How do your kiddos deal with the loss of a pet?
We just had to say goodbye to “Chloe” today. She was 14 and pretty sick and there wasn’t anything the veterinarians could do.
The kids did pretty well, considering.
I gave Jonny a day’s notice that Chloe was pretty sick and that we might not get to be with her much longer.
He was sad at first, but then he realized she would get to be reunited with her friend Captain, who was killed by raccoons a few years back.
He had plenty of questions… (How did she get sick? What are they going to do? Where does she go? Will she come back with us?)
I did my best to explain it to him. Both boys came with us when we said our final goodbyes.
I was more worried about how Jonah would do. I have never taken him with me to the Vet. It reminds him too much of the doctor’s office.
At first, he refused to come into the room. But when ‘brother’ went in first, he followed along.
We were in the room a good 20 minutes before the doctor came to see us. Almost 30 minutes before I took the boys home.
In all that time, Jonah did just fine. I gave him my phone to play with for a bit as there was nothing for him to play with in the room.
Jonny said his goodbyes about a hundred times before we finally left. Jonah smiled at Chloe and even repeated “Bye bye, Chloe” before we went home. He did really well you guys.
“Can we get some Dairy Queen since I was a big brave boy?”
Of course, Jonny milked the experience for all it is worth. And Dairy Queen sounded good to me.
It was an eventful day.
Rest in peace, Chloe. Now you are finally somewhere the boys and the kitten can’t get you.
Say “hi” to Captain for us.