 
that I had lied to them? I think that 8th graders could understand and also 
be supportive. I have leaned through experience that children of any age 
react better to the truth then if they feel they are being mislead. Just my 
opinion.

Stacey
Mommy to an Angel
^i^ Leslie Serina ^i^
Trisomy 9  11-20-96
http://www.geocities.com/staceyfolkner/LeslieSerina.html
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Sheila Helleson" <hellesos@xxxxxx>
  There was more
> support from them then the teaching staff.  I have never felt
> uncomfortable talking about Hope with my students.  Or my dad, who
> also died 2 years earlier.  This is part of life.  I feel that the
> more we talk about it, the more comfortable we become.  And kids
> will, too.
>


                  Building ___ooOOoo__ Rainbows
                       www.trisomyonline.org
                  Families Helping Families On-line

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