tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7082887.post110249220776428203..comments2023-10-30T07:39:04.857-07:00Comments on Random Thoughts- Do They Have Meaning?: Death- My Son Asked Me Not to DieJack Steinerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16625864271071630940noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7082887.post-1169794206211502582007-01-25T22:50:00.000-08:002007-01-25T22:50:00.000-08:00I can come to terms with my own mortality. Coming ...<I>I can come to terms with my own mortality. Coming to terms with my children's discovery of my mortality is a completely different thing.</I><BR/><BR/>It is tough, really tough.Jack Steinerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16625864271071630940noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7082887.post-1169756488673010962007-01-25T12:21:00.000-08:002007-01-25T12:21:00.000-08:00Oldest Son wanted desperately to share his birthda...Oldest Son wanted desperately to share his birthday wish on his sixth birthday earlier this month. His wish: "I hope you and Abba never die."<BR/><BR/>He is sensitive to loss. He misses both his grandfathers. Both died young, yet still before he got to meet them.<BR/><BR/>Youngest Son and I were in a bad car accident just over a year ago, and Oldest Son has figured out that we were lucky to have survived it. He talks about the fragility of life. He's only six.<BR/><BR/>I can come to terms with my own mortality. Coming to terms with my children's discovery of my mortality is a completely different thing.Sheynahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00349125682104236452noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7082887.post-1124432970984582302005-08-18T23:29:00.000-07:002005-08-18T23:29:00.000-07:00Honesty is really important.Honesty is really important.Jack Steinerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16625864271071630940noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7082887.post-1124432454195485622005-08-18T23:20:00.000-07:002005-08-18T23:20:00.000-07:00I was learning pirkei avot with my girls (artscrol...I was learning pirkei avot with my girls (artscroll youth series, and they get candy and the end of each chapter - keeps 'em interested), and we got to a part about everyone returning to dust, or worms, or some cheerful thing that you're likely to find in P.A. When the girls realized what that meant, they started bawling. Throught their tears, they were able to express why: my younger daughter was sad because she didn't want to have to part with her beloved blankey, and the older one said she'd miss her toys. Let me get this straight, I said, you're weeping bitterly not at the thought of being without Mom and Dad, but because of some of your stuff? Affirmative.<BR/><BR/>So when I saw the subject was going to come up again, I warned them that the next mishnah might make them sad. So I read (last mishnah in chapter 4, I think), "We are born without choice, die without choice, and will return to life without choice." Not a tear in the house. My older one asked me, "Daddy, why did you think we'd be sad if we know we're going to come back to life?" Hm, must be the Chabad nursery school.<BR/><BR/>I can't bring myself to tell my kids that I won't die, though they've asked me to. I just wouldn't want them to miss me <I>and</I> think I'm a liar.Ralphiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12919862880229022319noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7082887.post-1108877943344091402005-02-19T21:39:00.000-08:002005-02-19T21:39:00.000-08:00That's a really moving story.That's a really moving story.Nettiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17538731676596907998noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7082887.post-1102569571452743802004-12-08T21:19:00.000-08:002004-12-08T21:19:00.000-08:00I know how you feel. My kids have asked me about ...I know how you feel. My kids have asked me about death. It's odd, though, neither of them have ever asked "why". My main objective is to be honest with them and to try to help them realize that death is not something to fear.<br /><br />Of course, my seven-year-old has already laid claim to some of my things that he wants after I die.Sparkyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06216265455926255933noreply@blogger.com