Death

Our last week has been spent in a field study of Christian American customs surrounding death and funerals. My dad, who lived with us, died last week. The funeral service was today. I spent a lot of time the past 2 weeks at the hospital, and the boys came up for a visit the morning that their grandpa died. We have had local family over a lot, many friends have brought food, and out of town relatives stayed with us last night.

When we went to the mortuary for a viewing Sunday, both boys wanted to see Grandpa's body. (I wasn't sure they would since DS2 did not want to see him in the hospital, and DS1 just looked in from the doorway.) DS1 asked where his legs were. (The casket was closed at the foot half.) DS2 opened it to check; I guess he didn't believe me when I told him they were down there in the rest of the box.

DS1 seems to understand in a little more mature way than DS2. DS1 asks about which parts go to heaven and which parts go in the ground, trying to get a grip on what death means for body and spirit. On the way back to the church from the cemetery DS2 said, "I want Grandpa to come back," so at least he understands the part that Grandpa isn't coming home again.

My sister told me that she used an analogy of an empty turtle shell to tell her girls about our dad's body in the casket. It looks mostly like the person, but it's not the same because they are not inside anymore.

I think we will be taking up the many offers from our local homeschooling friends for play dates. Some will be for all of us, and some will be just for the boys since I am executor of my dad's estate and will have some business to do in the next few weeks/months.