Yesterday Brayden began his weekly cage cleaning for his pet hamster, Oliver, only to make the sad discovery that Oliver wasn't alive anymore. We found ourselves tracing the last time we saw him running in the wheel or heard him gnawing on his cage and figure it happened something the evening before. Despite the sadness, Brayden was determined to take care of cleaning out the cage and making an appropriate shoe box coffin. Later on, he & Rick dug a hole under one of the climbing trees in the backyard and we had a tiny funeral. Everyone got to share a memory about Oliver and get some closure. Connor keeps suggesting that we get another hamster so Brayden won't be sad anymore, but Brayden isn't quite ready for that idea. It's been surprisingly sad. We like to imagine Oliver joining the ranks of extended family hamsters past (Herbie, Zippy, Oreo, Piaso) in a giant hamster mansion with nibble toys galore. Thanks Oliver, for 4 good months.
3 comments:
I can totally understand what Brayden must be feeling. My first hampster died when I was 8 or 9. It was devastating. It takes a while until you can let another one into your heart...at least a few weeks.
That really breaks my heart.
OH poor Brayden. It is the circle of life though. It makes for a good discussion about when people die.
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