Over time, the pain, sadness and depression starts to lessen. The final phase of grieving is to let go of the person who has died and move on with your life. This helps any lingering depression to clear, and your sleeping patterns and energy levels return to normal. Contrary to what many people think, children are aware when a loved one dies and they feel that loss in much the same way as adults do. Children go through similar stages of grief, although they may progress through them more quickly.
Some people make the mistake of trying to protect children from the death and grieving process.
Instead, it is better to be honest with children about your own grief, and encourage them to discuss their feelings of pain and distress. The grieving process takes time and should not be hurried. How long it takes depends on you and your situation. In general, though, it takes most people one to two years to recover from a major bereavement. There are many things you can do to help yourself cope during this time.