Popular TV presenter Mao Kobayashi, who died of cancer at the age of 34 last Thursday, leaves a husband, daughter, 5, and son, 4. How do you explain to children that young about death, and what do you say to them when they ask where mommy is? Have you had this experience, either as a parent or a child?

It is very sad indeed and there is no easy way, but all concerned need to have hope and continue living like the deceased would want them to. I haven't experienced this personally but I have experienced the other side of it. Parents should also not have to bury their children. Life happens.

If my son [early twenties} or my daughter [nineteen] died, I'd keep going for the sake of the other kid. If they both died then I'd be out of here.

And I have a wife; but I'm sure she'd have already shut up shop.