Wednesday, September 09, 2009

Parenting

This parenting thing is quite new to me. Even though toddler G has been around now for exactly 16 months today it still feels surreal. For instance Amelia and I are the two people who are currently influencing her behaviors, what she's learning, what she's exposed to, blah, blah, blah...

And the most recent issue that has cropped up is what to do with her at a funeral. Not necessarily with her...specifically if there is an open casket at said funeral. I for one am always a bit iffy about going up to the casket and this is as an adult, so what could it do to a child? Of course I know that she is much too small to really be affected(effected, I never know) by this but still it pops into your mind what should you do? Even imagining myself holding her while standing there makes my stomach hurt.

In the end I told Amelia who will be attending by herself tomorrow that I'd like toddler G to not go up to the casket if it is open. I don't know if this is the right decision but it's one that I feel the best about and this situation hadn't even crossed my mind when considering all of the learning opportunities that toddler G would be exposed to, but I'm glad that it occurred to me before Amelia was there alone, having a hard time herself, and not knowing what I thought about the whole situation.

2 comments:

Jess said...

First, my condolences.

Second, I think that's a good idea. Probably no harm, no foul, but if G recognized the person and thought they were sleeping it might lead to games of peek-a-boo or loud cries for the person. Awkward, at best.

Jen said...

yeah, i never thought of this either. probably a good call, just to be on the safe side. :)