Life transitions of parents at the unexpected death of a school-age and older child.

The purpose of this study was to describe parents' responses to the unexpected death of a school-age and older child. The nonrandomized sample consisted of 16 mothers and 11 fathers who each were interviewed at least 1 year after their child's death and who were not in active therapy for grief resolution at the time of their participation. Data were collected in single, tape-recorded, private interviews. Using Life Transition Theory as a framework (Selder [Schmitt], 1982), data were analyzed by systematic analytic induction. Study findings suggest there are no time lines for resolution of grief. Parents experience certain processes that recur over time. Processes identified and described are: presencing (the child), which is a way of experiencing memories of their child; reactivation, which is a process of re-experiencing the trauma of the death; and identification of missed options, which involves identifying those things the parent will never experience with their child, such as graduation, marriage, etc.