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Step 1
Decide what you will do about the area where your child died. If the incident happened in your backyard pond or pool, make a decision as to whether you're going to keep the pond or pool or remove it from the backyard. Removing the scene of the incident can help tremendously. Many people also find that moving away from the incident scene helps them cope.
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Step 2
Grieve with family and friends for as long as you need to. You may just grieve for the rest of your life, and you need to come to terms with that and be okay with it. Allowing yourself to grieve fully helps you deal with the drowning death.
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Step 3
Place a memorial at the location of the drowning. Create your own personal memorial to the child and place it at the pool or pond where your child passed on.
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Step 4
Put up warning devices and signs at the location of the drowning. If you own the location, buy life jackets and other life-saving devices for your pool or pond in memory of your child. Put up warning signs at the location, notifying others at the area that swimming can be dangerous.
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Step 5
Take your time with coping. There is no set time frame that you need to be dealing with the loss. Let yourself deal with the loss as long as you need to.
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Step 6
Join a support group of parents who lost children to drowning deaths. There are blogs like the one listed in the Resources section that allow you to talk with others who lost children in similar incidents.
