Terri Irwin thinks daughter is too happy?

The widow of the beloved Crocodile Hunter Steve Irwin, reportedly has a new concern about her young daughter Bindi Sue. According to the Post Chronicle’s Tittle Tattle, Terri is said to be worried that her 8-year-old, who vowed shortly following her father’s death to work in his place, even shooting a widllife TV series, may be too happy so soon after her father’s September death.

Terri has admitted to seeing a pyschologist to help her cope with Steve’s death and asked the therapist whether her two children, Bindi and 2-year-old Bob, should also go to grief counseling.

"I met with a psychologist and that’s been a tremendous help for me. I asked him if everything was OK, because Bindi has been so happy. And he said, ‘Why? Are you worried? That’s what you are shooting for. That’s what you want – a well-adjusted child who can handle a tragedy and see that life goes on.’"

Bob, on the other hand, hasn’t taken well to the absence of his father, "He really has had a much more difficult time and I attribute that to the lack of knowledge about death."

Source: Tittle Tattle

Comments

Jennifer R on November 26th, 2006

That is so sad about little Bob. I hope my children never have to suffer a loss of either myself or their father at a young age. I am happy to hear that Bindi is doing so well. She is one smart, bright girl.

Parv on November 26th, 2006

I understand it…sometimes, children cope with the loss of a loved one by not really thinking about it and being very happy and busy. I’ve seen it happen to my friend, and suddenly, one day, she called for her husband to come down for breakfast and then it hit her. her husband was gone for good. and alot of grief that she had been holding in by being happy just came pouring out.
i mean, this mite not be the case here, but terri is just worried like any mother. with herself and her son finding it hard to cope, it is normal for her to worry about bindi.
god bless them!

Ericka on November 26th, 2006

You know, maybe putting on a brave face is her way of dealing with her fathers death. I know I’ve had to do that for my mom and I cry alone when no ones around. We just lost my sister on the 14th from a car accident and I’m trying to be strong for my mom. I’m sure Bindi has her moments, I know I do. Terri doesn’t know what bindi goes through at night while she’s in bed alone, she may just lay there crying herself to sleep…

it’s so sad…i wish them the best.

sara on November 26th, 2006

That tiny 8 year old is much stronger than I would be if my Dad died…and I’m 22!! What a little cutie!

Lauren on November 26th, 2006

I think Bindi’s at a unique age where she is old enough to understand the severity of her situation but young enough to carry on the way she knows her father would want her to. In other words, she doesn’t have the life experience that might otherwise make the death of her dad even more traumatic for her.
That’s awful about Bob. I watched the movie Ponette not long ago (about how a 4-year-old girl copes with losing her mom in a car crash), and watching this poor little girl call to her mother in the sky and ask, “Are you coming?”, cry “Mommy!” as she digs up dirt on her mother’s grave, and pray to God to help her talk to her mother was heartbreaking. Losing a child may be the worst experience a person can go through, but losing a parent isn’t much easier.

meliciousgirl on November 26th, 2006

I think it’s great she went to a professional to get help as quickly as she did. Plus I wouldn’t be so sure that Bindi does sleep alone – it’s quite possible that she hops into bed with Mum each night (and little Bob too.) I know in times of stress we all crawled back into Mums bed at some point no matter how old we were, and better still we were always welcome.

Sarah L. on November 26th, 2006

I have to agree with Lauren…. I sort of feel like the reality of all this will hit her later on and for now she’s able to carry on in a less emotionally attached manner. I hope they continue to seek therapy and God!

Heavenly_hibiscus on November 27th, 2006

It goes to show what a great parenting team Steve and Terri were/are to have such a well adjusted child. Bindi is a beautiful and very intelligent girl.

Maybe being so close to animals at the zoo that have died have helped her understand a little more about life and death.

