Cristiano Ronaldo + Georgina Rodriguez
Expert explains how parents can cope with such a great loss
It’s a tough time for Cristiano Ronaldo and Georgina Rodriguez.
Cristiano Ronaldo and Georgina Rodriguez mourn the loss of their son. How can parents deal with such a stroke of fate – and when can they be ready for it?
Georgina Rodriguez and Cristiano Ronaldo are deeply saddened by the death of one of their twin children. Her son died after birth, but the twin girls are doing well, the footballer himself writes on Instagram. What can help grieving parents process the death of their own child? And is that even possible?
How can parents deal with the death of their child?
In the early phase after the death of the child, processing the pain is not even to be thought of, explains Kathrin Schreier, Managing Director of the Federal Association “Orphaned Parents and Grieving Siblings in Germany eV” (VEID) in an interview with RTL. The VEID supports grieving families and loved ones after the death of a child, regardless of the age at which they died.
First it’s about saying goodbye. Photos of the deceased child can also help. “The family is in a good position if they can now experience this very consciously. If they get the opportunity to have the baby with them again and get to know them as well as possible in this way,” says Schreier.
After death, mourning must be allowed
After the farewell, loving rituals can help to allow and process the grief, says family counselor Ruth Marquardt. For example, writing letters to the child or listening to a special song that you associate with him or her. It can also help some parents to create a symbolic memory that accompanies them in everyday life – for example in the form of a tree that you plant in the garden. This can always give grieving parents the opportunity to talk about their child and to integrate the grief into their everyday lives, says Marquardt.
In the video you can see why the psychologist Dr. Dirk Baumeier is convinced that Cristiano Ronaldo and Georgina Rodriguez in particular can be strong enough to cope with the death of their son – not only as a family, but also as a couple.