Thursday, October 27, 2011

Dead People

I hesitated about what to title this blog. Up on that cold white line those two words could sound pretty disrespectful. But in the end there really wasn't anything else I could call this blog so just bear with me.

It's been awhile since I blogged about my girls' exploits. Possibly because life has been pretty normal - and by normal I mean hectic. But Baby Girl did something the other day that made me spew water across my steering wheel while simultaneously questioning my skills as a parent. And so I thought I probably needed to share the experience.

The other day we were driving through town on our way to yet another appointment on our never ending schedule when from the back seat I hear, "dead people!" in this bright little voice. I have to say it shocked me. Especially since the car had been relatively quiet and it came out of nowhere. I could not figure out what the heck she was talking about. I looked around for a hearse, but there wasn't one. And then I saw the small cemetery we'd just passed. Not one of the big ones, but the kind that's probably no longer used - a little shaded and dark with crumbling headstones. And realized she was talking about the graves.

I have no idea where it came from, but have since discovered she does it every time we pass a cemetery. What gets me is that she says it with such...enthusiasm. It made me wonder if she realized what those headstones really meant. The only funeral she's ever attended was my uncle's and she was 9 months old at the time. I started to admonish her for being disrespectful, but then I remembered holding my breath every time we drove by a cemetery when I was a child. And when we went past a monument store and she did it again I realized she really didn't understand.

And I suppose that's not a bad thing. It means she hasn't been touched by loss yet. And while I know it's inevitable at some point in her life, I sorta hope both of my girls can put off that life lesson as long as possible. And until then I guess I'll be hearing, "dead people!" from the back seat every time we pass a headstone.

Instigator

6 comments:

Playground Monitor said...

Hmmmmm.

pjk said...

Cute story! Thanks for sharing.

At least she isn't saying "I see dead people" in a creepy monotone voice.
Then I'd worry!

catslady said...

lol that was my first thought too.

Problem Child said...

It's always disconcerting to hear morbid/taboo/creepy topics in those little chirping voices...

Kira Sinclair - AKA Instigator said...

Yeah, I suppose I shouldn't be entirely shocked considering SP has told me for years she's going to grow up to be a sniper. I think it's entirely possible, too.

Insti

Angel said...

I agree with pjk -- she could be creepy instead, then you'd really have something to worry about. :)

Kids come up with the craziest things! I love some of the conversations I have with mine. They'll say something that makes perfect sense to them and I just laugh. They don't see what's so funny.