While driving Savannah home from school this week, I have enjoyed some no movie in the car time. Instead, I listen to NPR which has a heavy focus on Haiti. A few segments have caught Savannah's attention which has given me the opportunity to broaden her horizons. The initial questions where simple like how does a building just fall down or what makes the earth shake. As time went on, her little mind dug deeper into the matter.
Here is today's conversation. Please note that I haven't turned on the TV since the quake and don't know much about the details. I have only caught bits and pieces on NPR. I tried to respond to her questions the best I could.
S: Are the people, there helping, starting to build new house for the Haitians?
M: Right now they are focused on what the people need most, for example water?
S: Well, what are they going to do with all the stuff from the broken buildings? Don't they have to move it so they can build new ones?
M: That is one of the numerous problems that is not easily solved. It is going to take a long time.
After hearing a report of a child who lost his parents in the quake. . .
S: So that baby doesn't have any parents?
M: Yes, and there are many children that are in the same situation or separated from their parents.
S: I can't imagine being separated from you Mommy.
M: I don't want to think about it either.
S: I want to help the kids that don't have any parents. What can I do?
M: That is another one of the problems that the people, who are flying to Haiti to help, are trying to figure out. They are trying to decide the best way to help heal the children and their broken hearts.
S: We can do that. We can be their new family and maybe after a really long time, the children (meaning one child) will love us more than their first parents. Well, probably not, but maybe they will love us the same. But that is going to take a really long time.
M: How are we going to become a child's family? We are here and the child is in Haiti.
S: There are planes mommy. They children can fly here. We have a lot of extra love and we have a really good family because we are all so sweet. I think we can fix their broken hearts. Should we do that mommy?
M: It isn't that easy. The helpers in Haiti have to know for sure the child doesn't parents and then someone would have find a way to get the child onto the plane. It would also take a lot of effort from our family. Mommy and Daddy would have to spend a lot of time trying to make the child feel loved and safe.
S: Well, I know we can do that mommy.
M: Right now I am just giving money so that the doctors have the medicine they need to give to the sick people and that every person is able to drink clean water.
S: You mean a lot of the kids have to get shots (showing her age here)?
M: Yes, but they don't even care because things are so miserable for them right now.
S: Could you show me pictures of the earthquake because I am imagining something really bad in my head but I bet it is even worse? Are the news people still there taking pictures? I mean, I know they aren't happy pictures like we take. They are taking them so we know how bad it is right Mommy?
M: Yes, they are.
S: Mommy, I am going to give all my money to the WaWa (where I donate each day to the Red Cross). I mean, I don't really care about toys. They aren't important right now. I have $19.00. Don't you think that will really help the people. Of course I can't send my $9.00 Toys R Us coupons because those won't really help them. Even if there was a toy I really, really, wanted, I am still going to send all my money. Don't you think that is a nice thing for me to do?
M: I kiss and hug her and am humbled by her compassion.
Upon arriving home. . .
S: What envelope should put this money in so I can donate it tomorrow?
