This post was co-authored by Kaitlin Lord and Jessica L. Borelli

As the wildfires continue to rage across Los Angeles County from Palisades to Eaton, parents both directly and indirectly impacted by the tragedy face the difficult task of discussing the natural disaster with their children. Processing and accepting the devastation of a disaster of such scale is challenging enough for parents to manage themselves, let alone explaining the fires to a child. However, during such times, it’s essential that parents make the time to have these tough conversations. Little eyes and ears are watching the older and wiser people around them for cues on how to feel in this situation, and they need parents to step in and help them make sense of it all. Fortunately, experts have identified ways to make approaching these discussions a bit easier for both parents and children alike (find Dr. Borelli's audiobook on the matter here).

For the thousands of families in Southern California who are currently under evacuation warnings, or have fled or lost their homes, as well as for families across the country who are watching in horror from afar, conversations about the fires are unavoidable. These conversations are uniquely challenging for parents directly impacted by the fires, because they not only involve managing their own stress and emotions, but also the responsibility of helping their children deal with the emotional burden of potentially losing their homes, schools, community centers, and religious worship sites. Before having this conversation, parents must first steady........

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