for our next American Girl.Kirsten and her family immigrate from Sweden to America in the 1850's. Their journey is long and difficult as they make their way to settle in Minnesota. While I don't remember all of the details of this book from when I was a little girl, I did remember that Kirsten's friend dies on the ship. Unfortunately I forgot to fill Ryan in on that aspect of the plot.
To bribe Ellie for not being able to go out with Auntie and me one night, we promised her Ryan would read an extra chapter in Meet Kirsten
that night. Upon arriving home, a traumatized Ryan began telling us how Kirsten's friend died on the ship from cholera and how he didn't want Ellie to have nightmares so he skipped a lot of the chapter.The next night Ellie was getting ready for bed and filling me in on what I had missed the night before.
"Kirsten's friend died of cholera, Mama."
"I know, Ellie. I remember from when Mama and Auntie read that book when we were little girls."
"It was very sad. So is that why I get vacc-sceneries? So I won't get cholera?"
"Vaccines. Yes, that is why we get vaccines. To stay healthy."
"OK. I really don't want to get cholera. I don't want to get old either. You die from old."
After reassuring her that she was very young and didn't have to worry about getting old for a long, long time, we finished the book that night. Kirsten's family reached Uncle Olav's farm and they settled into a happy life together.
Of all parenting topics, death is by far the most difficult. Death is part of life. It's in just about every Disney movie from Bambi to Cinderella but that doesn't seem to make it any easier. We could have skipped that section all together but should we have?
Do you shy away from the topic or confront it head on?
it depends...on the topic and my state of mind when the question is asked. sometimes i just tell hannah that we will talk about it later....especially when it's something i have to google ;) she's been very interested in the topic of death (several of her dolls have tragically died lately of some malady or another) and so far that's been our hardest question.
ReplyDeleteDeath is a tough topic! I have a hard time explaining it to my children!
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I try to her the truth....but sometimes not 100%. she doesn't need all the details! But she has mentioned the word die lately. not sure why!
ReplyDeleteI've tackled death, but only because I had to. Sometimes, the situations present themselves and are unavoidable.
ReplyDeleteThe upside to this? You can tell her it's good to get shots so she avoids disease!
When our fish "Blue" died i steered away from the topic telling her that he "missed his family and went to go live with his fish friends". It worked cause she was only 2 1/2. Now at 3 1/2 she knows that things die (from shows and conversations) and is very calm about it. I think it depends on age and temperament.
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