The impact of parenting in the life of a child cannot be overstated. Parents serve as the first foundation on which every child builds a sense of safety, identity, and emotional balance. However, when this foundation collapses as a result of death, a child is left to pick up the pieces and navigate life without parental guidance.
There are challenges that children in this situation often face. Emotionally and behaviorally, a child may show an initial reaction of anger, fear, withdrawal, appetite disturbances, or regression. In the long term, childhood bereavement can increase the risk of mental health issues, substance abuse, and difficulties with academic progress and future employment. Some children may also struggle with their sense of identity after such a loss, especially when the parent played a major role in shaping who they were becoming.
Although death is inevitable, society has a responsibility to help children who experience this kind of loss. These children need love, support, and stability from other family members or caregivers. They should be encouraged to express their feelings openly, even when those feelings show up as aggression or silence. It is also important for family members or older siblings to help them maintain their identity by encouraging conversations about themselves, their parents, and their family history.
There are many people who have faced these challenges and managed to overcome them, just as there are many children who lose their sense of value and interest in life because of them. A powerful example is found in an interview shared by Nollywood actor and producer Daniel Etim-Effiong during a conversation titled “One-on-One with Chude.” He spoke about his struggle growing up as an orphan after his father was killed during a coup and his mother later died in an accident. His story of pain, loss, and survival is heartbreaking, yet he overcame the circumstances that surrounded his childhood. Today, he stands as one of Nollywood’s most sought-after actors, as well as a husband, father, and influential figure.
His experience serves as a reminder that while parental loss can deeply affect a child’s emotional and personal development, the right support can help them rebuild their lives and rise above their circumstances.
#ChildhoodBereavement #SupportForOrphans #ResilienceAndHope
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