Well, Goldie the goldfish died. I noticed she was not right yesterday and mentioned to Abby that I thought she was dying. Abby is 5 now but we had a cat that died when she was three and she still talks about it. She didn't quite get it then but it made an impression on her. Well the lip immediately popped out and the tears started. I talked to her about goldfish having short lives and she had a good life. I work nights and last night my husband calls to tell me that she started asking all these questions about death before she went to bed. She wanted to know if the dog would die, if the trees would die, and if people die. Well this morning Goldie had died. I didn't flush her before Abby got home from school because I knew she would be really upset about not getting to be the one to flush her. When she gets off the bus, she seems upset and I asked her what was wrong. She says "I don't want to die". I tell her that's not something she needs to worry about and that she has a long life to live. So after lunch we got Goldie out and she wanted to look at her for a minute. We then go to the bathroom and put her in the toilet. Abby flushes and then says "bye Goldie" as she completely falls apart and starts sobbing. She was breaking my heart. She starts crying about not wanting to die and not wanting Goldie to be dead. She says she doesn't want me or daddy to die. I could hear my husband sniffing from crying in the other room. I'm still holding it together until she says in between sobs...."When I die, sniff sniff, on my last day, sniff sniff, will you make it the best day ever?" She then sobs into my shoulder and asks me if she will live to her next birthday. I tell her she's got lots and lots of birthdays left to have and that I don't want her to worry about dying. It's time to check out some library books.
My sweet baby is starting to lose some of her innocence. I just want to put her in a bubble and protect her from being hurt.
The Roomie
1 day ago
5 comments:
Awe...I hate losing a fish.
condolences .
Fish are tough ones. I cannot fix fish like I can the cat and other animals. There is no vet for the fish and they usually die a slow icky death (and so do hamsters). My only consolation with fish is that the Aquarium can't fix fish either. Find a story or two on the internet about that--it might help her to understand that sick fish are very difficult to help. I think the Brookfield Zoo in Chicago just lost a dolphin. Maybe a little service and burial rather than the harsh "flushing". You are doing the best thing by allowing her to have pets and to discover death and loss by losing them. It will help for human deaths she will undoubtedly experience in her life. She is young yet--just reassure her constantly. Good luck!
aw aw this post brought tears to my eyes. How sad the goldie died. But i hope ur baby girl is over the grief now.
I dropped EC.
Arlene
awe. {{HUGS}}
how sad. the poor kid, it really stinks when a pet dies. we actually have a fish cemetary in our yard under the tree. The boys like to bury them, so we put on a funeral. Its hard when they stat to realize that death is possible for all. they get so scared.
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