you know when parents tell their kids that their dog went to live on a farm (mine did and it wasn't until i was in my 20s that i figured it out, despite knowing the cliche much longer) or when they replace a died goldfish, is that a good idea? i always thought it made more sense to let them cry over the fish to prepare them for proper loss, but i've never had kids.

maybe you think that's what you'll do but then when it happens you don't want to upset them.

parents of dis, ex-children, stories/thoughts welcome.