On Dying
I've covered the question "if you don't have a penis, what do you have?" by buying a book. I've gotten away with explaining my rodent phobia by saying we can each have one thing to be afraid of. I think Harry's is worms. Tonight, I got to tackle the topic of death, even though it is not something I am myself comfortable with.
After years of childhood development classes, religious studies and even a death education class in college, I pretty much covered everythinbg this article recommended. Whew!
Harry almost had me in tears (okay, he DID have me in tears a little) when he asked what happens when you die (you get recycled just like those glass bottles on Mr. Rogers!). What do you say when you don't know what the answer is? All I could say was that everyone and everything dies. Different people believe different things. There's reincarnation...he wanted to know when I get to be little again. In a hundred years (?). Some people believe in heaven...physically or spiritually...when people die they die...it's not a video game you can re-set. (I don't want him to go Columbine on us). Most people don't die until they are very old. Like a hundred. Had to explain how old that is. Is Daddy old? I don't want Daddy to die. When old people die are they alone? You want to live a good life so that when you die you are ready, and you're not alone. Sometimes people die in accidents, that's why we wear seatbelts and bike helmets. It's important to eat right and sleep and exercise so we do't wear out our bodies.
Apparently Harry's "friend" Mater has died, as well as his little sister and his mommy and daddy. When you die your arms are cut off. Where did you hear that?! No, you keep your arms. I'm sad because I don't remember him. It's okay to forget a little. When you are ready the memories of things you've done together and things you've learned from him will return to you.
His eyes were so big as he layed with his head on his pillow, fighting sleep. He was so mature, yet so innocent. So wise. It's hard to leave him without answers. With just some tools. What will he do with them? Hopefully grow up to be secure and grounded and unafraid.
After years of childhood development classes, religious studies and even a death education class in college, I pretty much covered everythinbg this article recommended. Whew!
Harry almost had me in tears (okay, he DID have me in tears a little) when he asked what happens when you die (you get recycled just like those glass bottles on Mr. Rogers!). What do you say when you don't know what the answer is? All I could say was that everyone and everything dies. Different people believe different things. There's reincarnation...he wanted to know when I get to be little again. In a hundred years (?). Some people believe in heaven...physically or spiritually...when people die they die...it's not a video game you can re-set. (I don't want him to go Columbine on us). Most people don't die until they are very old. Like a hundred. Had to explain how old that is. Is Daddy old? I don't want Daddy to die. When old people die are they alone? You want to live a good life so that when you die you are ready, and you're not alone. Sometimes people die in accidents, that's why we wear seatbelts and bike helmets. It's important to eat right and sleep and exercise so we do't wear out our bodies.
Apparently Harry's "friend" Mater has died, as well as his little sister and his mommy and daddy. When you die your arms are cut off. Where did you hear that?! No, you keep your arms. I'm sad because I don't remember him. It's okay to forget a little. When you are ready the memories of things you've done together and things you've learned from him will return to you.
His eyes were so big as he layed with his head on his pillow, fighting sleep. He was so mature, yet so innocent. So wise. It's hard to leave him without answers. With just some tools. What will he do with them? Hopefully grow up to be secure and grounded and unafraid.
posted by Kimberly at
7/03/2008 11:17:00 PM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home