Hard Day

I completely agree with Adia when she told me, "Mommy, today was a hard day" as we were driving home from Gramma and Papa's house. It was probably the hardest day Adia's ever had. Not because she was sleep deprived or cranky or spent a ton of time in timeout because she didn't, but because Adia lost her very first pet. It's hard enough to lose a beloved pet when you're 10, 15, 25, but at only 3 years old it's even worse. It's especially hard being the Mommy that has to explain to her 3 year old that her precious PigPig has died.

PigPig only came home on Thursday. She'd spent the summer away so she wouldn't get too hot and we needed someone to take care of her when we were in California. She looked smaller when we got her back, but she squeaked and seemed very happy to see Adia. We held her. We snuggled her. The twins snuggled her too. But then yesterday I noticed she had a cold and wasn't eating at all. She also hadn't touched her water. I knew that wasn't a good sign. DiDi agreed, but there wasn't anything we could do. I warned Adia that PigPig was sick and sometimes piggies don't get better, but I know she didn't really understand. I know PigPig was alive when I went to bed last night. I think she waited for me to go to bed first.

We were up early this morning. Adia said she was hungry, but when I headed to the kitchen, PigPig didn't greet me. At first I thought she was sleeping. When I touched her and she didn't move, it was pretty obvious. I told Adia that PigPig was dead and of course she didn't quite understand. I called Daddy to tell him, but while I was on the phone, Adia went over and tried to pet PigPig. That was the moment when I think she understood. She immediately started crying. I was holding it together until that point, but seeing her cry was too much. I burst into tears too. Daddy came home, placed PigPig in one of Adia's little shoe boxes and set her outside.

I couldn't bear to let PigPig sit on the porch so we drove to Gramma and Papa's house to bury her. Adia insisted on carrying the box. She picked the place, Gramma dug the hole. They said goodbye to PigPig and Adia chose 2 rocks to make the spot. She chose a spot next to the house and beside a rosebush. PigPig would be happy.

Adia is doing okay with it. She periodically says she misses PigPig. She wants to get another guinea pig. Another brown one and she wants to name it PigPig. I'm sure we will get another one someday, but not until we have our own house.

When we got home tonight, Adia was asleep. DiDi got rid of PigPig's cage, bedding, food and hay. I hope that will make it a little easier on Adia in the morning.





Happier Days