this past summer, my parents got a dog for my grandparents, who live with them. a white malti poo named buddy that my mom found at a shelter. with us leaving that august for new york, (and thus taking their beloved great-grandchildren away), buddy was to help fill in the void.
parker really bonded with buddy, and that was surprising considering that buddy has issues. he nipped and growled at anyone who would walk by him. to be honest, i was a little scared of him.
but parker loved that dog. she would go spend hours out in nana and papa's little house behind my parent's house and play with buddy, completely oblivious (or tolerant) of his shortcomings. they were friends.
when we moved away, parker didn't forget buddy. she often asks about him and includes him in her list of family members. in september, nana wrote the girls letters and included pictures of
buddy, and to this day, parker keeps that picture with her "special papers" next to her bed. one day last month, parker came to me, on the verge of tears. i asked her what was wrong and she held up the picture of buddy and sincerely said, "i miss buddy". she then proceeded to cry the saddest cry i'd ever seen her cry.
so, in october, when my mom told me they returned buddy to the shelter (his issues being too much for my parents and grandparents to deal with) we decided it was best not to tell parker. and so the secret has been kept . . . waiting for the right time to let her know.
that time has almost come.
i'm taking the kids to california in february for a much-needed visit with my parents and grandparents who miss parker, macy, and oliver so much. i haven't told them yet that we're going (i'll wait till right before we go) and also, i know that with the news of our trip, i will have to tell parker about buddy.
yesterday, parker wrote this letter. . .
buddy is my best friend.
buddy lives in california.
the end.
when she wrote this letter (with me helping her spell out what she wanted to write), the news about buddy was on the tip of my tongue. but i couldn't bring myself to tell her and possibly break her little buddy-loving heart.
but i will tell her (within the next two weeks), and wish me luck.
because everybody knows . . . it's hard to lose a friend.
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7 comments:
What a wonderful blog. I did not bond with Buddy at all, but when a grandchilds' heart is full of love for another living thing, It is a sad day when you lose a friend. It is one of those tender parental moments to be sure and I know you will handle it as best you can, my daughter. Love, Dad
when you have your little talk with poor parker girl, tell her that when she grows up, if she's anything like her smarty pants aunt aubry, she'll remember how overrated pets are anyway... stinky, dirty... pets. yuck.
...and are we trying to torture us with depressing stories? goodness why don't we pop in old yeller while we're at it! ha. i think you should stop here in rexburg on way to cali!...you have in laws AND a brother here...just a thought...=)
oh my, Robin. I'm not much of a pet kind of person either, but you almost had me sniffling on this one. Parker's little letter is so sweet. I hope she takes the news okay.
i'm honestly tearing up. and i'm not even a pet kind of person. it is hard to lose a friend :(
that really is sweet though robs!
You have me crying too. Little hearts break so easily. Good thing they mend fast as well.
I'm sorry you have to do this. being a mom is tough.
Robin this is SAD! Good luck! Please have Parker and Macy come play with Lauren while you're here...we miss them! (and you, of course)
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