We found ourselves discovering a very old cemetary on the back side of town on our evening walk tonight.
Bea: What's a cemetary?
Byron: It's a place where people rest once they have died.
Bea: We, you, me, and mommy are going to die. Then we will move to the cemetary.
Me: One day. Not now. Not for a very long time.
Bea: Will we go back to our house after that?
Me: No, we'll turn back to soil.
Bea: Like plants. Like our compost.
Byron and Me: (Nodding) Yes, pretty much like that. Maybe we will become part of a beautiful garden.
Bea: I don't want to die.
Me: I don't want to either. Some people think that inside of our bodies is something called a 'soul'. A soul is the part of us that never dies. It's always here. Only our bodies die. Our souls will always be together.
Bea: In our house.
Me: Yep.
And that's life with a three year old. So perfectly curious and fearless. So wonderfully open and peaceful. So effortlessly connected to it all. It's as if part of her soul still resides in the heavens above. She humbles me over and over. There are no words to describe the awe and gratitude I feel for being one of the people who gets to have these kinds of conversations with this incredible person.
Wow Nichole!
Thank you for sharing this story. We have never gone further than "people pass away" stage yet. But I think I will explain it the same you did. Thanks so much for the inspiration, if I may call it so.
I am thankful too for almost every conversation which I have with our 4.5 years old. It is such a gift, being able to glimpse into the soul of the Earth, and even beyond it...
Sorry for not replying too often, though I never miss your posts. I had so much to tell you regarding some of them, but I guess we will have to wait until that cup of tea to have a proper talk. Anyway, please know that you are always in my thoughts..
PS If Bea ever wants to send a letter to my son, whenever you feel she is ready for it, I think he will be happy to receive it...
Posted by: Miri | April 17, 2012 at 03:15 AM
perfect~
Posted by: amanda (sweetpotatoclaire) | April 17, 2012 at 12:20 PM
Thank you Miri. Yes, it's one of the many moments in parenting where we doubt ourselves, analyze the exchanges, and wonder/ hope that we said enough, but not too much. Who knows? I do know that we do our best to speak both from a place of truth and respect.
One day, perhaps the tea date will happen. We must never stop dreaming!
Pen pals: oh my, soon enough she'll be so into that! Time flies!
Posted by: Nichole | April 17, 2012 at 10:26 PM
aw...thank you, Amanda!
Posted by: Nichole | April 17, 2012 at 10:27 PM
Thank you so much for your lovely comment - I am so happy that you made your way from bluebird baby so that I was able to find you! I love your journal - your beautiful pictures and words speak to me deeply. I will be following your adventures for sure. What an inspiration you are!
Posted by: Nikole Sarvay | April 18, 2012 at 06:45 PM
Thank you Nikole. I'm so glad we found each other too! I love that you spell your name with a 'k' and I spell mine with a 'ch'...:)
Posted by: Nichole | April 23, 2012 at 08:26 PM