Dori is Dead

A few weeks ago my wife came into our bedroom with a concerned look on her face and said, "Dori is Dead". Now before you get to concerned you must understand that Dori is my daughters beta fish. Although this was not a traumatic event for me or my wife we were concerned about our daughter as she has not had to deal with death before. I walked into her room and saw her standing over her fish bowl looking down at Dori. Here is a little side note. I thought dead fish float but there was Dori pinned to the bottom of her fish bowl like she was one of the rocks or something.

Anyway, so Cara is standing over the bowl and here is how the coversation went. "Cara what are you doing, looking at Dori dad. Oh is Dori sleeping? No dad, Dori is Dead!" I was shocked how in the world did she know that Dori was dead and why was she not upset with this she is only 3 should she be devastated or something. So we continued the conversation. "Cara did you do something to Dori? Yes Dad. Did you take Dori out of here bowl? Yes Dad. When you took her out was she flopping around? No Dad. Why did you take Dori out of her bowl? Because she needed a doctor Dad. Oh and why did she need a doctor Cara? Because I gave her chocolate milk dad." Then I remember that a few day's ago she had come running out of her room and said that she had given Dori some chocolate milk. I guess fish can't drink chocolate milk.

So now I must think quick because I do not want her to be devastated that her fish is dead so I say "do you remember Nemo". She smiles and says yes. I say lets set Dori free like Nemo got free by going down the drain. She enthusiastically agrees with me, so we flush Dori down the toilet. I am doing my best to make this seem like a good thing but as soon as Dori disappears she starts freaking out saying she wants Dori back. So I tell her that Dori is probably safely back at the fish store and we will just have to go get her back tomorrow. So the next day and $2 later my 3 year old thinks she has Dori back. Ah the joys of parenting. Yes I know I did not teach her how to deal with death but hey she is happy with her new beta fish and she thinks Dori is alive.

Thanks for listening
Dream Big
PB