Most children ponder what life would be like without their parents. They imagine how wonderful and fun a life full of jokes and no rules would be. Not even having to go to school if you didn't want to. Except that's not how life works. When a parent dies and reality kicks in, it quickly shows us that life isn't all fun and games. The death of a parent is a devastating reality for any child to face. This sudden reality can have lasting effects as each child has their own unique way of perceiving life events. In the blink of an eye your world could be completely turned upside down. This type of tragedy has the ability to shape a child in both negative and positive ways. Now they are faced with the task of overcoming grief, dealing with change and are forced to face an unknown future. There are two ways a child can lose their parents. Death can be natural and instantaneous or prolonged and prolonged due to illness or other medical problems. Unfortunately, cancer or other medical problems are very common causes of children losing their parents. When a parent has cancer it can be very difficult for the child. After years of long trips to the hospital and countless hours in the waiting room, a child may become confused, angry, or upset when his or her parents aren't getting better. In this situation it is important for the child to be aware of what is happening to his parents. It is essential to provide children with information relating to their understanding, for example: treatments are not working as well as they used to, this may mean that mum or dad will not get better. The child may notice that his parent is no longer as active. Providing a strong support system can help your child deal with feelings of: false hope, heartbreak,… half of paper… foster growth in new ways, and while the scars of death may leave their mark, they do not define the future. Works CitedChild's Bureau. “How Parental Substance Use Disorders Affect Children.” Information portal on children's well-being. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2009. Web. April 15, 2014. Gravelle, Karen, and Charles Haskins. Teenagers face to face with grief. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: J. Messenger, 1989. Print.Perry, Bruce D. “Death and Loss: Helping Children Manage Their Grief.” School News April 2005: 3. Web. March 24, 2014. Simon Leslie and Jan Johnson. A music I no longer heard: the premature death of a parent. New York, NY: Simon & Schuster, 1998. Print.Tesoriero, Heather W. “Brothers Raising Brothers.” Time May 14, 2001: 1. Web. March 26, 2014.Zaslow, Jeffery. "Families with a missing piece." Wallstreet Journal March 30, 2014: 1. Web. March 30. 2014.