Jess on November 27th, 2006

I think some children have different ways to coping with loss. Bindi is probably just trying to be brave for her mum and little brother. Kids are good when things like this happen, they understand whats happening but make the decision that – whoever has died (daddy in this instant) – would prefer them to be happy rather than sad. Poor Bob, I think that he is too young to understand that death means his daddy is never coming back.

Personally I think that Bindi probably grieves for her dad when she is alone. When I lost my great-grandma on christmas day nearly six years ago (I was eight at the time) it hit me hard. I used to cry myself to sleep, and talk to the sky (like I was talking to my great-gran).

My mum was worried because around people I didn’t seem sad, i didn’t talk about my great-grandma either. I wanted to make her happy – keep smiling. Not talking about her death made it easier for me because I wasn’t always thinking about it. The thing that upset me the most was the time it happened and the fact my mum didn’t want to ruin christmas so she didn’t tell me about it until boxing day.

Christmas day will never be the same but I know that my great-grandma died at a time she was happy – she’ll always be there in my mind but just because I don’t talk about her doesn’t mean I don’t still hurt.

I hope that Terri, Bindi and Bob have a lovely christmas – it’s always gunna be hard but you have to think about what Steve would’ve wanted, happiness.

Bindi’s tribute to her father at his memorial service made me cry – she is such a brave and beautiful little girl. That day I’m certain she made her dad, Steve, proud.

I wish Terri, Bindi, Bob and all of their family and friends all the best. xxx

tink1217 on November 27th, 2006

i feel so bad for this family. such young children coping with such a huge loss! This is probably just Bindi’s way of dealing right now. It will probably hit her later on and being in therapy will help tremendously.

Autumn on November 27th, 2006

Yeah I think Bindi’s coping so well currently, mainly because of her age. I remember when my grandmother died the day after Christmas 1985, when I was only 10, for the most part I dealt with it well (although I remember breaking down in the coat area of the funeral home when my mom and her sisters were arguing over what plants to take).

Still though the moments when it really hit me that my grandparents were gone (my grandpa died 3.5 yrs later, and my other grandpa 1.5 yrs after that) and so forth were moments like my High School Graduation in 1994, when I talked with my brothers about grandma and they couldn’t remember her very well, and now when my baby sister got engaged. (My baby sister was born 11 months after grandma died, so they never knew each other.)

Yeah Bindi will have her moments, especially life historic ones like HS & College graduations, the day she gets married, has her first child, etc., when she’ll miss her dad…but that’s to be expected.

Jess on November 27th, 2006

I think something went wrong. The really long post (one before last) was by me (Jess). I take it that the last post was by Heavenly_hibiscus. Thanks.

Jess on November 27th, 2006

Ignore that.

Jacquie on November 27th, 2006

Yeah I completely understand. I lost my dad when I was 11 and my sister was 7 at times my mom was worried about me too. I think my sister handled it better than I did, because she was young enough to bounce back from it and keep busy. I wish them all the best. So sad about Bob. Its tough, but they’ll get through it. We all do.

J.M. on November 27th, 2006

I can sort of understand where Bindi is coming from. My father passed when I was 13 and everyone expected me to cry and grieve but I couldn’t. They thought it was “unheatlhy” I wasn’t letting my emotions out but I was never and still am not an emotional person. I had witnessed so much at a young age that at this point I don’t think I had much left to grieve. I did however hide alot of other kinds of emotions as a kid and it didn’t help as I got older. I think grief counseling wouldn’t hurt but if she’s a well adjusted kid who seems happy why force anything at this time.

Rachel on November 27th, 2006

I think it’s totally understandable for Terri to worry about Bindi… what mother wouldn’t? She would be worrying for her no matter how she were handling the death. Studying to work with families of dying children I’ve come to find that one of the hardest things parents have to deal with is never REALLY knowing how their surviving children feel… it has to be tough not knowing if Bindi’s doing as well on the inside as she seems to be doing outwardly. She is an amazing little girl though and I believe that comes from having parents who have always been there for her and loved her and she has a strong support system there at the australian zoo as well, that has to help. And maybe she really is okay… I remember watching an interview where Terri talked about the last time they saw Steve, he was standing on top of his jeep, arms open waving goodbye at them… Bindi said she was happy because that’s how she’d always remember him, waving goodbye to her. She also said that she’d had dreams of her dad… maybe in some way she’s just finding the closure that she needs through these things.

