This morning I did my normal routine, getting my daughter off to school is always first, than when she gets off to school I take care of the little critters we both adore so much. Well It was heartbreaking for me to find our little hamster OREO passed away during the nite, I dont know what it may have been caused by (plenty of food and water) it was probably due to age he was 2.5yrs old.. My daughter Hannah will be heartbroken to find this out today. Please keep her in your thoughts today for when she gets home from school she will be upset about her pet. Thank you for allowing me to post this...
Aww. I totally feel for you. We have to put our doberman, Eli, down today. At 1:30 we're going down to the vet's to do it. So I'll know just how you and her feel. I will keep you two in my thoughts as well. It sure is a sad day.
I'm sorry to hear about your hamster. Losing a pet is never easy, even when the pet has lived a good, long life. I'll keep you and your daughter in my thoughts today.
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"Thought is an invisible and subtle power that mocks all the efforts of tyranny." Alexis de Tocqueville
Peek, I am really sorry to hear about the loss of one of your family pets - especially because it was your daughters pet. Children don't understand death the way adults do and it is important that you let her know it's ok to cry her little heart out. Sometimes, with children, it is good to have some kind of a burial 'ceremony'. It helps give them closure on something they cannot understand. Also know that everyone grieves differently and if her reaction is not as bad as you anticipated, that is completely normal. Some children cry, others do not. Some just want to be by themselves.
If your daughter has chores, you may want to consider being a little flexible with them over the next few days. As adults we are entitled to at least 3 days of bereavement from our jobs our school when a close death happens. Children understand that this is because the death is important. You'll want her to know that her pets death was important also and allow her bereavement. By treating her pets death on the level that an adult would be treated in regards to a death (by allowing 'time off' for bereavement) lets her know that you are taking it seriously and that will mean alot to her.
My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.
You know when I was little and my pet would die, mom would give me money, for my choice of new pet and I was ok with hunting a replacement. Or when I was more gullible, she now admits, she would have it already replaced before I got home. We are talking guppies not hampsters, but it is the same idea.
Mollie, I am sorry to hear of your beloved dobie Eli having to be put to sleep, hope you are holding up OK. My thoughts and prayers are with you during this time.
Ansy thank you for the advice on dealing with my daughter. She has chores but not much to mention and I had already relieved her of them. She did take it pretty hard and cried very much and I just allowed her to let it out.
We have to put our doberman, Eli, down today. At 1:30 we're going down to the vet's to do it. So I'll know just how you and her feel. 
"Thought is an invisible and subtle power that mocks all the efforts of tyranny." Alexis de Tocqueville
