Child Psychology 101

Lucas, Kai, and I were eating lunch together today when Lucas dropped a raisin on the floor. After stooping down under the table to look for it, he popped up and said, "It's not there!"

Me, "You can't find it? Maybe a little mouse ran by and scooped it up!"
Lucas, "It wasn't a mouse. It was a RAT!"
Me, "Really? We have a rat in the house?"
Lucas, "Yep!"

A series of questions followed, through which Lucas informed me that the rat was red, very small, lived under the couch, and was named Sheriff.

Then Lucas said, "Yes, he lives here in our house because his mommy and daddy went away to America and left him all by himself in Taiwan."
Thinking that this might be his way of processing Kai's situation (which he's been asking a lot of questions about), I said, "I'm sure his mommy and daddy love and miss him very much."
Lucas replied, "Yes. But they will never come and see him again. Ever." He dropped his head down.
"Poor Sheriff," I said. "I'm glad that he has you to help take care of him."
Lucas perked up a little. "Yes, he can be my pet!"

I thought our little imaginary story had come to an end, but I heard Lucas talking to himself a little bit (I was cleaning up from lunch), and a little while later, Lucas exclaimed, "Sheriff's mommy and daddy are here! They decided they want him after all! He's going back to America with them!"
"Oh!" I replied. "Did you say goodbye to him before he leaves?"
"Yes, I did," Lucas said. Then his eyes filled with tears, "But I'm really going to miss him when he goes to America." His chin started to quiver.
"Lucas," I said, walking over to him, "Sheriff's just pretend, remember?"
Lucas suddenly burst into tears, "I miss my daddy!" he wailed. "I want him to come back from America right now! I don't think he's ever coming back to me in Taiwan!"

Ah. So that's what that was about.

I finally got him calmed down and reassured of his daddy's love and promised return (he's been in the US for several days, and returns next week). Isn't it fascinating how small children process and express their emotions? And it all started out with a dropped raisin and a seemingly silly story about a rat.