Sunday, May 15, 2011

Dead People aren't Magicians

May has been a strange month - I've had a few funerals that I attended. Both I will post a link if you are curious about people that have had an effect on my life -

Matty~
http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/deseretnews/obituary.aspx?n=matthew-foger&pid=150632316&fhid=4563

Grandpa "Hap"~
http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/deseretnews/obituary.aspx?n=earl-holmstead&pid=150959590

...but enough about that, I wanted to tell you some funny things that come from kids trying to understand death.

Jules- my 4 yr old tough as nail princess - who we call Miss Bossy Pants, attended the viewing of Grandpa "Hap", my husband's grandfather.

I was delicate, because I wasn't sure she would handle it. When I took her to my own grandma's funeral, she was barely three and kept trying to wake her up.

Here are some conversations:

Dad: Does it look like he is sleeping.

Jules: (Matter of fact) No. It looks like he's dead.

She was very curious about the casket and said.

Jules: Are the pillows so he can sleep better?

Only half of the casket was open and she couldn't see his feet, this was a big concern to her.

Jules: Mom? His he a magician?

Me: A magician?

Jules: Yes, he looks like they cut him in half.

Me: (snicker) No honey, his legs are there.

Jules: Are they in the drawer?

Me: What drawer?

Jules moves to the handle on the front and tries to move it.

Me: Sweetie, that's not a drawer. That's so people can lift him up and carry him to the car.

Jules: But when it tips over we can see his legs. Then will he stand up?

Me: Honey, it's not going to tip over.

Jules: It might tip over if the drawer comes out.

At this point I gave up and just agreed with her.

The next day when we went to the family viewing before the funeral my husband took her back over there to see his body.

Dad: What do you think?

Jules: Nope, he's still dead.

Mia - my 7 yr old wanted nothing to do with it. She just said "Funerals are Boring," and complained the entire time. I happened to mention that my grandpa died when I was 7. I said, "Think about if he were your own Grandpa and if he died."

....Wrong thing to say. She burst into tears, but was good the rest of the time.

3 comments:

Kesia said...

Oh!!! I miss Mia! Your sweet girls make me laugh so hard! LOL

JoshuaPMestroni said...

Man this post made my day. It's funny how as you grow up you filter so much, it makes it impossible in these situations to know what to say.

I think we could all do with a little of Jules in these horrible times.

Sue Johnson said...

Oh, those adorable, sweet girls - each one so completely opposite of the other. How I love them!