How Do You Explain?

Last week, Toronto police Sgt. Ryan Russell was killed while in the line of duty.

Everyone’s death makes me sad as I think about the loss of life and hope the person who died did so instantly, without suffering or the realization that death was coming.

And then I feel awful for the person’s family. And in the case of Russell, my sadness extends particularly to his wife and their two-year-old son.

According to media reports, the little boy turned to his mother at his father’s funeral and asked ‘Where is Daddy?’

What do you say to a two-year-old about that? Does a child at that age know what death means? How can you ensure he knows Daddy didn’t leave him on purpose, that what his Daddy wanted to do most was come home, scoop up his little guy and hold him tightly? How can you make a little boy who is missing his Daddy understand his Daddy loves him and he wasn’t abandoned.

I have found since becoming a mom myself that I feel this type of pain more acutely.

My condolences to the Russell family