Choosing The Right Funeral Home

How To Handle The Writing On A Child's Headstone

6 October 2016

Derek Murphy

It's probably fair to say that no loss feels greater to a parent than the loss of a child, and having to face the reality of choosing text for a child's headstone may be extremely difficult to address. However, these kinds of decisions will often need to be made in a short amount of time in the aftermath of a young person's passing. Here's how to best handle this difficult task in a way that honors your own feelings and the life of the child.

Consider the Child's Favorite Things

When composing the writing for a child's headstone, deeply consider what the child loved the most. Try to mention or pay tribute to their favorite things on the headstone. For example, if they idolized a certain singer or had a favorite song, include brief lyrics that they loved that are also appropriate for the situation. If a child loved a sport, you may be able to get an icon to symbolize the sport on the headstone. A favorite Bible verse may also be included. You may even list favorite hobbies like dancing or singing in the car on road trips.

Include Nicknames

One way that adults help kids feel special is giving them nicknames, and including the nickname on a headstone for a child can be a great way to honor something important to them. You may want to put the nickname directly underneath the child's full given name or place it as part of a short sentence about why the nickname was given to the child. If the child had multiple nicknames from different family members, try to include them all or at least fit in all the significant ones.

Keep the Prose Focused on Reality, Not What Could Have Been

When faced with the death of a child who had their entire life ahead of them, it can be tempting to dwell on the "what ifs" and imagine who the child would have been if allowed to become a teen and then an adult. When it comes to the writing on a headstone, though, it's important to focus on who the child was at the time of their death.

Finally, keep in mind that there are no hard and fast rules for what you must put on a child's headstone. Keep the needs of your family in mind when deciding what to write on the headstone and how to present the child's life in the cemetery. Choosing words for the headstone that ultimately provide comfort to others while honoring the deceased child is the best thing you can do for everyone. For assistance, talk to a professional like McGee Monuments.

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