Goodbye and Goodnight, Badgley

We are saddened to say that we lost a dear member of our family at the beginning of the week; Badgley Fischka has passed on. Which brought up a big dilemma -- how to handle death with the kids. At first we thought we would just replace him and not let them know about it at all. Then T thought she might tell them that he got sick and had to go somewhere where they could take better care of him and that we could get a new fish.

In the end she just sat B down and told her that Badgley had gotten sick and that his body died but his spirit (which required a conversation about what the spirit is) got to go to a better place and will never die. Where is that better place? Can we see him? T tried to explain the concept of heaven and thought it might be nice if they thought about Badgley hopping on the clouds on his way up (like Marlin and Dorie hopped on top of the jelly fish in Finding Nemo), but B just said "I don't see him in the clouds..." So in the end we decided that he was up with the stars and that he is probably twinkling down on us and we can talk to him at night. Before going to bed that night B did cry a little and told us she missed him. She was also very concerned about monsters because, as everyone knows, monsters are afraid of Badgley and so he protected us all.

We took the kids to get new fish, this time at an aquarium store instead of a big box pet store, and they got six neon tetras. One of which has already perished, the transfer being too traumatic for him or her. But since there are so many of them, neither of the kids have noticed and we're planning to just sweep this one under the rug. Fortunately, monsters are afraid of all things that glow in the dark, so we are still well protected.

Welcome to the family Peet, Aurora, Mozie, Bilbo and Brilliams! (And RIP Badgley and Ruby Blue.)