When my son, Owen, was younger, we would crank up the song "When the Sun Goes Down" during dinner time and he would eat.  This was pre g-tube when we were struggling to get him enough calories just so that he would make it on the growth chart.  The song worked and we loved it.  We wore out the CD for a month until it didn't work.

Now we are riding in the car and Kenny's song "Everybody wants to go to Heaven, but nobody wants to go now." comes on.  Usually, my boys (7 and 9) are too busy with their own conversation to listen to me or even the music.   Owen (my CF kiddo -7) yells, "Hey Mom, when I am in Heaven, are you going to miss me?"   Immediately, the tears start to fall.   And all the love I once had for Kenny - gone.

We don't shy away from what this illness can do, but we don't directly tell them either.  When questions are asked, we usually start with, what do you think/know?  And after their answers, we tell them what they need to know without them saying later in life that we lied to them.  Now this isn't the first time he has talked about death.  When my Grandmother (my Mom's Mom) passed away 2 1/2 years ago, he told my Mom that he would take care of Grandma Georgie when he got to Heaven.   Some of my other CF Mom friends have said that their kids talk in similar tones and I am aware from previous issues that 6 to 7 year olds are fascinated with death. 

Thankfully, Spencer turns to his brother and says, "Don't you remember Dad telling you that he didn't give you permission to go to Heaven yet and you can't go unless he says so."  And Owen replied, "Yes, but I didn't listen, because Mom is the boss of the family."