GROSS, GROSS, GROSS!

I just retrieved half of a bunny from the yard and put it into the trash. We startled a coyote at the top of the hill on our way up the driveway earlier today. The cat must have brought the abandoned, half-eaten rabbit down to the yard and our dog took it from her (because he doesn't roam as far as she does and takes whatever he likes from her).

The boys didn't stay in the house as I'd instructed so just as I was bagging the bunny bits, they showed up urgently wanting to see. So I told them it was part of a dead bunny and I didn't want them to see it and be scared. They kept whining that they wanted to see. So, I considered for a moment and then showed them. Two mangled legs and a puffy tail with fresh meat hanging but not really any blood. Trent said, "Yep, dead bunny" and then wanted to carry the bag and put it in the trash can. Trevor wanted to see but didn't care about carrying it. I told Trent no, that the dog wanted the bunny back and would take the bag away if he had it. He settled for opening the trash can lid.

So, here's my question... Are they too young yet to be bothered by this stuff? We've talked about living vs. dead when talking about insects but this is their first experience with something larger. I want them to understand but I don't want them getting nightmares in the process. I can personally (vividly) remember the chicken and turkey processing that my parents did and we left the farm right after my 5th birthday so that's a strong memory considering my age at the time.

 

Does not sound to me that they are traumatized about it. I think that since you did not make it into a big deal then they will be o.k.. Plus with them being boys I think you are fine.

 

my girls have seen dead chipmunks but not been upset by them. we've also had extensive conversations about death as we drive by the cemetery... Hopefully you wont be bagging bunnies regularly. It's an opportunity to teach about the food chain and the life cycle. Coyotes gotta eat.
Read the book FOX EYES by Margaret Wise Brown.

 

It sounds like they were okay with it. Be prepared to answer any questions about the dead bunny in the yard. How did it die? Why was it there? etc... Be honest about it.

 

Sounds like you handled it really well actually. Satisfied their curiosity and didn't make a big deal out of it! I would probably leave it at that....for now. I'm not sure how to broach the death thing! I thought I was going to have to when we were faced with possibly attending a funeral. Sorta dodged that one.

 

YUCK! I think you handled it well. It is a fact of life (though not necessarily one you want to have drug to your doorstep), and you handled it matter-of-factly. I don't think you gave them anything to be afraid of.

I had the brilliant idea of showing them one of my childhood favorites recently, The Fox & the Hound, conveniently forgetting the entire premise of the show was attempting to kill the poor fox. :huh: They kept saying What goin' on that cartoon? every time the hunter started after the fox. We go to a farm regularly and they understand that the meat we buy at the store comes from animals that used to live on the farm, but the idea of 'sport hunting' seemed a bit more violent than a lesson about the balance of predator/prey in nature or raising livestock for purposes of nutrition.