We lost a guinea pig.
It was hard. It was hard to see such raw emotion in my children. I was unprepared for what I felt as well. Watching the children grieve this little animal…the things they said…the things they wanted to do in memory of this creature…felt so familiar.
At first, it bothered me that they were grieving this pet the way I grieved my daughter, but then I realized they had cared for Aztec the way I cared for Emmy. Aztec depended on them. They felt like they had maybe done something wrong or could have done something different. They wanted to keep Aztec’s body forever. They didn’t want to leave Aztec here if we ever moved. They wanted a lock of hair and some pictures.
I let them grieve. I grieved with them. We talked and talked and talked. My 11 year old immediately went to his Bible to find solace. When it came time to decorate a box to put Aztec in, he chose Ecclesiates 3:2 to put on the side of the box. We all contributed to the decorating of the box. Then Daddy and Blake dug a hole, Megan gently placed the box in the hole and all the children helped fill the hole back in.
As I watched them fill the hole, I felt a terror race through my body. I forced myself to stand there and be strong for the children as tears streamed down my face. I kept seeing my own grief. I kept seeing my own pain. What I was feeling had very little to do with poor little Aztec.
My children have never lost a pet, and had this pet died several years ago, it probably wouldn’t have held quite the amount of sorrow it held for all of us. I probably would have made some flippant comment about the pig kicking the bucket rather than realizing how painful this truly was for my children. I would have just found some old box, scooped the guinea pig up and buried it wherever I felt was a convenient spot. I never would have left the cage for my son to put away in his own time and I would have probably expected my children to just “get over it” in a neat and tidy time frame.
Instead I am compassionate and much more patient with the healing process.
(((Hugs))) to the kids and (((HUGS))) to you too Amy! You are a wonderful Mommy to recognise what the children needed and to help them come to terms with saying goodbye in thier own way. We lost a bunny this summer and it had a similar senario in our home.
I never thought I’d cry over a guinea pig – but you made me do it. Actually I didn’t cry for the guinea pig, I cried for you guys. You were just telling me how much you all loved them. You know what, God knows what he’s doing and perhaps this was an opportunity to be strengthened even more. But… I am sorry.
You’re right, once you’ve lost a child your heart is so much more tender. Many things bring back the pain of the loss. I relived my pain when Emily died. It’s just how it is. BUT, God’s peace is always there and you’ll feel stronger with time.
Give the kids a hug for me.
Love,
Lynnette
Oh My heart goes out to them….and you!
(((HUGS))))
It is so hard to loose a pet!
Blessings,
Georgiann
I’m sorry! I know how it feels to loose a pet. My kitten died a couple months ago. Hugs to all the kids.
oooh, I’m so sorry guys.
Sorry that you kids lost your loving pet and sorry that you Amy had to revisit all those old feelings that are all too familiar to you. 
(((Hugs)))
((((hugs))))
My heart goes out to you all!
I’m so sorry for your losses! **HUGS** to you and the littles! I don’t want to talk about my losses because I don’t know if it would seem like I’m trying to invalidate your pain, which is the farthest thing from my heart to do! So I will just say that I’m crying for your family and sending you hugs across the miles!
That was 2 Corinthians 1: 3-5. Sorry!
“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God. For just as the sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives, so also through Christ our comfort overflows.”