I would like to ask a question... I know its not my turn, but I was wondering about something.
How do you talk to your kidlets about losing their pets? Especially given how attached we get to our animals.
I recently had to put my very old cat to sleep as he was getting poorly and wasn't happy. I was more fond of him than Damien was, but he was heartsore. This was the first time I had ever had to have a pet put to sleep, and it hurt! I have lost pet rats in the past, and it was heartsore... and Damien has lost rats, mice and a bird... and it was tough to explain it and his tears were heartwrenching!
I do not believe animals go to heaven, but for the life of me I cannot remember what all I told Damien back then. We did have little funerals, and bury them, and so on... but I don't remember much besides that.
And now my youngest cat has been diagnosed with FeLV. Its not a death sentence, but its serious, and my other cat has to be tested too.
Damien being 17, we can have a fairly in depth discussion about the compilcations arising from Taxi's virus, and how to deal with it... and the possibilities of losing one or both of our precious furbabies.
But his being older doesn't mean it hurts any less if something happens to either of our cats.
What do you tell your offspring?
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2 comments:
Ciara lost a pet fish recently.
I just sat her down and told her that Priscilla had died and that it was okay to be sad and cry. Or feel any way she did, as long as she expressed it!
She cried for about 20 minutes, and then felt better.
But it was a fish, and we had only had her for a week.
I am not looking forward to the day when one of the dogs or cat die - she is much more fond of them and really don't know what I'll do.
Honesty with Damien is probably the best way to go . . . but mine is only 7, not 17 :-)
i think it's good that you two talk about the possibilities, if he could be part of making that decision it would be easier on him, whatever happens. Grief is something we all have to learn how to deal with sometime in our life, and i think it's very difficult to "teach" our kids this particular skill. Talk like Kerryn said, communicate and be ready to talk and to comfort him, if he wants it. That's what I would do ;)
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