The Circle of Life

[AWvsCBsteeeerike3]

'Zeus Jr. is really into dinosaurs, which has spilled over into a love of nature and plants and animals. We get tons of books from the library about ocean creatures and bugs and turtles and biology stuff. A lot of it is over his head still (4 years old) but he gets so much, and it's really rewarding to see his enthusiasm and knowledge on display.

But today, at his nature and science camp, his class was on a nature walk in the woods. And he made the unfortunate discovery of a dead baby coyote. It was already well into decomposition, smelled bad, and was covered in flies. He's pretty shake up now about death. As he said, "I've only ever seen dead bugs before." I think it's really bothering him to see something he loves - an animal - in that state.

We're doing our best to talk about the circle of life, and how animals die but it's ok. He's also starting to understand that we're going to die, too. He asked me what will happen when I die, and I didn't have an awesome answer.

One of our dogs died about a month ago. Mrs. AW told little AW that the dog died when he asked. He just goes...oh, so he won't be around anymore because someone ran him over with their car? And you're sad, mommy? And, the other dog is sad too? *shrugs* Okay, I'm going to play soccer. Don't...quite...think...he...understands yet which I'm fine with.

[heyzeus]

I honestly can't remember when I fist learned of mortality. Don't sweat it, zeus, I'm sure he'll forget all about it and become a well adjusted member of society like his uncle lipp.

I love his bow tie dinosaur t-shirt in the other thread btw.

Thanks man - he seems better today. We talked about it last night, and I think he'd already forgotten.

Dude has a dino shirt for every day of the week at this point. He's a bit obsessed. He can tell you the differences between an archeopteryx and a micropachycephalasaurus.

[Freed Roger]

He's likely to forget about dinosaurs soon too - but only after you have amassed copious supply of dino toys, books, puzzles, bedsheets etc.

[thrill]

I was like that and now I'm cool as [expletive], so things are looking good for Zeus Jr.

[heyzeus]

He's also obsessed with They Might Be Giants, which is cool and all if you're 4, because probably by the time he's 8 I can get him into Pixies, Big Star, Velvet Underground, Husker Du, et al.

[Leroy]

Tell him he can always lop his head off and have it frozen and then come back to life someday when we figure this stuff out.

[wart57]

Poopy is really big in to dinosaurs too - I have to call her Poopydactyl.

We had to make dino eggs for her goody bags at her last birthday.



And here was he cake - made by my Sister-in-law.

[Arthur Dent]

I'm visiting my folks this week in Oregon and was driving back from the coast yesterday late afternoon. Three cars in front of me I saw a small animal bounding out into the highway. First car slams right into it going under the wheel. Next two cars brake, and I think managed to avoid further mangling. When we drove by, we realized it was a daschund still wearing his little harness just completed eviserated.

This small creature joyfully bounding forward and then, Bam, horribly slaughtered. Just really upsetting.

[wart57]

I'm visiting my folks this week in Oregon and was driving back from the coast yesterday late afternoon. Three cars in front of me I saw a small animal bounding out into the highway. First car slams right into it going under the wheel. Next two cars brake, and I think managed to avoid further mangling. When we drove by, we realized it was a daschund still wearing his little harness just completed eviserated.

This small creature joyfully bounding forward and then, Bam, horribly slaughtered. Just really upsetting.

[The Third Man]

He's also obsessed with They Might Be Giants, which is cool and all if you're 4, because probably by the time he's 8 I can get him into Pixies, Big Star, Velvet Underground, Husker Du, et al.

You're well on your way, my friend.