Wow.

When my daughter woke up this morning, I told her what happened. We presented her with the obit and even gave her a funny little letter "left by Marvin" that suggested we go visit his cousin "Sam" at the local pet shop... just in case he needs a new home.

Heck, she was FINE! She just had a few questions about what happened, and she said she'll set Marvin's picture as the desktop on the computer she uses.

Funny thing: She's a good sport. She was kind when she pointed out Marvin's handwriting looks conspicuously like mine. (I could honestly promise I hadn't written the note, though... My wife did. )

Lammastide said:

That was a great way to handle it.

Your daughter is blessed to have such creative, caring parents and it shows in her poised reaction to the loss.

Lammastide said:

Kids are highly resilient, even the sensitive ones.

Lammastide said:

Your daughter is AWESOME!

Lammastide said:

Besides fish, my kids have only had one pet. Our black lab, Eli.
He is just over one year old and we have had him since he was 6 weeks old. I fear with all my heart the day our little Eli dies. My kids will cry for a week.

anyways, back to you....just remind her how many good times she had with her little hampster and how special he was...good luck!

Lammastide said:

did that many times with my girls fish.

Lammastide said:

Wonderful! Glad it all worked out.

wow!!!!

good job!

Thanks, all.

Lammastide said:

I'm glad it worked out










McAfrica

McAfrica

NastradumasKid said:

That needs to be in someone's sig. Or even better: Someone's org alter ego.

Glad it worked out well for you. I've found that kids are usually pretty good at handling such things. My son is 4 now and he's experienced the loss of a grandparent and several fish!

His granddad died about 18 months ago now and he still remembers and talks about him. Whenever we go somewhere and they have helium balloons, he always wants one, just so that he can let it go, up in the sky to 'wheelchair' granddad, (known as such due to being in a wheelchair for his final months).

Things like this always remind me of my next door neighbour from when I was young. Their pet rabbit died and his mum was worried about telling him, as he was only 6 and loved his rabbit. His mum told him that the rabbit had gone to sleep but didn't wake up and had now gone to play with baby Jesus. To which he replied, "Do you mean he's dead?" and carried on playing with his toys.

I think the main thing is to be sensitive with them, but be straight with them at the same time.

TheEnglishGent said:

Lammastide said:

CUTE i'm glad she took it well.

Lammastide said:

ZombieKitten said:

I know, it always cracks me up.

Lammastide said:

This totally put a smile on my face.

Aww, bless her. Glad it went ok.

That probably worked out better than my Canadian Sleeping Hamster Day plan.



Uhh, next time.

ThreadBare said:

Or I could have told her he was deep in prayer!

Lammastide said:

Or maybe that he was holding his breath for new Lotusflow3r.com content.

And this is why I find coming here at times, so well worth it.

At first I read your post... and was heartbroken to hear, to think that your daugther did not know and you and your wife were in the scheming plans.

What would I say? ...

Then I read on... began to smile, laugh at the the stories that followed...

What to do?

Your letter was brilliant... and 8 years old... hmmm, they are pretty smart at that age. ~Smile.

So are you going to adopt cousin Sam?

Lamma, you and so many here are pretty grand people.

~Hugs. (L)

May I suggest getting a cousin Melva... Hamster Scrotums are not the most pleasant. ~kidding.

wait, I am not kidding

[Edited 7/10/09 16:46pm]

FreeSpirit said:

I'm happy to say that we have, indeed, adopted Sam!

But the hamster nuts are no problem. Turns out its a Samantha rather than a Samuel.