Defining the family after the death of a child

We conducted 14 interviews representing 9 families and 10 child deaths to examine a dilemma common to bereaved parents-the definition of the family after the death of a child. Although the deceased child continued to be defined as a member of the family to the parents, the degree to which this definition of the family was presented to outsiders varied. The work of Boss (psychological presence/physical absence and boundary ambiguity) and Goffman front-stage performance / backstage reality) facilitates an understanding of this dilemma. Implications for grief counseling are discussed.