Wednesday, February 17, 2010

He Plays for the Trees


Devin and I were laying in bed last night talking and laughing. He was asking me about something he read online about the world ending in 2012. He shared that although he didn't believe the world would end then, it scared him to think about.

It's pretty heavy to talk to your child about things like death sometimes. Especially when you can so relate to what they are feeling. I explained my own journey about how I came to feel more comfortable with death over the years. I also shared how when I was younger I was much more afraid of certain things than I am now. I empathized and validated the best that I could with him.

I shared my feelings on how every living thing is connected and how we never really die. He's heard this before from me, but he understood it on a deeper level last night. He hugged me and I tickled his back. He cried a little and said that he never wanted us to be apart as a family.

I told him that we would always be together and he said that when we died he hoped we all would become trees in the forest. We laughed and shared what kinds of trees we will be.

This morning Devin woke up and began gathering a few things to bring outside.

When I went out to see him, he was laying beneath what he calls his *favorite tree*. He was barefoot on a blanket and playing his recorder while looking up at the tree. When I asked him what he was doing he told me that he was playing music for the tree. He said, "After all, this tree is family."

9 comments:

Chasey said...

I speak to my two daughter's about people's "spirit's" not dying,even though their bodies do.(I believe that anyway).I like the thought Devin had of the tree's.
My eldest DD (9yrs) came across these "tree sphere's" and is hoping to have one in the future.So just thought I'd share;
http://www.freespiritspheres.com/

the good life mama said...

Oh, this story touched me so much it brought tears to my eyes! Thank you for sharing. Beautiful.
One of my little ones has been asking about death lately, as well. Sometimes these conversations can be so hard.

Anonymous said...

I actually look forward to talking with my daughter about death. I think I can offer her a more positive view than what I was raised with. I can't wait until she is old enough to explore religions. I have a tapestry on the wall of an angel and my daughter decided that this angel is named "Mommy Jesus." That was so exciting for me, because it was like her first time putting any kind of religious thing into her own words.

Tiffany Gonzalez said...

Dayna, this is one of the most beautiful things I have ever read. Thank you so much for sharing.

Shady Lady said...

This post is so beautiful!!

Princess and I talk about how everything is energy and connected. We also talk about reincarnation. She has already planned our next three lives. We will all hold the same positions in the family, and we'll even get to be mermaids and fairies! :)

Carrie said...

Love reading your blog! This last one was very touching. Thanks. Just finished your book which I bought from you at the Ohio unschoolers gathering. Can't say I am a radical unschooler yet, just starting to take the journey towards unschooling. We were already mostly there but I think I needed the extra push that your book gave me. It feels right. My kids are still young, so I am excited to have gotten to this place now.

Anonymous said...

Beautiful. Just beautiful. My son and I similar conversations. Like your previous commenter I have just begun my unschooling journey. I'm exploring and opening my mind which is how I found your YouTube channel and then your blog. I look forward to continued reading.

CrankyGeezer said...

That's seriously deep. Devin has reached a spiritual understanding that eludes many adults. Yes, the trees are family. It's all family.

Maria Veltman said...

My 4 year old son, Seth, and I have been talking about death a lot lately. Not unusual, since both his father and I think about it a LOT (and thus probably talk about it in his presence without even realizing we're doing it). Seth feels that "dying isn't a part of love" but both of us believe that in fact, it is. His biggest concern is that he won't be able to give me love when I'm dead. My sweet, darling boy! I do love these conversations - they allow me to face my own fears of death.