Today our dog Sprocket died. He was only 7 months old. He lost his appetite over the weekend and this morning he didn't look so good, so we took him to the vet first thing, and while they were getting an IV drip ready for him, he died. We didn't opt for the doggie autopsy so we don't know what actually killed him, only that it was sudden and unexpected.Telling the kids after school was the hard part. It brought back memories of having to tell them Great Grandpa Williams died six months ago. Just last month, Emma's best friend at school moved away... another loss (Emma wrote a heart-wrenching poem about it). And we still have our days where we feel the sting of moving half a world away and leaving all things familiar behind - friends, family, culture. Just when we start to heal, another loss occurs. It sometimes feels like having a scab that someone keeps picking open.
The mother hen in me wants to protect my children from loss, but that's not possible or realistic. The best thing I can do is teach them how to deal with loss - how to grieve and how (and when) to move on - whether it's the loss of a country, a great-grandpa, a friend or a seven-month-old puppy.
2 comments:
Sis,
I am SO sorry to hear about Sprocket. I will be praying for you all as you work through loss and grief, because I know how easily one more loss can open up previous ones.
Love,
Rosie
Sproket was so much a part of the family, chewing clothes, jumping on kids, lying in the sandpit, lying in Graham's arms. Pets are family and friends too, its so hard to just loose them. I am so sorry for your family's loss. Love Jane
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