Why do parents feel the need to lie about the death of a loved pet?

Question

I own and run a pet store in Northren CA. On a weekly I get parents ( manly moms) who want to "replace" a pet that just died so that their kids don't know about it. Why do parents want to do this? Do you know how harmful it is to a child to do this? Would you "hide" a birth of an pet to a child??? Death is just as much a part of life as birth is. Children need to learn about death in order to become healthy adults.
Let me ask you this. Do you allow lying in your home?? Becuause replacing a pet that "looks" just like the one that died is lying to them.
If your parent died would you "replace" them with another person so that they would never know that Grandpa or Grandma died??
Please don't do this. Let them know about the animal. Let them morn. And when they are ready then, buy them another pet.

By the way. I have a 3 year old son. And My husband & I never hide the death of an animal from him.

So, you would rather lie to your child that see your child cry and show their true feelings! That is just sad!!!

Answer 1

I've been there. there were coyotes and wolves in our neighborhood and sadly our cat got eaten up. but our mom told us that he ran away and made us put up signs and look for him all nite. then we were grounded for letting the cat out. i was eight years old. when i turned eleven she told me the truth and my sister still doesn't want to believe me. since then we've made up a policy that when a pet dies, our parents have to tell us the truth and not make up a phony lie about it.

Answer 2

Quite frankly, it's parental discretion and depends on the age and maturity of a child. Children learn all about the hard and hurtful things in life soon enough, so if it's possible to slip another hamster in the cage, another goldfish in the bowl or another turtle in the aquarium before they realize what happened, I say do it. Something more noticeable like old dog or cat dying is different. Answer only questions that they ask, depending on their age.

And speaking of lying, would you tell a woman who looked like Billy Bob Thornton with a beard and pimples that she was beautiful on her wedding day? or tell her she was hideous? Would you tell a woman who's baby looked like a troll or monkey that her baby was beautiful? or one of the ugliest babies you'd ever seen?

If you're very concerned about how parents address the death of a child's pet, pass along the link below.

Answer 3

Life is hard enough. With all the things that take childhood away from the young, what harm is it in letting them have their innocence just a little bit longer? There will be plenty of time in their lives to learn about death and destruction. Protecting your child from pain is a natural instinct, and one that should be left up to the discretion of the parent.

Answer 4

well if lying to your kids means you allow lying in your home, does spanking mean that you allow hitting in your home? does that mean that your child is allowed to hit you and your husband is allowed to hit you? your logic doesn't make a lot of sense... (i don't condone spanking, but i read another one of your questions and you do.. so i thought i should "connect the dots" so to speak, to highlight your hypocrisy)

Answer 5

But it hurts more to see your kids cry!!

Answer 6

cuz it hurts to see ur kids cry.