Oh Dear, DS1's hamster has died........

[funnysinthegarden]

...........a life lesson I suppose, but he's so sad about it. He's 4 and this is the first time he has understood what death means.

Hi
Everyone deals with this different ways, this is just my suggestion for what we did when ours died. Could you maybe make a memory board together for Hamster, cut out a hamster photo from a magazine, off the net, or draw a hamster and have it in the middle of the board. Then maybe underneath write his name, approx date when he came to live with you, your address, the date he died, and little message written by DS thanking him for being such a fine friend and telling him how much he loved him. Maybe also little drawings/patterns all round if DS likes doing that kind of thing. Put board up in bedroom with vase of flowers in front. Talk about what a great hamster he was and what a happy life he had with DS and your family. Tell DS the board can be there to remind you all that hamster will never be forgotten and he stays in your hearts always. (Hope this doesn't sound too corny but it worked for my two DSs)

Thanks Persimum, thats lovely. We have printed a picture of Rocky the hamster to put in DS1's room and I will suggest that he does a memory board too. Not corny at all, I was surprised at the depth of feeling DS had for his hamster, he started sobbing when we buried him.

I think that poor old Rocky meant more to us all than we realised

PS the is for being all soppy over a silly hamster!

Hi - i think its good that Rocky was so loved, and is, and that DS cares so much. Sadly one rarely gets a geriatric hamster so this will happen again with Rocky's cage's next tenants over time, but like with people, its nice to have a 'place of departure' to sort of keep their memory safe.

We also have special places in the garden where each of our dear cats are remembered. Personally i do believe that animals go on in a spirit world like people and are there smiling at us but we just can't see them, but some people would think me utterly mad to think like this, and i don't think DS would really want to think like that right now. if i'm right, however, i guess Rocky will be really delighted he meant so much to DS and to see his picture up and his memory board!

Good luck with it all