When a Parent is Gone. Helping Your Child Feel Safe Through Death, Absence, or Separation - Lily Nixon

How do you explain loss to a child when your own heart is breaking too?

When a parent dies, suddenly disappears from a child's daily life, or was never there, caregivers are often left searching for the "right words." But in moments this painful, finding those words can feel impossible.

When a Parent Is Gone is a compassionate, trauma-informed guide that helps parents and caregivers talk to children about death, absence, grief, and separation in ways that feel emotionally safe, honest, and age-appropriate.

Written by mother and author Lily Nixon after navigating the loss of her son's father, this practical guide combines lived experience with child development research to help families move from confusion and fear toward connection and safety.

Inside this book, you'll discover:

This book is especially helpful for:

You do not need perfect words.

You only need honest, safe, and steady ones.

If you are trying to help a child through one of life's hardest experiences while carrying your own grief at the same time, this guide will help you feel less alone - and help your child feel safe, supported, and deeply loved.