Mom fights back tears as 3-year-old son comforts grieving older brother missing 'nana': 'Broke my heart'

We're often told that we need to be strong for children, especially when dealing with grief and loss. While that holds true, children possess their own unique understanding and strength, which often surfaces as they perceive a need. A mom named Nickie Hendry (@nickiehendryx) revealed that she and her sons were having a difficult time coping with the passing of her mother. Her 11-year-old son, Mason, broke down one day while recalling his nana, and to everyone's surprise, 3-year-old Owen stepped in to comfort and embrace his older brother. His strength and love when Mason needed it made Hendry and others emotional.

The woman revealed to Newsweek that her mother passed away unexpectedly. The trio had quite a strong relationship with the late woman and her death had a profound impact on them. Hendry added that Mason, in particular, had a “special bond” with his nana and her loss was exceptionally hard for the boy. “I lived closest to my mum so that played a part in their bond as we were there pretty much every day,” she explained. She added that as a single parent, it was her mum who joined her to help and parent Mason. “Mason has autism so often it was myself and my mum going to all of his appointments together,” she added. 

The mom mentioned that Mason's nana was like a parent to him. 'He'd look up at the moon and say goodnight to his nana religiously every day for the first six months or so,' she recalled. But grief takes time, and the boy found it hard to cope. He broke down one of the days and it was his 3-year-old sibling who helped him through it. Mason was sitting on his bed, sobbing inconsolably when Owen approached and held him. He put his hand around him and waited. Mason said, “I miss Nana.” “You miss Nana?” the toddler thoughtfully asked. 

“Look at me,” he added, after gently lifting the boy’s chin up. “Cuddle?” he asked his big brother ever so compassionately. Mason nodded and the duo exchanged a comforting, supportive and tight embrace for a few seconds. Hendry was present with the two boys and was able to capture what took place. She recalled feeling a “lump in my throat” as she controlled herself from crying after seeing her son’s heartbreak. "I held back before comforting Mason as I wanted to see what Owen would do. The hardest part of grieving as a mum is not being able to take your child's grief away,” she wrote in the caption.

The mom commended Owen and said, “He doesn't understand the concept of grief and he was only six months old when my mum died so he doesn't remember her. I felt so proud that he could show compassion like that at such a young age.” Many people were grateful that the boy had a shoulder to lean on and that Owen had learned empathy. @realhillbillygaming wrote, “That’s what brothers are for. He’s the sweetest little brother anyone could have.” @andy_b515 said, “So bittersweet but this baby has more empathy than so many adults.” 

You can follow Nickie Hendry (@nickiehendryx) on TikTok for more content on parenting.