Good Bye

Wednesday night we went to Deb and Rob's for the family to say goodbye to their dog, Hillde. She was a 14 year old 'hotdog'. She has been a part of the family since before the kids were born so they have only known her being over Grandma and Grandpa Sherwood's. Dustin had recently been asking about their dog that passed years ago so we unknowingly had been preparing him for the news that was to come, that Hillde would be put to sleep. Though it was not anyone's option of choice, it was the best for her situation. She had many medical problems and surgeries would have been more than she could handle. We felt that it was best to say goodbye rather than show up one day and for her to be gone.

As the kids and I arrived to meet daddy, we joined in looking at pictures. All seemed to be going well. Dustin was interested in spending time with Grandpa, even if it was to go outside in the cold and check the oil on the cars. Kamden, on the other hand, was not so willing to have Grandpa time, atleast not this visit.

Each of us took time to say goodbye to Hillde, give her bones and pet her. Dustin admitted to not wanting to sit with her because he did not want to cause her any discomfort. So here is the picture of him...zooming in to give her a bone.

I will admit that I am NOT a big fan of doggie kisses!!! So I was glad this goodbye kiss was only an eskimo kiss. Kamden grabbed Hillde's bed and sat down in it. He then patted it as he said, "Sit." The two of them shared some last moments.

The evening ended without a shed tear. A quiet slip on the way out to say one last "goodbye, Hillde" is what I caught Dustin and Skylar each do when they thought no one was looking. It did silence Dustin for a few moments. He rode home with daddy, and moved on to watching basketball when he got home while he ate dinner. (He starts instructional basketball in a month and talks about it daily. So it seemed to give him another focus.)

The following day, however, was not quite as uneventful. He went off to school fine. He came home not so fine. He was not such a good listener and finally admitted at dinner, as the tears burst out of his little eyes that it was not because he was trying to be fresh but that he missed Hillde. My little man of steel just broke. He climbed into my lap and sobbed. I cuddled that little 6 year old body and realized how little he really was. He is such a sentimental little guy though many do not see that side of him.

Skylar, who seemed to be accepting of the situation, was heartbroken at the sadness of her brother. She went to her room and got one of her special dog stickers that looked like her and gave it to him. Then we drew a picture of Hillde for him to snuggle as he went to sleep. Good thing children are less judgemental about drawings. The following morning was much the same. He did not want to go to school. I insisted that he keep going and he is doing better by today, Sunday.

What do you tell a little boy who wants to know where Hillde is going? Do All Dogs really Go to Heaven or is that just a movie? Either way, she is not hurting anymore and she gets to see her sibling dogs.