I have a million and one labels attached to me ranging from the poster boy of borderline personality disorder to a manipulative patient but the one label that actually concerns me is dad or daddy. I do absolutely everything in my power to protect my six year old from danger whether physical, mental or emotional as it is my job as his father to ensure that he grows up as well adjusted as possible to be a strong member of the human race. Today I received a phone call from a parent of a child in his class that another student had passed away over the weekend. Currently my child and his class are on their spring break and it was decided that all students in his class be told of the passing of their young friend. After a conversation with his mother we decided to pass on the news tonight. I reminded my child about the story of my father who became very sick and now was an angel and as gently as I could broke the news that his friend was now an angel and would not be at school anymore. My child asked the typical questions such as how did she get sick as he was fighting back tears and asked if she was now an angel living with Jesus and God which I told him that was where the little girl had gone. My son pulled in all of the information and asked is she was dead and as I nodded my head he replied “But she is only seven years old” and my heart broke at that instant and I realized it was impossible for me to prevent my child from all sources of pain but what I could do is help him through that journey and help to make sense of what took place. It is okay to be sad, it is okay to cry, it is okay to miss your friend and although I can not give him every answer to his questions I will be there every step of the way.
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