Parenting Preschoolers (3-5) Support Group

lots of talking - its important to be honest and its also i good time to share your beliefs on death. my 7 year old still remembers the death of 2 of her cats and 2 of her great grandmothers. it is apart of like and with the good comes bad - so just lots and lots of talking - i sugguest while drawing pictures - its helps them open up.

Wouldn't it be jsut so easy to go and buy another bunny that looks the same!!!!!! I remember ALL my child hood trauma's with pets as much as I wish I didn't have to have some of them I definately learned from them. Life is never easy and I guess it's part of life to feel loss. I have no ral words of wisdom except she's gonna need a shoulder to cry on and maybe after a week or so she can get a new bunny. My parents last cat pssed away about 6months ago or so and they said no more animals because it was just too hard when tehy pass. I don't agree with that think of all the joy they bring while they are with us and death is just a part of life. I keep telling them someday i'm just going to show up at their doorstep with a kitten they just can't refuse! LOL

Jersey I sure did think about going and getting a replacement. But i didn't I told her the truth she wanted to see the body she said so she can wake him up:( IDK I guess we are all doing ok. He overnight he was just doing so bad. He was so young. Almost 3 months old.

My now 4 year old daughter still talks about my parents cat Tigger. My step mothers grandmother just passed away last week so I was explaining to my daughter about how Grammie is upset and sad right now because her Grammie just died. She asked if she went to heaven and I told her yes then she said with a smile on her face "I miss tiggy I wish I could climb up to heaven and get him" They are at such a young age it's hard for them to comprehend the reality of it. Not sure if you personally believe in heaven but maybe telling her that her rabbit went to heaven might help her feel better. Maybe her thinking he is somewhere else happy might help. I have to admit there is no worse feeling than seeing your child in emotional pain. For me it's gut wrenching.

Yes I told her that he is with grandma and grandpa and they are taking good care of him and pinky. That was the hamster. I wish I had showed her his body in a way so she could have closure. But he has been outside in the box for a day now and I'm scared to go get it and open it up. She seems to be doing ok. She just sometimes blurts out his name. Then says mommy I miss him. It's not the same here with out him.

When my friend's five year old lost her guinnea pig it was very traumatic, and we did a really nice funeral service, decorating a box, digging a hole, making a stonehead and inviting a few people over and all of us said a few words.

It all went really well and yes she cried, but yes...she got over it pretty quick and felt okay about the whole thing soon after.

Good luck, I think it's most important that you stay calm, nice and matter of fact about the whole thing...that's how I'd try to handle it anyway.