Our hamster died recently. Strechy McFlatButt, as she was affectionately named because of how she could stretch out her body and flatten, was our first family pet and very much loved. She was a very small dwarf hamster, with a sweet personality and the softest fur. And my children loved her.

Both of my kids are tentative around animals. Over the year and a half that Strechy was with us, they became more comfortable petting her and holding her. They giggled while watching her run on her wheel, or peek her head in and out of various hiding places. She was a gentle, joyful, and constant presence.

When we first discovered that she had died, there were big feelings of sadness. Lots of tears and crying. Over the next few days, the intensity of the emotions began to dissipate as we continued to share happy memories of Stretchy. We sang songs about her, and tried to imagine what her afterlife might be like. What is heaven for a hamster?

We all knew that Stretchy would die someday, and that it would probably happen sooner than we wished. Hamsters don’t have a very long life span, after all. I am so grateful for the tiny creature who became part of our family and gave us an opportunity to practice so many important life experiences, like love, caring for others, and processing grief.

Rest in Peace, little Stretchy.