Well 2 hours after I posted my win. Something really sad happened. My four year old daughter was jumping on our recliner. She got off to find our bunny. And she spotted it, but then started screaming, and crying. She screamed that the bunny had blood all over it.
I got up, and went to look, and the bunny had gotten squished by the recliner.
My daughter cried, I freaked out, and started crying, I yelled at her, What did you do.
Took 20 mins to calm down, I called my parents, and my mom came over, and cleaned up the rabbit. Put her in a box, and took her to my moms house. We will bury it tommorrow.
My mom helped me calm kailey down. She told her the bunny is in heaven. And kailey said she would miss her bunny, and she wanted another animal. We told her she can't have another one, because this house has to many places that are not safe for animals.
She cried a whole lot. And She told God she was sorry that she killed her bunny. That hurt my heart so bad to hear her say that. It was a freak accident, she didn't mean to kill it.
We will miss that bunny. But I am scared my daughter will be tramatized by this. She saw the bunny, and it was really gross looking. She will forever have that in her memory. Now she is scared that there are "dead" bunnies walking around our house. As she says. I know that sounds silly to an adult. But to her, she is very frightened. I don't know what to do. She is sleeping right now. So hopefully she will have good dreams, and feel a little better in the morning. Anyone have any suggestions
My husband isn't much help. He was at work when It happen, I told him and he freaked out, and yelled at me, why did she do that. And he told me I need to spank her. He doesn't understand. ( he is not very good with handling drama situations.)

Poor Kailey.  What a sad accident.  A friend of mine had a similar mishap with a ferret a few years ago.  She was in her 20's when it happened and she was very shaken.  What an awful thing for a four year old to have to process.  It was an accident, a sad accident.

yea, I have told her that it wasn't her fault. She just cries, it is so sad. She will forget about it for 5 mins, and then realize it agian, and start talking about it, and cry agian. Then it makes me cry, so that her cry even more. Its a good thing she is asleep right now, because i feel so upset. I just feel dumb, like im a bad parent, because I wasn't watching her, or keeping an eye on the bunny.

It does no one any good to spank her - it will just make her feel worse and guilty even more. It was an accident.

You and your husband need to talk to each other before you talk to your daughter and come up with a plan together. I'm glad you're going to bury the bunny. Maybe that will help.

It's very hard to raise a child - I have three adult sons. You never know what they will remember about growing up. Some things that I remember about their childhoods, they don't remember at all.

I have two bunny stories - they were traumatic at the time, but, now many years later, my sons and I can laugh about them. Sometimes, the best medicine is laughter, even though it comes later in life.

So, keep your chin up. Kailey will be all right, really - kids bounce back faster than you know. Just hug her and kiss her and tell her it will be all right. Mommy's kiss can still heal

Kate

oh tiff im sooo sorry. Thats awful. I hope she feels better. Just make sure ya keep telling her that it was an accident. and it wasnt her fault.  you are not a bad parent. you are a very caring, loving and patient parent.  I hope she feels better and you too.

Thank you guys 

Today went so much smoother. Rocky took the cage outside. So I think it is sinking in that the rabbit is gone. Kailey talks about the rabbit alot. But she doesn't cry now. So that is good. She now is blaming me for having the recliner. She says we shouldn't have that chair. Oh well. So she is doing alot better.
Does anyone listen to the radio station Air 1  its a christian alternative. Well on fridays you can call in and talk about whatever. I called in and talked about the bunny. And a bunch of other parents then called in, and told thier animal stories. SO that made me feel much better.

Oh my gosh  poor little thing I hope she and you will just let time heal the hurt you guys are feeling. It was just an accident and sometimes they happen hopefully it will be a learning experience for her and she won't remember it in a few weeks.

I hope your daughter is doing okay, Please just dont make her feel guilty about it , it was truly an accident.  Dont let her carry the guilt. 

Oh Tiff, how awful for you both!!! 

I agree with everyone to not let her feel like it was a fault thing - and that includes her blaming you for having the chair.

But - that does open the door to you having a good "cause and effect" conversation with her. I realize at 4 she will have a hard time grasping the concept that our actions always have consequences, some good, some bad, but I really think if she can put it all together - with your help - it will help her deal.

As for having another animal? Once you've had those convos with her, and she realizes that responsibility comes with owning a pet, I think it would be the best thing you could do for her to help her cope.

Raising a child/children is a gift - and it's one you obviously cherish - so don't you ever feel you don't deserve it/are a bad parent!!! 

thanks for the update ... glad she is doing well and taking good care of her new pet