As for having Bindi and Bob in grief counseling? I honestly think it’s a good idea for anyone who loses someone so close… it can’t hurt.

She’s a wonderful mother though… I don’t think anyone should question why she wonders if her children are okay.

Chicki on November 27th, 2006

Wow, Jess! You sure are very bright and eloquent for a 14 year old!! You made some great points.

Noel on November 27th, 2006

I think that Bindi understands what happened and is copping with the loss of her father the only way she knows how and the only way she feels conected to her father still! This is something the whole family loves to do and she understands that,which is why you as a mom should try to understand as hard as it is.But she’s following in her daddy’s foot steps and I personaly wanna be old and see her on tv. I hope she is as well known to the world like her dad was and grandfather is.I think following in her dads foot steps is the best treatment for her right now,who knows one day she might have a break down but for now just be happy for her. Love a dear fan

halifaxhoney on November 27th, 2006

I think that it’s her age that she is doing well, as she gets older she may grieve differently. Luckily her mother is really involved and I agree with Heavenly, being around animals she has seen death but animals also really help through those times.

My mother died when I was 13. I went to school the next day and tried to make everything seem normal for myself. Some people took that as for not caring, but for me I didn’t (still don’t) have another parent and was living with my grandparents. Losing a parent is hard and it brings up other things like being worried about other people around you dying and I got made fun of for being an orphan. I hope when I have children that they will never have to go through that.

Campbell on November 28th, 2006

This little gal seems to have all the right people in her life paying attention… they are gonna be just fine…. love, love, love THIS family… prayers and best wishes to ALL of the Irwins.

Mary on November 29th, 2006

I lost a daughter just over 2 years ago. My other daughter was 7 at the time, and she stepped into the caretaker role instantly. Trying to make sure I was okay. Bindi is probably trying to do the same for her mom. Kids are amazing. Grief is incredibly difficult and constantly changing. You may laugh about a memory one second and the next be in tears because of that very same memory. I wish only the best for the Irwin family.

Ericka, I am so sorry about your sister. I don’t know you, but I am very sorry for your loss. As well as for everyone here who told their story of losing someone. It’s never easy.

Biilie-Jo and Michelle on December 11th, 2006

steve miss you Terri Bindi and Bob

from Billie-Jo and Michelle

karen on January 10th, 2007

i am a counsellor also. but first of all i am a human being. being the last of 15 children, i have watched both of my parents and all but 2 of my siblings and one son 29 years old pass over. thhis is my take on little BINDI. i cant imagine that she is handling this as well as it sems. for this seemed to be so from the veery first. we must remember that bindi not nly lost her father, shelost her companion of over 5 years, and her best friend, along with her playmate. no one is that happy about that kind of loss. i agree with terri. she needs to geet thhis child into treatment soon. i think in a way , BINDI, being a child cant have the “wisdom” not( knowledge)that only comes with years of living. and i dont really thnk that she is accepting , nor wants to accept the fact that her father is gone foever.it is aalmost like she is performing an act when i watch her. like , i will take over until you get back aand you will be so proud of me. now, i know that they have been excellent parents but, watching an animal die in a zoo or any other way for that matter is a great deal different than your father meeting the same fate. i just appluad you terri for being the great mother that you aree and would encourage you to take bindi to a coounsellor that would make a different remark than the last one did. that one may have been great for you but bindi may need someone different . she is a child. i miss steve so much and i know the sting of death. may god bless you and make his face to shine upon you and your children. karen