onetiredmama: Pet Project

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I spent part of last night dividing up a pellet of frozen blood worms to feed our aquatic frogs. I know, I get to have all the fun.

Currently we have 6 fish tanks or bowls scattered throughout our house, a partial nod to feng shui, the sheer fun of fish and a fleeting image. One of the few memories I clutch to my heart is my father showing me his tank full of baby fish. He died when I was four and I don't have many memories of him at all. But I do recall standing on the couch in our family room gazing at the huge tank of fish he had installed in the wall. So, I've always loved aquariums and wanted to pass the hobby on to my kids, too. They each have a small tank in their room, and we have a big one in the basement and a few bowls here and there.

But sadly for them, the fish may be the only pets they ever have. We had two troubled cats who had major potty box issues (Alex wouldn't do #2 in the box unless we personally escorted and encouraged him! We had to keep track on the calendar when he went.) He died last year and now Anna is left, but has to stay in our finished basement because she was doing #1 everywhere and anywhere. A cat expert told me some cats are very susceptible to smells like the back of a new carpet, and oh say, a brand new leather bean bag chair; even just "kid" smell in general could give them the urge to "go." So, when she's no longer with us, Pat and I have decided no fur or feathers. Just fins for this house.

The kids and the no fuss fish.

Part of me though thinks this is really unfair. I had just about every pet imaginable as a kid, save for that cherished pony every girl dreams of. I remember the first goldfish I accidentally overfed and killed. The turtles, hamsters, mice, cats, dogs, guinea pigs, chameleons, and rabbits (18 at one point. It's true what they say about rabbits.) I even found two abandoned baby birds and nursed them back to health and sent them on their merry way. So I feel like I am robbing my kids of some elemental nurturing opportunity.

Riley and her ez- care pets.