normal for

[ttowboat]

Is it normal for 3 year old to block out mothers natural death

[mammo]

A 3 year old has no way of comprehending death. Hopefully he won't have to deal with it until he is plenty old enough to understand it all.  He will notice this parent is gone, but won't understand "why."  The best thing for this child is lots of love and attention.  If he starts to ask questions, you may want to ask a psychologist how best to explain to one so young about their parent.  It's sad that he's lost a parent.  Take care.

[allmymarbles]

I once read a wonderful book called "A High Wind in Jamaica." It dealt with three (or four) children who were sent to England by ship without their parents. During the course of the voyage one of the children died. The only one who felt grief was the oldest girl (I think she was 12). The others,who were much younger, just accepted that he was no longer there.

I had occasion to travel to California to stay with my in-laws for three weeks. My husband was not with us. With me were my two children. One was almost three and the other was one and a half. When my husband finally joined us they were both surprised, although the elder seemed annoyed.

When dealing with children we have to creep into their lives to understand them. They do not see things as we do.

[AnnieBrooke]

If it was not in view of the child, it probably is.  3 is pretty young ... my earliest memories barely go back that far, and even those are very random.  I would certainly not try to urge a 3-year-old child to actively grieve his mother if he lost her and does not seem to be reacting.  It might be the natural way for kids that age to react.