A vegetarian in the making

"What's your favorite dinosaur, Kestian?"

"Styracosaurus. I don't like Tyrannosaurus rex, because he's a meat eater. I don't like the meat eaters."

That's right. Most kids love the T. rex. He's cool. He's no non-sense. He's a go-getter. But not Kestian. He doesn't like T. rex because he eats meat. As in other animals. So, yeah, with all the things Kestian knows about dinosaurs: what time period they lived in, their relative size to one another, whether or not they had feathers, he's also keenly aware of what each one ate. And this is the most important factor when deciding if he likes the animal. Clearly, to Kestian, the T. rex is just a big ol' meany preying on poor innocent plant eaters. Already at 5 he understands that every thing has to eat something, but he is clearly bothered at how some animals lose out in a big way if others are to get their supper.

You big meany.

Kestian's empathy for other living things is extremely strong. So much so that I have to be very careful about what I say or what he sees on TV. And let me tell you, it may not look like it but he is always listening. Take, for example, one day when I had the news on in the living room while the kids were in the playroom. I never watch the news while they are around in case there is something on that would upset them. But on this day it seemed safe as they were off in their own world. However, eventually, Kestian wondered in at the same time that a news announcer said something like "Flash flooding kills 7 people in New Jersey." Not horrible, scary stuff per se. But Kestian must have heard it and immediately repeated it and asked "Were Grandma and Grandpa killed?" (because, you know, they live in New Jersey...). I downplayed it as much as possible, but I felt so bad that he even came to that conclusion. I guess he's too young to know that more than 7 people live in New Jersey...

See? More than 7.

Or the other day, during a Jeopardy! commercial break, he heard that some people around here were trying to catch a loose bear. He asked if the bear was going to be OK. We had to reassure him that the people were just going to catch and move the bear, not kill it.

Great catch!

All this concern for animals, we are sure, will soon turn Kestian into a vegetarian in the not too distant future. He often asks about the food he is eating, and we are honest with him that yes, someone did kill the chicken, or yes, the bacon did come from a pig. He eats it all anyway, but we know he is filing it away for later when he finally decides that he cannot take part in the slaughter society.

Mmmm. Bacon.

And that's fine. None of us are vegetarians (and not because we don't care about animals but just because meat is yummy...), but if Kestian one day decides to go down the meat-free path, we can understand. He is the boy who always picks up the struggling worm on the sidewalk and gently places it in the grass. He's the one who tries to catch the bugs that get inside so he can take them outside. He is the boy who, already, seems to understand life and death and it's effects on others.

My sweet Kestian. You are wiser than your years lead anyone to know. Your compassion is unmatched. And that is why you are truly the sweetest boy.