We don't catch butterflies anymore.....
by
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Justin watched his Nan as she cleaned the bathroom. His inquisitive blue eyes sparkling as she began to polish the large mirror over the vanity basin. “I love your crystal butterfly,” he said, as she moved the suction cupped butterfly in the corner of the mirror to clean beneath it. “Yes, I love it too,” she replied. “It is a very special butterfly.” “Why is it special Nan?” he asked. “Well,” she said thoughtfully, “It reminds me every day of something really important. It reminds me of what I am supposed to do.” “What are you supposed to do Nan?” he queried with a puzzled look on his young face. “Oh sweetheart, I don’t think you would understand,” she said smiling at him. “You are just a little boy……… and. “ “I’m not little,” he said, before she could finish what she was saying. “I’m three years old…….. I’m a big boy now.” His Nan laughed and picked him up. Giving him a big cuddle, she sat him on the vanity bench under the mirror. “You are a big boy Justin, so I will tell you why the butterfly is so special.” “Every day when I look in this mirror and see the crystal butterfly it reminds me that I have to change,” she said. “We all have to change” she smiled at him. “How do we have to change?” he asked. “We should all live to become the best we can be,” she told him. “That means we have to learn and change and become better every day and the butterfly reminds me of that.” . “How does it remind you Nan? he questioned. “There is a word that explains it,” she said to him. “Its a big word Justin, and I’m not sure you would understand it,” she said tussling his blonde hair. “It is a very big word for a little boy.” “The word is metamorphosis and it is what happens to a butterfly.” “Can you say that word Justin?” his Nan asked. “Of course….. I’m a big boy now,” he asserted. “Mmmmm et a….. ummmm.” “Metamorphosis,” his Nan prompted. “Metamorphosis.” Justin practised saying it a few more times and finally he got it. “Meta …mor…pho… sis,” he said, beaming with pride. “Yes sweetheart, metamorphosis.” “It means changing from one thing to another. Hopefully to something better.” “To something beautiful like a butterfly,” she said smiling. “Wow, you really are a big boy now,” his Nan commented. “ I wonder if you will remember how to say it when you go home. I bet Mum and Dad would be really surprised.” “I will.” he assured her. “ Meta… mor.. pho.. sis,” he repeated. “I will remember… and you know Nan I really do love your crystal butterfly.” “I do too Justin,” she said, and picked him up and gave him a huge kiss and cuddle.
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About the Book
This story is about three incredible young children. One whose life, though very short, brought many blessings, and two who were left to find meaning in the death of their brother and the sadness that surrounded them. Many people struggle when faced with the death of someone they love…. For children the situation is often incomprehensible because they have neither the life skills nor resources to deal with such circumstances. Adults too, particularly while grieving themselves, find it difficult to explain death to children. The unanswered questions and unresolved issues of separation often lead to deeper scars. These can impact significantly and negatively on their lives. It is hoped that this book will be a useful resource for parents, grand-parents, teachers and counselors. Children in particular, who are dealing with the loss of someone they love, will benefit from the simple but profound message of this story.