How to Cope After an Unthinkable Tragedy In the wake of the insurmountable events of last Friday, we as parents are overcome with sadness for the families that lost loved ones, and taking pause to appreciate and give thanks for our own children. There are multiple layers of coping to deal with in the days, weeks, and months following such an event — both for ourselves and our kids. Here, a few things to keep in mind when handling a tragedy as a parent.