Most of my meaningful conversations with my children occur
when we are driving from one place to another. It could be as short as a drive
home from school, or as long as a trip to the hospital(s). No topic is off
limits. No question is avoided. Whatever they ask, I answer, to the best of my
ability.
We have talked about sex, and drug addiction, and child
abuse, and domestic violence, and masturbation, and first kisses. We discuss
science, music, art, theater, literature. If Quinn is in the car, we talk
about video games. A lot.
Yesterday, Claire and I set off just before daybreak for
another appointment at another hospital. We received less than 24 hours notice,
and because of that, Claire was anxious. She has reached the point of
understanding urgent things in her life are usually not good things.
We talked about a bunch of different topics for the first
part of the trip. She wanted to know why Kurt Cobain killed himself. She's
recently discovered Nirvana and wanted to know what happened to him. This led
to a long discussion on creativity, and drug addiction; heroin, and detox. She
still couldn't understand why and the best I could offer her was, he probably
just wanted to stop hurting.
Not long after sunrise, Claire quietly asked me if she was
going to die.
Before I tell you, dear Reader, how I answered that
question, allow me to back up for just a moment.
When it comes to issues of faith, my friends run the
spectrum. I have friends who are strong-believers and can quote Scripture on
demand. I have friends who are, as they term themselves, raging atheists. I
have friends who are somewhere between all of those points. I feel lucky to
have friends who cover the spectrum. I respect and appreciate all of their
viewpoints.
When it comes to faith in our household, we cover a spectrum
too. Quinn is a non-believer. He is just too analytical to accept there's a
supreme being who created and is controlling the universe. I accept that
position, but have taught him to respect those who do believe, and he does.
I am a true agnostic. I do not believe nor do I disbelieve.
I accept that I do not know.
Claire has always been my believer. She embraced everything
she was taught in Catholic school. She took it to heart. I accept her beliefs,
but have taught her that not everyone shares them and she understands.
When my normally bubbly, enthusiastic, happy-go-lucky
child quietly asked me if she was going to die, I blurted out the first thing
that came into my head, "You are. Everyone does."
I asked her if she believed in heaven. She said she didn't
know in a way that showed she wanted to avoid the question. I told her there
was no right or wrong way, however she felt was right. I told her I was just
curious.
In between breaths, I will tell you, I wanted to give her
the fairytale of heaven, if that's what she needed, because, she's my baby. She's
my baby and she's scared and panicky and anxious and if the thought of a heaven
I don't know if I believe in or understand gave her one millisecond of peace, I
wanted to give that to her.
She got quiet in a way she never is and thought deeply in a
way she never does and said, "I don't believe in heaven, but I do believe
we all have a final resting place that is peaceful."
I think that's the most perfect thing I've ever heard. It
feels right to her, so it feels right to me. I grabbed her hand, kissed it and
said, "That’s probably the most brilliant thing anyone has ever said ever
and you're 12. I love you."
She smiled, and I smiled. We turned our faces to the dawn
and drove on.
