Yesterday night our cat died; that’s obviously a sad moment but in a way it was also very beautiful. She had lived to be 23 and that’s pretty old for a cat. The past few months it became obvious to us all that she wouldn’t be with us much longer, and her death didn’t come as a surprise but was a very natural ending. During that last day we saw her condition getting worse quite fast and for a moment I wanted to jump in the car and get to the vet to have it over with as soon as possible. She wasn’t in pain though and the kids wanted her to die at home, on her pillow in front of the fire, surrounded by all of us. They suggested that we would all watch ‘The Aristocats’ movie to honor her life and it turned out to be a very special, almost magical night with our cat in the center of attention. Watching that movie was the children’s way of celebrating the life of our cat and during the movie they all sat with her and said their goodbyes. When the movie was over our cat took her last breath and died and we all knew that it was all right that way. A few months ago one of our horses had a foal and the children were present at that magical occasion as well. At moments like this I’m so very happy that our children don’t go to school. I’m so glad that we can take all the time we need to experience these moments and to learn the lessons that life teaches us this way. Our cat still lies on her pillow while I’m writing this. She’s surrounded by candles and freshly picked flowers. Every now and then I see one of the children looking at her or touching her. When we’re all ready for it we’ll go and bury her in the garden later today. For tonight I picked out a book to read to the children about the nine lives of a cat. Unschooling gives us the chance to give these occasions the attention they deserve. I remember how happy I was when my third son Jochem was born in the middle of the Christmas holidays. If he had been born a few weeks later (or earlier) his oldest brother (who still went to school in those days) had not been able to enjoy that magical time with his newborn brother; now it’s one of his best memories. I think that it’s really sad that people in general value school lessons over these Lessons of Life. What’s even sadder is that children don’t have a choice in these matters; they can’t even take a day off when they attend school! I remember that I once stayed out of school with a friend of mine because her pony was giving birth to a foal. I can still remember very clearly how my friend and I were watching in a corner of the stall, while the vet was trying to save the pony whose foal was born dead. When we came back at school we luckily weren’t punished because we had been so upset about the dead foal. I don’t remember what lessons we had the rest of that day, but I do remember that I had many questions and that none of them got answered. I’m so glad that my children have the time they need to learn the lessons of life and that I’m here with them to try and answer their questions.