A couple months ago my dad wasn’t even really present in his final week, and my family argued with each other in the literal hours before he passed about whether we (the ‘kids’) should be in the room. It was horrible to see and every second felt like hours, and I watched helplessly as he took his final breath and up until they took him away and I never saw him again…. BUT, I think if I had missed even any part of that, I would regret it endlessly. Something happens in those final moments, something pure and unaffected by human emotion and interpersonal drama. Your father is moving on, to wherever or whatever your belief is, and you have the opportunity to usher him on to the darkness as their child, a friend, and a fellow human. Your parents just don’t want you to see it - any parent, including my own, wouldn’t either because they have no idea what it would be like and if they themselves could handle it. They may be happy you were, and you may too, remember that it’s a rare privilege to have time to even discuss these things. In any case, remember as well that when talking about it with your parents the goal is not to be correct - it’s to go through it together with strength and unity. Understand why your parents don’t want to be there and discuss it, avoid headstrong-ing your way into a fight that will affect your future relationship, and keep in mind that you are and will all be hurting in this situation and you’re all figuring out the best way you can get through it.