Engaging children in talking about death has often been viewed as taboo. After all, children are just at the beginning stages of life. But just as every gardener knows, the life and death of organic matter is a perpetual cycle, and so it is for our bodies. The beauty of talking about death with children is just how direct and honest they can be when curiosity is shining at its brightest. “Will My Cat Eat My Eyeballs? —Big Questions from Tiny Mortals about Death,” mortician Caitlin Doughty’s latest book, exemplifies this to a T. Having decades of experience as a funeral director and death educator, Caitlin is certainly not shy discussing end of life topics, and is very eager to share. This book, though inspired by her conversations with children, is perfectly fine for adults as well. I guarantee you’ll be surprised at some of the answers to these questions. As a cat owner myself, I was amazed to learn what my cat would be likely to do if he was ever around my corpse for too long! This book does not have to be read from cover to cover. You can simply begin with the table of contents and choose the questions you’d like to read first. Although this book was written to address children’s questions, there were times when I felt the author’s responses were more fitting for teenage and adult comprehension. Still, there is great potential value for anyone in what is shared.
Check out Catilin’s YouTube channel, https://youtube.com/@askamortician?si=Eo5-xVO9cVrA1g0I and website https://caitlindoughty.com for a plethora of information. She has other social media channels and is the founder of the Order of the Good Death – a Death Positive and Green Burial Advocate website: https://www.orderofthegooddeath.com/ You will have your plate full with interesting videos to watch, events to attend, books to read and more by simply clicking on those three links. This book is available through the Lake County Library system.
Until the book ends,
Esther Suarez
Hospice Volunteer