I will never forget you Pluto

Two years ago Jammin' received a cool Science book all about the planets, including Glow-in-the-Dark star stickers to hang on the bedroom walls.  Which we did.  The book was set aside and never looked at again. 

This afternoon, Jammin' pulled that book out and intently read through the pages, blurting out facts to me.  "Mom, Mars has a volcano on it!"   "Mom, Venus is the hottest planet."  "Mom, Neptune is covered in an ocean of liquid gas!".....and then suddenly silence.

"um....mom?"  He said, "This book says that Pluto is the smallest planet, but my teacher told me Pluto isn't a planet anymore."

I shed silent tears.  "Your teacher is right.   Some science guys got together and decided Pluto was too small to be a planet."

"Oh...Then why does the book say it is a planet?"

I tried my best - but how do you explain Publishing Dates to a kid?

Comments

[Desert Songbird]

Ergh. I have a brilliant son who likes to bring this up every now and again.

He looooooves to tell me that all of the books need to be published again with corrected information. Of course, he also likes to tell me how dumb those scientists are who determined that Pluto was no longer a planet.

[Kate]

This totally inspired a blog post... I typed out this endless comment, but realized I might as well post it instead of hijacking your comments...

But, in short, yeah. I've watched my 7-year-old process the loss of Pluto... it's not an overnight thing.

Thanks for the inspiration!

[Rach]

Funny you bring this up. I was going to blog about it too! lol

My eldest daughter just studied the planets (grade three) and they had to do a poster project on one of their choosing. Thankfully DD picked the sun, but guess what planet was there for their choosing? Pluto. Apparently our school still teaches as if Pluto is still a planet. Hmm .. I should go ask the teacher about that, actually.

[Jana]

Hehe. I got a book on Germany out of the library the other day, and it was all about East Germany and West Germany. Weird.

[markira]

I am in complete denial about losing Pluto as a planet and even though I know the scientists say it and blah blah blah, I refuse to acknowledge their determination.

You can't just do that to poor little Pluto. it's not like he had much going on way out there in the solar system, but at least he could console himself that while he didn't have any friends to play with or anything, he was still a planet, dammit.

Talk about kicking someone when they're down. mk

[Amanda]

Pluto will always be a planet as far as I am concerned.

[melissa]

Aw, the fall of Pluto. I think Pluto is like Santa Claus. I still believe.

[beckie]

I know what you mean...we have that problem with my son and maps.

[claudia]

no, no...Pluto is still a planet. Always will be, don't care what they say!

[jodi]

I can sympathize with Jammin'! I still feel like I have been living a lie all these years thinking that Pluto was a planet. Why must they toy with our little minds like that?!?!?

[BarnGoddess]

what?!?!? since when is Pluto NOT a planet????

[Willowtree]

Screw the scientists, what do they know!

[frannie]

apparently, I live under a rock-- Pluto isn't a planet????

[Robocop]

Imagine how much money was spent to lead to the conclusion that Pluto was no longer a planet. Now I am from the old school of science, and as far as I am concerned, Pluto will always be a planet.

[Tiggerlane]

I still believe Pluto is a planet. Scientists be damned.

However, I rushed to buy Pluto in the glass planet series I'm collecting (they are glass paperweights), just in case they discontinue it.

[Kila]

Pluto will always be part of the solar family to us!

[Sabrina]

Pluto IS a planet. "They" can't take away that part of our childhood. It just confuses everyone.

[my4kids]

As far as I'm concerned Pluto IS still a planet just because some stupid people get together and want to change things won't change my mind!!