I’m deeply moved and inspired by how much children often care about wild animals. Their love seems natural and more immediate compared to many adults, including myself.
Yesterday, my nine-year-old saw a raccoon that had been hit by a car on our street. It was a horrifying sight. She called her siblings to come see. My six-year-old was very sad and said, “I just feel so bad for the raccoon.”
I also felt terrible and tried not to let this incident become a symbol for all the sadness I feel about similar situations. I suggested that we light a candle for the raccoon and mentioned that the driver who hit it probably felt awful too. We wished that person well.
That was all I had to offer at the moment, but my kids took it from there. They made a wreath, with the nine-year-old labeling it “raccoon,” and the six-year-old drawing a picture of various vehicles with a big X through them. “Why can’t everyone just ride bikes?” he asked, although the bike in his drawing had an X too.
They spent the next couple of hours with the candle burning, sharing their feelings with their dad later. This process helped them work through their emotions, and it also helped me.
It was a sad event, but I found comfort in witnessing their compassion, their care for another living being, and for each other. The whole ritual we went through seemed to genuinely help.
This experience taught me a lot about managing my own sadness. It showed me that simple gestures and rituals can be effective and meaningful, and it revealed the loving kindness within us that we can tap into.
Thank you for caring. I hope these children will continue to show such compassion and maybe even become vegans to avoid causing harm to any other animals. Thank you.