Celebration Of Life And The Truth

At Presley's school whenever a child has a birthday, the parents have the option to come in and watch a  celebration of life circle with their child. The way it works is the kids all get in a circle around a globe, and then the teacher and students say every month of the year while she sets out laminated cards with the names of the months on them on the ground. After that, the child walks around the circle one time for every year of their life, including when they were born, holding pictures that the parents brought from home. So Presley walked around the circle showing pictures of when she was first born, and then at age 1, 2 and 3. During that time, the teacher and parents ask the child questions about themselves.

One of the questions we asked Presley was about who she shares her birthday with, and she answered, "Martin Luther King." At that point, I would have stopped asking questions because I knew what more prying could lead to, but regardless, Lora followed up with, "What else do you know about him?" I cringed a bit on the inside waiting for her answer. Presley's answer was, "He was a good man, and a bad man shot him," but this did not really have an impact on any of the children, who probably, just like Presley, don't understand death yet. It was a neat celebration, and Lora and I both enjoyed it. The kids also sang happy birthday to her, then got in a line and gave her a hug, and then ate the snacks for that day of sugar free muffins and fruit (they don't allow sugar) that we brought.

Later I was talking to Presley's teacher while the kids were all eating, I said something about Presley's comment about MLK, Jr., and I told her that I am very honest with Presley about everything except for Jolly-Ol-You-Know-Who, and that I hope it was okay. The teacher agreed with me that we should be honest with our kids, and then had an antidote to share with me about Presley and telling the truth.

She told me that one day in the Fall, Presley and the kids were talking, and she was not sure how they got on this topic, but Presley told all of the kids that, "everybody dies," which caused a boy in her class to start crying. (The story made me laugh.) I am almost positive that this happened after Presley lost her great grandmother Peaches because I remember her asking why Peaches died, and I told her that everybody who has ever lived or will ever live is either dead or will die and that it is just part of life, but the shortness of life is what makes it so sweet.

So here's to life. Here's to Presley turning 4. Here's to Paxten communicating more each day. Here's to my life and your life and Peaches' life. Enjoy it while you can.

Presley's celebration of life circle.

Here Paxten is helping us all enjoy life by making everyone laugh. This is from March of 2011.