tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7174077562532445330.post8292777089493016486..comments2023-05-01T11:06:30.428+01:00Comments on Little House: The big questionslittlehousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05378299183889493639noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7174077562532445330.post-75384929492820875272008-01-11T06:42:00.000+00:002008-01-11T06:42:00.000+00:00Interesting ideas. I enjoyed reading your entry- f...Interesting ideas. I enjoyed reading your entry- found your blog on Catherine's comment section. Hope you don't mind me stopping by!<BR/>I am not a child development professional, but I'd love to share my thoughts on this. We do not shield our two-year-old from death. When it comes up in conversation, we discuss it calmly, sensibly and sensitively. There is no fear or horror or sadness involved. <BR/>I've learned that death in the US is different than death in other places where people are more accepting of the human life cycle (unlike here where we use any and all measures to prolong it). Death is just a part of life and while we do not dwell on it (and tend to avoid the topic) we discuss it when it comes up.<BR/>A recent conversation with my daughter went something like this:<BR/>"You may not wrap your jump rope or any other toy or string around your neck."<BR/>"But why? It's just my leash."<BR/>"Because it could really hurt you. It could even kill you. That is why you must never do it." <BR/>"Then I would come back to life." (She knows the account of Jesus, which, I assume is why she said this). <BR/>"No. When people die, they stay dead, so we must be careful with our bodies."<BR/>Nods. "Okay." <BR/>We weren't trying to scare her into obedience and she was completely unfazed. We just gave her an honest answer. We did the same with choking hazards and she never again put objects in her mouth. <BR/>However, we let her watch "Beauty and the Beast" and she was quite disturbed. When I asked why she was so sad, she said (of the bad guy stabbing the beast), "The guy poked the monster with the sharp thing... and he laughed about it." I realized that things like malice, violence, cruelty and other aspects of human nature ARE too harsh for her little heart, so I do shield her from these things for now. (Death? no. Disney movies? Maybe. Heheh). We'll be sticking to Charlie and Lola til she's older. :)<BR/>Anyhow, we do believe in God and Heaven. So, for our family, there is hope after death, though we haven't discussed this with her yet (and won't for some time). For now, we are open about the biological aspects of death.<BR/>As for God and Gord... hilarious!<BR/>Thanks for the mental stimulus. I'd love to hear back from you, even if you vehemently disagree!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7174077562532445330.post-42316977779299016712008-01-09T17:38:00.000+00:002008-01-09T17:38:00.000+00:00For me, shielding my children is my job as a paren...For me, shielding my children is my job as a parent. Its that simple. Except when faced head on. Aidan lost a classmate last year in a fatal pedestrian/car accident. So now he gets it. And seems to understand on a more basic real level than even I do. He's sad that Josh is gone, but not thinking about the BIGGER questions...you know the why him? and life is not fair? type questions. And considering that I refuse to play the Heaven game, I am surprised at how simple his understanding has made it all seem. The shield seems to have worked.<BR/>You are great parents. Keep it up. We are enjoying your blog immensely. It feels good to know that there are parents who are walking down the same path. Shawnaa li'l bit squishyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10552498869881201504noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7174077562532445330.post-25828248530808892042008-01-09T04:49:00.000+00:002008-01-09T04:49:00.000+00:00Well, maybe Gord is God and that's okay too. Howe...Well, maybe Gord is God and that's okay too. However, I see, every day in my practice, the devastating results of not "shielding" children from fear, terror, nasty realities and the hard stuff. Keep it up...the less they suffer, the stronger they will be; I know...not very British sentimentality but there is research behind the statement! HeatherAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com