Kids and Pets

Chris asked why it seems that kids or pets seem to get sick at night, on weekends or on holidays?  I had no answer but his pondering certainly seemed to ring true in our family.  The boys have just had their first experience with the possibility of losing a pet.  Our lab Willow was quite ill and ended up at the vet over this past Thanksgiving weekend.  There is always the balance of what information to give children versus what they need to know and can comprehend when a traumatic event happens.   In this case Willow didn't look sick, when the boys said good night to her they went to sleep thinking their dog was just a bit under the weather.   When they woke up in the morning though we had to tell them that we had brought her to the vet and even though she looked fairly healthy the vet had said that she would do the best to make sure she was okay but there was a very real possibility that she may not be able to stop the internal bleeding that seemed to be happening.  It was made clear that despite her outward appearance Willow may have changed for the worse very quickly.

The kids were of course surprised and worried but went on with their day as usual.  Or seeminly they went on with their day.  Every so often one would walk up to us and make a comment that seemed to come out of nowhere like "I was upstairs praying and praying that Willow will be okay" or "she is my world I don't want her to die".  And then they would find something to distract them and get about their business.  It was hard on everyone.   Watching them, one would not have noticed immediately the how deeply they were affected by the situation.   On the outside they seemed fine but it was obvious from their comments that even though they went about their day she was often on their minds.  They didn't want to hear from us that all would be fine they just needed to express what had been on their minds.  

They didn't necessarily come to us for their comfort.   It was heartwarming to hear them talk to one another, trying to ease worries and share their fears without an adult in their presence.  Willow is home now and doing much better and hopefully will continue that way.  We are poorer because of the experience on a financial level but richer for the life experience, and very happy to have our Willow here to cuddle.