On 6/23/10, Pepe, passed away from a combo of old age, a failing liver, and a few other health conditions. This was Khai's first experience with death. I didn't break the news to him until the next day- wasn't sure how I would or when, but despite suggestions from others I felt the right thing to do was to tell him honestly. The day she passed, John picked Khai up from school and kept him out for an evening of fun while my mom and I buried her in the yard. When Khai got home he didn't notice she was missing. After school the next day though, I decided then was the time and so I took Khai out to the yard and told him there was something important I wanted to talk to him about. Brought him to her grave and explained she had died. His bottom lip fell out as he asked where she was and why she was gone. He was concerned about her being buried underground - so in my struggle to keep things cool, I told him Pepe was hanging out with Buddha and not feeling sick anymore - of course this then presented a new dilemma in that I had to figure out a way to explain how Pepe could possibly be in the ground AND with Buddha. I'm not sure that I did a good job, but he was ok with it. He pat the ground and said Bye Pepe, I love you and i'll come visit you and bring you treats. Sniff*
Today is the first time I've really looked at these pictures since it happened. Heartbreaking.
He still talks about her quite a bit. He doesn't question that she's gone, he has accepted and understands it in his own way. And importantly, he's extremely sweet to Lily, our other little kitty - gives her tons of love, plays with her and helps her through her loss. RIP Pepe. We love you always.
2 comments:
:-( My deepest sympathies to you both. I dread the time when we have to experience the same. Our cats are 10 & 11 years old, so it's only a matter of time. Sadly, Zach has experienced more than enough death in his young life - from a primary care giver to a great aunt & uncle to the daycare dog. He has become quite fascinated with the concept, constantly asking questions about death, dying, and getting old. In fact, just today he asked, "What will happen if you don't eat...will you die?" Oddly, he never asked about those people, but he's quite fixated on the death of my mother who passed away well before he was born.
I'm crying at your post, and the pics are just so sweet. I'm so sorry Kim :( It really hurts to lose a pet, they are like a family member, especially when you've had them for as long as you can remember. I think you did a great job and agree, I would have told Cooper the truth too. He just saw where my Mom's dog was buried when we went there to visit, so we had a little talk about that. He had only met her a few times though, so I don't think it really hit him what it meant. Love you guys!
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