Loading ...speaking of wildlife
I have lost my mind. The gorgeous 11 year old played us so perfectly, I have to tell you about it. It’s time for the fifth grade science fair and my budding behaviorist set her gigantic heart upon a project concerned with a pair of Dwarf Hamsters.
<shudder>
Blech! Rodents. Having recently evicted a family of field mice from their digs under my Viking range, I am not at all prepared to invite some carpetbagging Hamsters on an all-inclusive holiday. When my fifth grader first asked permission, I put her off with what I thought was the only redirect I’d need: must come up with a real project, something better than “Who can take better care of a Hamster, Dad or Ivona?”
So, bless her heart, she decided that she’d get two, give one a spartan environment with an exercise wheel and give the other a plush palace with lots of toys but no wheel. She’s planning to race the Hamsters regularly, hoping to see obvious effects of exercise. She’s done her homework. The little buggers cost $9 a piece and she’s made arrangements to sell them (improved, presumably) for $10 each to one of her classmates at the end of the project. “Oh, and guess what: I can change my topic until the 28th. So we can try it out and if it just doesn’t work, I’ll change my topic.”
What a nice play.
So we signed a contract this morning, clearly defining her responsibilities (care, feeding and cleaning of all Hamster materials; absolutely forbidden to take the rodents out of their cages anywhere but in her room, with ALL the doors in and out closed tight; the promise by her classmate Matt to take the little buggers at the end of the project), so this afternoon I’ll be off to the pet store.
As long as she’s not also making book on the Hamster races, I guess we’ll be okay. Ugh. I really have lost my mind.
January 24th, 2008 at 9:33 am
clear plastic bubbles rolling around the floor, propelled by tiny hamster feet?
January 24th, 2008 at 7:00 pm
Who am I to say a word? I’m the woman who lives with bird poop and feathers scattered here and there in my master suite…..
GOOD luck on that project! (And on keeping the critters outside of your kitchen, Red!)
April 24th, 2008 at 6:55 am
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