Our kids think we misled them about marriage. Apparently, they all expected to find their soulmates in high school and live happily ever after for decades. We should have, quote, “explained how special and unusual this was so they wouldn’t have expected it for themselves.” Um… I’m sorry? We were just living our lives. There was no intention to mislead or disillusion you…
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I get it. You were trying to let your kids know that death is a normal thing… their grandparents (or whoever) are not available but are at peace like when sleeping. Gosh, possibly I would have given a similar answer.
We didn’t know many people who died til the kids were older. So I was so surprised when daughter’s kindergarten teacher mentioned one of the ducks at classroom next door had died… and daughter suggested that her class send a sympathy card. Maybe something she learned in preK experience?
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Ds2 is mad I told him coffee stunted your growth. Hey, that’s what my mother told me! 
I don’t like coffee so never investigated the merits of that statement.
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Our middle kid is very upset we had him circumcised. He actually said he thought we should pay to have it reversed. ??? Don’t think that’s possible but don’t care enough to investigate.
My daughter is 5’10” and tried so hard to prove coffee could stunt your growth… nope!
What you don’t realize is that she would’ve been 6’2” without the coffee… 
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This is funny now, but it wasn’t for years… my son asked where my husband’s mother went once she died. He said “she’s taking a dirt nap.” Son wound up crying. AND, it was right before we were getting our Christmas pictures taken.
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a dirt nap, I’m roflmao… I’ve got a very twisted sense of humor…
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This whole thread is an eye opener. It’s like I’ve lead a different life. Almost all of the things discussed here seem like another country/culture to me.
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This is a very long article but I enjoyed it. The young man who died in the car accident went to my high school in Austin, a few years after I graduated.
Our family does too. My grandfather always talked about it when he’d be in the ground, “pushing up daisies” (complete with arm gestures). He would have gotten such a kick to knowing that he would be buried next to Mr. Stiff!
H & I often walk though a cemetery. We can’t help commenting on the “two dead Hookers” and “Love is dead” as we pass the headstones.
Oh and when my mom was young at a family gathering, one uncle was supposed to watch the kids. He had them play “funeral.” He took a nap on the couch while the kids all prayed!!! LOL! I don’t see that flying today.
Yeah this is off-topic. Sorry…
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OMG your uncle is my kinda people. Thanks for the idea. I will probably use it when the grandkids are a bit older.
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The use of “toxic” for anyone or anything that is annoying or uncomfortable bothers me. I would say toxic and trauma are overused currently. Not sure if it’s just kids though.
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That reminds me of one night when my daughter confessed to me that she was a bit worried about an upcoming sleep-over. The 4th grade rumor mill had informed her that people get pregnant from “sleeping together”.
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This would be hilarious if it weren’t so sad and poignant… we really don’t think too much about the literalism of children, do we?
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My D’s concerns and questions about religion and death always arose at night when she was supposed to be preparing for bed. She puzzled a lot about those topics for a long time.
Same! Even today, she still seems to be most ready to “processing” what’s been on her mind, right after she already had said her “good night”. Two hours later…
Yes, D is still very chatty and philosophical at night, when we are about to fall asleep. She has some pretty deep thoughts.
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I remember my classmates and me being scandalized when a kid told us his parents slept naked!!
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Omg. I love that. I’m a bit dark and that made me lol.
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