A Visit With Poppie

me: how was your nap, bud?
Joey: good. Can we go to Nonni's house now?
me: yup! Nonni and Poppie will be home and they are bringing your other Poppie with them!
Joey: what udder Poppie?
me: your Poppie's daddy.
Joey: Oh! oh.. you mean, Nana's Poppie?
me: Yup! He's coming to have dinner with us. Cool, huh?!
Joey: mm. No he jut doesn't hapt to come to dinner.
me: Joe, thats not nice. Poppie will be very happy to see you.
Joey: no, dat okay ma, he dudn't hab his Nana wit him. We jut gonna hab dinner wit Nonni and my wegular Poppie.

I tried to change the conversation, understanding that even at 3 years old, Joey can sense the absence of his Nana. At a young age, he is aware and uncomfortable with how sad it is to not have her with us anymore...

Poppie: Oh, I think I'll sit here by you Joey, how does that sound?
Joey: Oh yeah, yeah. ...uh, Poppie? Where you Nana at?
Poppie: well, she's not here tonight..
Joey: But why she no here? Oh! Dats wight, she in heaben, huh Poppie?
Poppie: Yes, she is.

I panic when Joey is around Poppie for this very reason. I can see how hard it is for my Poppie to answer him, and to talk about Nana. I feel like each time its upsetting him over and over. My kids the one that won't stop asking where Nana is, every time he sees Poppie without her. Sometimes I wish he were the type to not notice, not think anything of it. To look past the situation and just be focused on silly things. But, that's not Joey. He is sensitive. He's observant. He likes predictability and repetitiveness. He loves his family and he can see that his Poppie isn't the same without his Nana.