Scene: Sunny Sunday afternoon in Cape Town, driving past a very large graveyard in the Southern Suburbs.
Offspring: Mommy what’s that? (pointing at graveyard)
Me: That’s a graveyard dear, you see all those pieces of stone, those are gravestones.
Offspring: What’s a graveyard?
Me: It’s where the dead people are. When you die, that’s where you go.
Offspring: But where are they?
Me: Under the ground.
Offspring: (short pause to think) But mom, when you’re dead, doesn’t the sand go into your eyes?
Me: No dear, your eyes are closed and you’re having a very long sleep.
Offspring: (another longer pause to think) So, when you’re dead, is it forever?
Me: Yes. Death is forever (briefly considered going into long explanations about the soul and eternal life but decided not worth it whilst driving, so shelved for another day).
Offspring: So if I die, I will be under the sand, sleeping forever?
Me: Yes.
I sincerely hope I haven’t scarred my child for life! I subsequently tried to bring up the soul / eternal life discussion a day later but she was having none of it. She stuck to her guns about sand in eyes and death being forever.
I think you handled it pretty well.
ReplyDeleteKids never ask those things when you're able to give them good answers, do they? She'll bring up the subject again -- when you're either (a) falling asleep at 11 p.m., or (b) late for an important appointment.
ReplyDeleteUnless, of course, you get distracted by her again while driving and crash into a container of acid, in which case you'll just be vapourised.
ReplyDeleteThe water table near that cemetery is close to the surface- so the graves get soggy- and nearby houses drill into the water table to water their gardens...
We have some lovely flowers near us...
ha ha ha. You are not well,. yay
ReplyDelete