It's true that children died a lot in Medieval Europe, so it might also be true that parents' lives were less permanently ruined by these deaths than many parents in our society. But at least shortly after the death, medieval parents describe themselves as pretty devastated.

For example, Rabbi Eleazar ben Judah of Worms wrote a long dirge when his wife and two daughters were murdered in 1197. He describes feelings of "loneliness and desperation" and describes how his young daughter used to sing little songs and play, and even that she had already begun to learn her prayers.