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Life lessons


This guy learned a little bit about dealing with grief and frustration today. 

He's been begging for years to be able to raise a pig for 4-H. This year we finally let them. 

This morning when he went out to feed them he found his had died. We don't know why. They said she had not been eating much yesterday, and she had some kind of sore on her leg. But, nothing conclusive. 

He is a tough boy. I worried he might take it out on his siblings today, but he hasn't. They're discussing options for sharing fair money, but he doesn't like the idea too much. He said he wants either "his pig or no pig!"

I feel bad for him. I really do, as much as I don't like the stinky pigs and don't like dealing with having animals. It's not fair that it had to be his that died, when both of his brothers didn't care about doing it quite as much. 

I wonder if as parents we're doing it right. But I think we are. A hug. A gentle, "I'm sorry." That was what he needed. 

Meanwhile, a few of the other kids- what they need is to go to bed early! 

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