Little Man, Eli

One of the hardest parts of losing Daddy has been talking to Eli about where Grandad went. We just weren't ready to discuss Heaven with a 2 year old. How much does he understand, anyway?

So the first conversation went like this:

Eli: Go to see Grandad?

me: Not today, Eli.

Eli: hosipital

me: No, he's not at the hospital. He went to Heaven.

Eli: Evan? (One of his friends' names is Evan. I can completely understand that these words sound the same - Evan and Heaven.)

me: Not "Evan" - Grandad went to Heaven. (with an emphasis on the beginning of the word - 'H')

Eli: Oh, Heaven. Go see Grandma?

me: Yes, going to see Grandma.

And almost every day since, we've gone to see Grandma and we've had a similar conversation about Heaven and Grandad. It just breaks my heart. The little man, Eli, misses his Grandad so much! (And, needless to say, so do the rest of us!)

So this week, we haven't seen Mom for a couple of days and we had this conversation or a similar version each day when I've picked him up from school:

Eli: Go to see Grandma?

me: No, not today.

Eli: Where did Grandma go?

me: She's busy today. We'll see her soon.

Eli: To Heaven?

me: No, not to Heaven.

Eli: hosipital?

me: No, not at the hospital. We'll see her soon.

Eli: Listen to peanut butter, please. (Which means he wants to listen to the Peanut Butter and Jelly song on his CD in my car. Thank goodness for CD changers! It makes it so much easier for me to switch between Eli's music and my music in the car. Although sometimes, our music is the same!) And he sings along with the music which is one of the best things ever!

One of his teachers at preschool told me this week that at dismissal (at the high school where his preschool is located) they have been playing a different song. On the first day it was played, Eli got up from his spot at the table and started dancing along to the music. After it was over, he said, "That's a good song." One of the teachers asked him if he's heard it before to which he replied, "Mommy has it car."

Blessings!