Peace Like a River - Chicken Heaven

2006-Aug-27

Chicken Heaven

Honestly, I was not prepared to have to explain what happened to the departed chicken. The kids spent the night at Grandma & Grandpa's last night and went to the fair today, so they had a busy 24 hours. I was hoping that after the day's adventure, no one would notice the missing chicken, but after about about an hour of playing outside tonight, just as we were about to go in, Brannan noticed that we were short a chicken. I realize that since I had nearly an entire day from the time I discovered her until the kids came home, I should have thought about the possibility that they might actually notice. After all, 3 & 4 years old are awfully observant, sometimes too much, to the embarassment of their parents. Anyway, he completely caught me off guard and I told him that she was sick and went to chicken heaven. Which led to a long discussion... including bringing up a recent squirrel incident involving a squirrel that had apparently been hit by a car. It looked like its back end was paralyzed, but it was near a berry bush, so the kids assumed that it was sick because it ate "bad berries". Somehow I managed to avoid the inevitable discussion, but Brannan remembered it and wondered what happened to the squirrel too. So.... I'm still not sure I said the right thing. I kind of wish I'd said that she was just gone or ran away, but that's not the truth, and while they don't necessarily need to know the entire truth at preschool age, I don't want to outright lie to them either. But on the other hand, chicken heaven isn't really the truth either. So, I'm still not sure I said the right thing, but he seems to be satisfied with the conversation. I guess I'll just have to see if he brings it up again.