Ice Cream from NASA

A dear family friend sent a care package to my children from one of her many business trips. Contained in her package were postcards, a newsy letter about her trip, a book, and three packages of freeze dried astronaut chocolate chip ice cream from NASA. As I opened the ice cream for my five year old, I told him that it was from NASA where his daddy used to work. Immediatly Ben looked at me and said, "Is he still dead?"

"Yes, daddy is still dead," I answered. Before I could elaborate on why dead people stay dead, Ben was happily eating his icecream talking about something else.

This is how young children learn to accept death. It is a slow process with all learning done in quick spirts.