New Moon - New Plans

Yesterday, I wrote a post over at the Yummy Mummy Club about the 3 bullet points of life: Live Love Laugh - especially Moms.  (surf over and read it!)  We, parents, are always busy but we need to take a full-stop and ENJOY.

My mom-friend and I had planned on seeing New Moon when it came out to theatres.  Not because we were vampire smitten (ok perhaps we were bitten a bit) but more importantly it was to be a girl's night out for the both of us.  But between work, family and holidays we never made it. :-( 

So even before March Break...we decided that when New Moon is released to DVD (March 20) we would see it together the following week.   It's a date.

And though, I doubt either of us will be up to making Blockbuster's midnight New Moon events (each Blockbuster, nationwide, is hosting events tonight {watching Twilight, photo-ops with cut-outs of Edward, Bella and Jacob,  and more} - with the DVD available for purchase at midnight).  Hopefully, we'll be able to find a copy tomorrow - during sunlight hours - to rent or purchase. 

Because we are going to watch New Moon next week - in celebration of surviving yet another March Break - and also in celebration of taking a full-stop and enjoying grown-up time together.

Explaining Death to Kids

My grandmother has died - as she lived - very gently and with great dignity.

My focus has shifted from March Break activities to explaining death to my kids (total 180 in my brain activity).  I put it out to twitter - if anyone had any #kidlit advice on the subject.

@MMPerspectives recommended "When Dinosaurs Die: A Guide to Understanding Death" by Laurie Krasny Brown.  It has very friendly illustrations.  The writing is very approachable and respectful.  It covers many different traditions of funerals (religious and non-religious) and it addresses feelings and fears.  The only note I would make is that it opens death a bit wider than I was looking for (accidental death, child death, suicide*) - but surprisingly - my kids connected with some of it (I had a fetal demise in the summer and upon reading the page on when youngsters die - my youngest connected that picture to "our baby"). (*the suicide part is a picture of pills with a short sentence - you could easily skip that illustration box if you prefered).

I found "Wishes for One More Day" by Melanie Joy Pastor at the libary.  Though it didn't connect with our religious tradition, the positive approach was good.  It focused on good memories and putting those memories to paper as a keepsake.  The living memories.

@earnestgirl recommended "The Tenth Good Thing about Barney" by Judith Viorst.  (Which I have not read but shall be putting on my hold list at the library).  Though the description tells of a boy who's pet has died...it seems to follow the unsure times and positive memories surrounding a loss.


I did find one other book at the libary - illustrated in deep browns and yellows (which instantly made me think of that CSI episode where Nick is burried alive in a box).   It could have been a text masterpiece but the eery illustrations was a deal breaker in taking that book home.

If you have or will be, in the situation of explaining death to kids, I would recommend these books.  Let me know if you have others - I'll add them to the post.