Tech Support Forum - View Single Post - How do I tell a 4 yr old her Hamster died?

**l_b_rex** · 11-18-2008, 06:30 AM

So friday evening when my daughter came over I sat her down and told her I need to talk to her and that I have sad news but daddy and mommy are ok. She asked what it was and I told her that her hamster died. I went to feed it and it wasn't moving. I told her the hamster was sick but we didn't know but now the hamster is in heaven. She replied "no it is right here (she was holding its dead body). She took it very well but should could not understand how the hamster can be in hamster heaven if the body is still here. I let her hold it for awhile and then washed her hands really really good and told her that we need to put the body in a box so it can go to heaven too. She asked why and I told her that her hamster is waiting for its body so it can play in hamster heaven. I had brought a medium sized kleenex box home and then taped white paper all over it so I told my daughter that we can decorate the box and then leave it on the front porch for the hamster fairy to come and take it to heaven. She had a great time decorating the box with marker and glitter and then she ased me to leave a note for the hamster fairy asking if she would leave the box because Holly thought it was beautiful. So I wrote a nice note asking to leave the box behind and then we left the box on the porch. First thing in the morning Holly got up and we went to the porch to see if the box was the and yes it was but it had been open and only some tissue paper was left inside. She was very happy the box was there still.

Unfortunately now she quite often starts crying and telling me she misses the hamster, but it always seems to be when she gets in trouble or right at bedtime. I really think she is just using that against me but I'm not about to call her on it,lol. She asked for another hamster already too and I told her maybe for x-mas we can get one or another pet.

I really think it hurt me more to tell her about the hamster than it hurt her to hear it.

It was a sad day but a lesoon that she needed to learn sometime. Thanks for all the advice and concern.

11-18-2008, 06:30 AM	#13 (permalink)
l_b_rex The almighty Dr.Tran! Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 1,084 OS: Vista Home Premium 32 bit	Re: How do I tell a 4 yr old her Hamster died? So friday evening when my daughter came over I sat her down and told her I need to talk to her and that I have sad news but daddy and mommy are ok. She asked what it was and I told her that her hamster died. I went to feed it and it wasn't moving. I told her the hamster was sick but we didn't know but now the hamster is in heaven. She replied "no it is right here (she was holding its dead body). She took it very well but should could not understand how the hamster can be in hamster heaven if the body is still here. I let her hold it for awhile and then washed her hands really really good and told her that we need to put the body in a box so it can go to heaven too. She asked why and I told her that her hamster is waiting for its body so it can play in hamster heaven. I had brought a medium sized kleenex box home and then taped white paper all over it so I told my daughter that we can decorate the box and then leave it on the front porch for the hamster fairy to come and take it to heaven. She had a great time decorating the box with marker and glitter and then she ased me to leave a note for the hamster fairy asking if she would leave the box because Holly thought it was beautiful. So I wrote a nice note asking to leave the box behind and then we left the box on the porch. First thing in the morning Holly got up and we went to the porch to see if the box was the and yes it was but it had been open and only some tissue paper was left inside. She was very happy the box was there still. Unfortunately now she quite often starts crying and telling me she misses the hamster, but it always seems to be when she gets in trouble or right at bedtime. I really think she is just using that against me but I'm not about to call her on it,lol. She asked for another hamster already too and I told her maybe for x-mas we can get one or another pet. I really think it hurt me more to tell her about the hamster than it hurt her to hear it. It was a sad day but a lesoon that she needed to learn sometime. Thanks for all the advice and concern.