Death of a Meerkat

The things we bond with our children over. I am sure there are many other mothers in my same predicament. Meerkat Manor is a show that my youngest son and I have watched together on seveal occasions.

He has been watching since the show started in 2000 and the the "Queen of the Kalahari" was born, affectionately known as "Flower." For those not familiar it is a reality show on Animal Planet.

My son seemed a little more somber than ususal on Saturday. Could quite put my finger on what was going on with him. He and his brother had visit with their dad. Came home and just kinda of kept to himself.

His cousins with the exception of the youngest was outside and big brother and big sis were working. As I sat in my chair half watching my nephew and surfing the computer. My son was on the house computer behind me.

He asked me to turn and look at the screen,where he had pulled a web page. The page was a tribute to "Flower." She had died in the epsidode that aired on Friday. Talk about feeling like you have just lost the family pet.

My son was devasted. My heartbroke for him. We cried off and on Saturday night. I was even sadder that he had watched the Friday show without me. His wish was to find some way to give a fitting tribute to her. As I listened to him talk the beauty of his soul was revealed. In typical fashion of my son he decided to name a "World of Warcraft" character for her.

I asked if he would still continue to watch the show. He doesn't know if he will. He felt the show could have done something to help her. I had to explain that when filming is done in the wild they have a policy. The policy is not to disturb the natural balance of things.

This is truly one of the priceless parenting moments to know he felt comfortable to share his sorrow with me.