my daughters of 10&4 want there friends home after school to bury the hamster and say goodbye do you think this is wise or should i just dispose of while there at school im not sure? help!
2006-09-18 10:13:09 · 54 answers · asked by shanie e 1 in Pets ➔ Other - Pets
I would say yes because i know it's weired but you can only fool kids for a little while so i say that instead of throughing it away and lying to your daughterd and they crying because they didnt get to say goodbye to their pet let them burry it and say goodbye so they'll feel better knowing where the pets at and they'll think they did something good because i through my kids goldfish away and they pitched a fit because they wanted to burry it so two weeks later i got them a little lizard from the pet store and it died about a month later and my kids are 4,6,and the other ones almost 9 and my 4yr. old played a little to rough with it and it died so then i let my kids burry it and when their friends come over they make little crosses and stuff and put it where we burried it and the little ones cry so the big one tells them that he left to go meet his mommy and daddy and they think it's okay but i would let them burry it.
2006-09-18 10:30:28 · answer #1 · answered by rebel_chick625 1 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Definitely have a funeral. Pets have a great deal of meaning to a child and should be treated with respect. If you callously toss the hamster in the garbage while they are at school, they will assume that you would do the same thing to them (even though obviously you wouldn't). Make a little grave marker and have a simple ceremony as you bury the hamster in the back yard.
2006-09-18 10:32:21 · answer #2 · answered by Danger, Will Robinson! 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
This is a perfect opertunity to teach your kids about loss. A funeral is a wonderful idea, have the girls each say a few words about what the hamster ment to them. Bury the hamster in a nice place and have the girls paint rocks and a head stone to surround the grave. Not only will this help them with loss later in life they will also have a nice reminder of their pet.
2006-09-18 10:58:28 · answer #3 · answered by pharfly1 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
have the full funeral service, its a form of closure for the girls, the hamster's been part of the family after all. just let each one say something special about the hamster, write it in a letter, place it in with the hamster (to be buried in some special box, something cheap but pretty you can get at the local shops) and dig a hole in the back garden and stick the poor thing in it! take the girls out afterwards for a treat, ice cream or something, and dont let the whole afternoon be tempered with misère...?
2006-09-18 10:19:27 · answer #4 · answered by Wisdom 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Definetly give the little guy a funeral. Your daughters probably veiwed the hampster as a family member, right? I would just make sure that the parents of the friends are ok with their child going to a hampster funeral. I don't see any reason for an objection, but you never know. It would also be a good time to remember all the good times they had with him, and bring a sense of closure to the children and teach them about the circle of life.
2006-09-18 11:07:42 · answer #5 · answered by crazy.kuzco 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
i think it's great that you're daughters loved their hamster so much. if it makes them happy knowing that their hamster is resting in peace instead of in a rubbish bin or compost heap then i think it's a great idea to have a funeral. i've had one for all of my pets that have past on and if you're daughters loved that hamster they would want to know where it was burried so they can visit the grave. I know it sounds stupid but just disposing of it will make you're daughters angry and really sad.
2006-09-18 18:12:31 · answer #6 · answered by Black Rainbow 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
PLEASE let them say goodbye to their friend.
My daughter and I bury all our animals and it is the saddest and sweetest thing. It gives you closure and you know your friend is at peace. Don't deny them that.
You have a valuable tool to teach them your beliefs of life after death and respect for the dead. Also the fact that at some point in time life stops and we are faced with death- how do they want to prepare themselves for that moment? No you do not have to go indepth to teach them this but it is a good opportunity to explain things that most of us fail to talk to our kids about because we don't know what to say or we are uncomfortable with death itself. It is a prime opportunity to TALK to your kids about something other than school or what they have done right or wrong today.
Plus it shows you care enough about their feelings to do this even though it seems silly to you at the time. And that is never wrong.
2006-09-19 05:41:38 · answer #7 · answered by bootsjeansnpearls 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's when you get to the 'memorial service' that you have to worry. My little girls lost a goldfish about a year ago and we had a small funeral in the garden for it, no problem in that, very sensible idea.
But last week we all had to assemble for a very solemn memorial service taken by my 6 year old. It's all a learning experience (for us and them).
Enjoy the funeral, good luck.
2006-09-18 10:25:33 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Definitely have a funeral, a small box buried in a quiet spot in the garden.
I know it sounds morbid but eventually we all loose someone we love and this is a good way for children to understand this.
2006-09-18 10:23:24 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I think you should have a funeral for hammy, it will help them deal with the loss, instead of coming home and finding you have flushed him or to find him sitting in the top of the bin when they put their sweetie wrappers in it.
Let them find out how to grieve if thats what they want to do, it wouldnt be fair to take away that experiance whether it is good or bad.
All the best x
2006-09-18 10:16:58 · answer #10 · answered by cleo55 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