I grew up in a big European family and knew death early on. My parents believed in taking us kids to the funerals and talking about death like we talked about the living. I remember at 5 years old, my sister and I standing by my grandfather's coffin, daring each other to touch him...not in a bad way, just a curious, child-like way. My grandmother took our hand and rubbed grandpa's cheek with it, and told us not to be afraid. It was a huge lesson and one I have kept with me my entire life.

I'm sorry that you missed out on those lessons because it may have made your ordeal with your mother a little bit easier to handle or even just a little bit less frightening.