If you use any of these pictures without my consent, I will hunt you down and cut you. Got it? Contact me as necessary.

Wednesday, October 12, 2005

 

Sean had called home to warn me about the dead fawn so I'd be prepared when Sophie saw it during our morning commute. Sure enough.

"What's that?" she asked, turning her head to look at the crumpled body as we drove past it.

"A baby deer got hit by a car, honey," I said gently. There was no doubt that it was dead: our very efficient local buzzards had already starting working away on the poor thing.

"Can we stop and help him?"

"Ohhhh, noooo, it's beyond help now."

"But can't we just tiptoe back and help him?" she implored me, with a quiver creeping into her voice.

"Soph, the deer is already dead. It can't be helped now. It's not just sleeping, it won't get better..." How do you explain the permanency of death to a two-year-old who believes in reawakening, a la Disney's Sleeping Beauty?

She was silent for a few seconds. As we turned the corner out of our development, Sophie - with the sweetly simple trust that only a very young child has - whispered, "His mommy will help him. Then he will be better."

That happened a few days ago. It still breaks my heart.

# posted by Amanda at 9:23 PM | 6 comments

Comments:
Awww, because that's what mommies do. We make it all better. So sweet.
# posted by Blogger Traci : Thursday, October 13, 2005 7:41:00 AM
 
It's so difficult to explain what death is to people who are so young. One of my younger cousins asked me about her dead pet once, and I said it was like sleep, but for ever and ever. Her only concern after that was that her cat was having nice dreams.
# posted by Blogger schmutzie : Thursday, October 13, 2005 11:19:00 AM
 
What's she going to do when she finds out about Danny's hobby...Luckily you didn't just happen to drop by weekend before last. Now, THAT would have been interesting...

Sue Bee
# posted by Anonymous Anonymous : Thursday, October 13, 2005 3:33:00 PM
 
That's harsh. I don't look forward to having to do the same.
# posted by Blogger Rude Cactus : Thursday, October 13, 2005 7:37:00 PM
 
Oh, this just made me want to weep.
# posted by Anonymous mizavery : Thursday, October 13, 2005 11:01:00 PM
 
I found your blog completely randomly while I was playing a fowarded bullitin game on myspace. I had to go to google and type in my name and the word needs and see what came up. My name is amanda so I went to google and searched for "Amanda needs" and your site was the first result. The results people are getting are pretty funny. Anyway...I clicked the link out of curiosity and started reading. This entry made me cry, and I am not a crier. She must be the sweetest little girl in the world. Give her an extra hug. Oh yea and she looked adorable in the cheerleader costume!
# posted by Anonymous Amanda : Thursday, November 03, 2005 4:26:00 AM
 
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