use strict;
my $pid = fork();
if (!$pid) {
  print "I am the child process\n";
  system "emacs"; # this is just an example I am not really launching emacs
  print "Child process should end now\n";
  exit 0;
}
else {
  print "I am the parent of $pid\n";
  while (kill 0,$pid) {
    print "My child is still alive\n";
    sleep(3); # wait a little bit
  }
  print "Parent process done\n";
}
__OUTPUT__
$ perl script.pl
I am the child process
I am the parent of 1324
My child is still alive
My child is still alive
My child is still alive
Child process should end now
My child is still alive
My child is still alive
etc.