The Mind of a Child
Yesterday, the moment arrived that I dreaded. Yep, a guppy bit the dust. I was the one who noticed we were one short, and my husband found her body in the plastic plant. 
This is the first time my son ever encountered death at an age where he could understand it. I wasn’t wanting to hold the conversation at all, since he hadn’t noticed the guppy’s absence. But hubby thought we should have a ceremonial flushing.
So, we huddled around the toilet, guppy floating at sea. I explained that the guppy had been sick and that God wanted her to be better. So he took her to heaven with him. His brows furrowed, and he nodded. “Do you want to flush her?” I asked. He bobbed his head and sent her to the Great Aquarium In the Sky.:shark:
At that point, he said, “Will she be with Grammy?” (side note: my mother-in-law passed away when he was two. I didn’t know he remembered). I nodded solemnly. “Yes,” I said. “She’s with Grammy in heaven with the angels.”
At this point, he studied the toilet bowl intently. “Is Grammy in the toilet?” he asked.
I will not laugh. I will not laugh. I will set a good example.
This was one of those moments when I had to bite my tongue. I have a feeling my mother-in-law was smiling somewhere down on him. 
Michelle posted in Writing @ 8:13 pm | Viewed 877 times
kacey Says:
LOL…I think sometimes we try too hard to explain things to them…before they really can grasp the concept. But I love that…is grammy in the toilet!! LOL!!
Amy K. Says:
LMAO! Makes perfect sense.
As you might’ve read on my blog, we’ve been the dead fish route too. It gets much much easier. “Mom, we got another floater!”
Gina Says:
LMAO! That is great. I probably would have bust out laughing if it had been me.
Janice Lynn Says:
Michelle, you might have been able to bite your tongue and not laugh, but I cracked up reading your post. Out of the mouths of babes.
It’s never dull with kiddos around–at least, not at my house.
LauraP Says:
Too funny! You’re a strong woman.
Alyssa Says:
Oh, kids are so funny. Gotta love their logic.
MaryF Says:
Oh, Michelle! What a hoot! What are you going to do with that boy when he grows up?
Mary Says:
Children are so funny. Sorry about the fishy!
Peggy Says:
LOL, too cute, Michelle!
jaq Says:
LOL. Kids are so ‘literal’. gg.
Tori Says:
ROFL!!!!
Rene Says:
That is funny. When my daughter asked where my grandmother was, I told her she’d died. Her first response was, “did she get eaten by a shark?” Why she came up with this, I don’t know. To my surprise, my mom said, “yep, poor old lady couldn’t out-swim the shark.” It was much easier to explain than cancer, strokes, etc. etc. She seemed happy with the shark explanation. The surprising part was that my grandmother’s death was very difficult for my mom and that she could make light of it meant something to both of us. No doubt we will pay for this comment in the next life when my grandmother finds us
Danica Says:
ROFL!!!
Emma Sinclair Says:
Too cute!
Though it’s one of the reasons that I don’t have kids - because I don’t think I’d be able to keep a straight face at something like that.