Grandmama on a swing

Image by Frank Kehren via FlickrWhen I was a child, the first traumatic loss I remember having was when my grandmother passed away. The world was almost surreal as I saw adults sobbing, and in utter despair, adults that I never saw crying, were crying. At her wake I remember gazing down on this person that was supposed to be my grandmother, and feeling like this person could not have been my grandmother. You sense the soul is departed, even as a child...I knew my grandmother was not lying in that coffin. However, I also remember being struck at how much my grandmother would have hated being stared at that way. She was an extremely modest woman, and even at my young age, I knew she would not have liked to have a wake or open casket.


I remember feeling so much guilt about how rotten I was toward her when she came to stay with us. The guilt I felt I carried for many a year thereafter. My grandmother was an unworldly person, by that I mean, she was someone that never gave in to the weaknesses of man. She never spoke ill of anyone, and that is a rare trait to see. She was a dignified, humble, modest and loving person, that did not show you love through words but through deed. A rock in my mothers life as well.

After she passed, I remember taking a walk with my friend in my neighborhood, when I happen to glance over at a glider type swing in someone's yard, and there  she was, lying in one of her outfits, (grand mama was a sharp dresser and even made her own clothes). She was lying in this swing, resting peacefully. Her distinctive white hair, white blouse, and blue vest and slacks, even her white pumps...were all confirmation this was her. The truest validation was that my friend, who knew my grandmama and saw her on occasion, also confirmed it was her. I don't think I ever told my mother about this sighting..but more importantly I received what I believe was the underlying message, grandmama was at peace, and I guess this is what I wanted to know.

For years I had recurring dreams of going to their house for Sunday dinner, and all was as it was before she passed. In my dream I was a child relieved. Grandmama was still here, she did not die, and then the crushing disappointment when I'd awaken..I feel when our loved ones pass on, they do things to reassure us, they can and do visit us in our dreams. My grandmother probably knew of my immense guilt, and probably brought reassurance through my dreams, and the sighting of her on a neighbors swing was just to let me know, that she was at peace and by her being at peace I could be at peace too.

Things your child knows from beyond

Image via Wikipedia
There are a number of research and studies, and reports of children having the ability to accurately describe a family member they have never seen. There are many theories as to why your child may be able to specifically detail a deceased loved one.

Many psychics will suggest that most all children have this ability. Why?
Other than a person on a death bed, a child is actually the closest person you will ever meet from "the other side". Recently entering life, their spirit still retains memory from the other realm. Family members on the other side often are with the spirits that chose their parents prior to being born. The child while very young still retains this dream like pre-birth encounter. Some children dream of these deceased family members, as many family members choose dreams to interact with living loved ones.

Your child may have specific detailed dreams of someone that has passed away even 20 years or more before their birth. If you suspect your child may being doing this, press the child for as much detail as possible, and find ways to validate the details as well. You would do well to also document any such occurrences as they fade as the child ages. It is also important that you do not foster a false memory either. Be careful that you do not over tax your child, as they will try to produce more than the truth just to please you. This phenomenon is a prevalent gift seen in many children, however, many times it fades with age as parents brush it off or do not take the time to help the child understand what happened to them. The distance time provides along with the distractions of life often pull the child further away from this ability.

Children born today are already old souls according to many. They have lived many lives prior to choosing you as a parent. As such you will notice that your child will seem, even in infancy far wiser than you, yourself were. With each life lived, knowledge is acquired by the soul. While we may have no consciousness of this knowledge it is stored safe inside the soul. As man evolves with each generation, he is born holding more natural "soul" knowledge than he had in prior lifetimes. It is not important that you remember or have the ability to tap into what you have learned and experienced in past lives. It is important that your soul does. The soul keeps returning to gain more experience and life lessons that were not acquired before. This is why your child picked you. So the next time your child says they didn't ask to be born, you can tell them, "oh yes you did..".