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Talking through the big questions

Sweet Boy and I were riding in the car last week with both cats wailing in the back seat. We were on our way to the animal shelter for annual shots, when the discussion turned to the cat we had put to sleep before SB was born. "Simon the Cat is dead now?" Sweet Boy asked. "Yes, baby, he's dead now, but he had a good life."

And I'm sure you can see where the conversation went from here:
SB: Mommy, are you going to die someday?
[Oh. Lord. Help me. This is the conversation I've been dreading since I found out I was pregnant 5+ years ago! Take a breath, Mom, you can handle this...]
Me: Yes, honey, I'll die someday. But not until I'm much older and you're much older and we have a very long happy life together.
[Whew. Maybe that's enough...please let's talk about all the animals we'll see today...]
SB: OK. When you're old? Really old, like Great Gramma?
Me: Yes, honey, really old. Probably even older than Great Gramma.
[Which is an all-out lie. I am all too aware that even parents die too soon, but of course I can't say that to this sweet child who is working it all through right now.]
SB: Is Great Gramma gonna die?
Me: Someday, yes. Everyone dies someday. It's a part of life. Remember that movie The Lion King, when they talked about the circle of life?
[Because all of life's major lessons can be learned from Disney movies, right?]
SB: Oh. OK. So will I die too someday?
[Oh crap. Don't go there!]

Me: Yes, honey. We all will die someday. But not for a long, long, long, long time. I promise. Please don't worry. What kinds of animals do you think we'll see today? Do you think they'll have any guinea pigs at the shelter this time?
[Divert! Divert!]

SB: Hmph. I don't want to die, Mommy. That sounds sad. But will I go to heaven?Me: Yes, sweetie, you will go to heaven. And I believe heaven is a wonderful place where you have everything you ever dreamed of.
SB: Will my Jodi Bear be there too?
Me: Yes. And you can eat whatever you want for dinner every day!
SB: Will God be there?
[Oh my goodness. This is what I get for taking him to Sunday school, isn't it?]
Me: Yes, babe, God will be there. Remember, you're a child of God? He'll be thrilled to see you in heaven.
SB: And because God makes everything, he can remake me when I get to heaven, right?
[Wow. Now we're getting into some Eastern philosophies, aren't we? OK, go with it, Mom.]
Me: That's a nice idea, isn't it? You can get remade in heaven.
SB: Yeah. That would be cool. I can come back then and be your little boy again.
And this is the moment I had to pull over to take a breath and get myself together.
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Comments

  1. paddyandhenrysmomOctober 27, 2009 at 1:38 PM

    More than one reason I should not surf the Web while at work: Sobbing at my desk.

    ReplyDelete
  2. RoOctober 28, 2009 at 1:38 PM

    Ha! He's having the same conversations with you that I have with myself every day. Get used to it, mama.

    And don't worry, I'll cover the Eastern spirituality topics later on when it's time for him to get good and confused.

    Speaking of, have you ever read Siddhartha? Just finished it yesterday, and I've decided it should be mandatory reading for everyone. Including you. Especially you.

    ReplyDelete
  3. KayleeOctober 30, 2009 at 10:21 AM

    I had a similar conversation with the twins a few weeks ago. My mom told me -- with the girls in the room -- that my grandmother wanted everyone to think about what we wanted to do before we die and come prepared to discuss at Thanksgiving.

    Allison promptly turned to me with, "You're going to die???" The rest of the evening was spent fending off questions about exactly when I, Jason, and everyone else they love will die.

    Thanks a lot, Mom.

    ReplyDelete
  4. ClaraOctober 30, 2009 at 2:38 PM

    Tall Girl, your blogs are great. I also saw your comment on Peg Tyre's site. Do check out this site: www.mothersofbadboys.com.

    I'm the editor and would be happy to give your blogs more exposure.

    editor@mothersofbadboys.com

    ReplyDelete

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