Every day, the morning slides have a background for any national day it might be (thanks nationaldaycalendar.com). Today, however, I put a background on for Dia de los Para los Mascotas (Day of the Dead for lost pets).
As I stepped back into the classroom from the hallway (where I was greeting the students), I noticed one particular student crying. I was super worried because this little girl is THE SWEETEST young lady and it was only 7:30 am. When I asked her if she was okay, she informed me that her parents had told her the night before that they were going to have to put their beloved dog, Penny, to sleep on Wednesday. Penny has been around longer than this young student. Penny welcomed her home from the hospital when the student was born, and this dog has been the only one she's known.
I did the only thing I could think of for this student and the following conversation was had:
Me: Oh sweetheart, I am so sorry to hear that.
Her: Yeah, I saw the background for today's slide and it made me sad.
Me: I completely understand. So tell me a little bit about your dog. (She tells me her name is Penny, she's 14, she's a mutt but super smart). While she was doing this, I was trying to think of something to say that might help her and I came up with, "You know. the camino de pétalos (or pathway of petals) is very similar to the Rainbow Bridge you mentioned. So, all of the pets who have traveled on that pathway of petals to come and visit their loved ones, will travel back. I bet you they'll travel with Penny on her Rainbow Bridge so that she'll safely make it."
Her: Do you think so?
Me: I know so. Tell you what, when you get sad and miss Penny, can you come and tell me one happy or funny memory you have of her? That helps me sometimes when I miss my loved ones who have passed away. (I then told her of Maggie, our Rhodesian Ridgeback who never wanted to be left alone when the kids would ride their bikes, so she'd jump the fence and chase after them. I usually ended up taking her for a walk as the kids rode their bikes so she could go along.)
So, tonight, I have lit a candle and put out a bowl of water. So Penny won't be alone when she travels on her own Rainbow Bridge tomorrow.
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