I am truly fascinated and moved by the deep love many children have for wild animals. It’s a type of love that seems natural and often more immediate than what many adults, including myself, can offer, at least on the surface.
Yesterday, my nine-year-old noticed from the front porch that a raccoon had been hit by a car on our street. It was a terrible sight. She called her siblings to come see it. The younger one, who is six, was very sad and said, “I just feel so bad for the raccoon.”
I felt bad too and tried not to let the experience become a symbol for all the sadness I feel about these things. I suggested we light a candle for the raccoon. It struck me that the driver who hit the raccoon probably felt awful about it, so I mentioned that too and hoped they were alright.
That was all I had 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 that showed various vehicles with big Xs through them. “Why can’t everyone just ride bikes?” he asked, although the bike in the picture might have had an X too.
This whole process unfolded, and the candle burned for the next couple of hours. They later told their dad about it, and all of this helped them work through their feelings, as well as mine.
It was a sad situation, but I felt comforted seeing their love and connection, their care for another living being, and for each other. The whole ritual seemed very effective. It taught me ways to manage my own sadness. It showed me that these small gestures and rituals can be meaningful. It also taught me about the loving kindness that exists within us, ready to be tapped into.
Thank you for caring. I hope these children will continue to have this compassion and possibly become vegans to avoid being responsible for the suffering of other animals. Thank you.