Sitting in my car, I sent my good friend a message, asking her what she thought about a book idea that would be bittersweet… Whimsical, but sad. I didn’t understand why at the time, but I simply knew I had to write this story. Jude’s Best Worst Day Ever started with a feeling and an image in my mind. I saw the characters laying in a field, the sun kissing their paws, and that sunny same warmth shining on Buddy’s ashes on a table and on Jude running in the yard outside the window. The connection of the sun in each scenario and touching the characters was the driving force behind starting this project.
A few months prior to sitting down at my computer to get the initial revision of Jude’s Best Worst Day Ever, my parents navigated the difficult decision to euthanize their elderly dog. My best friend was facing the same impending heartbreaking decision for her beloved dog, too. My husband handled the brunt of the journey with our own pet, Molly, about a year and a half prior. Molly had sudden congestive heart failure. It was clear the medications weren’t working. Her condition declined so rapidly, it was heartbreaking to see her in such disorienting pain. We had to say goodbye. Our girls were too young to comprehend what was going on, but the thought nestled into my consciousness that they would eventually have to say goodbye to our other cats one day. I wanted to write a story that could help with the journey of saying goodbye to their cherished pets.
When I was in my twenties, I worked at an animal shelter. This shelter had a policy that animals were never euthanized due to lack of space or because they had been in the shelter for a long time. Regardless, we occasionally made the best decision for the animals to euthanize to relieve their pain. I held the paw and stared into the eyes of numerous shelter animals as they were given relief and euthanized. I wanted them to know they weren’t alone and someone loved them in their last moments. I have lost my own family pets as a child and as an adult. The loss, the pain, the grief is a shared experience felt by all who have had to say goodbye to cherished animals.
I hope my story brings a smile to those reading or hearing it read, but also helps to start the process of healing. Grief and loss affect everyone, but it’s important to understand that children may not always express their emotions outwardly or in a way that is easy to identify as caregivers. Understanding and supporting children through their grief is crucial, though it can be challenging to navigate and find the best approaches for the child. I hope the adult guidebook at the end of Jude’s Best Worst Day Ever will provide caregivers information needed to navigate discussions surrounding loss and grief. The activities recommended can be used to give space, time, and comfort to children and adults, remembering and honoring their pets.