I work for a pet store. The other day I was reminded of how much society coddles our children and how detrimental it can actually be to them. A lady came in as soon as we opened in a panic. The hamster had been let out of it’s cage by a visiting friend’s child and her cats had found it. She was desperately trying to find a replacement before her child woke up. It was just like the commercial about getting the goldfish home before the little girl gets home from school. It seems like a good idea on the surface, but shouldn’t we allow them to experience the truth that life is eventually lost?  Shouldn’t we be teaching them how to survive those times of sadness? If they fail this lesson they may never come out of the depression and loneliness that can follow.

The loss of a beloved pet is very hard, but it can lay the groundwork for a healthy emotional adult who is able to continue on after mom, dad, siblings and spouses pass away. Mourning our losses is a must if we are to continue to move forward. Whether it’s a promotion we didn’t get or that new car that was out of reach financially, loss is a part of life that we must learn to handle in a healthy way. Who better to teach our babies that life can and will continue after loss then the loving parent who has been through it before and has survived?