Meet Squirmy the tadpole. He (or she--we're not sure) is the newest addition to our family. The requirements for pets around here rival those for gaining a top secret security clearance, so Squirmy is our best bet: no mess and low maintenance. (Unlike Skippy from our previous blog post, Squirmy won't leave "presents" on the neighbor's lawn.)Squirmy arrived today after weeks of waiting. We bought the Grow-A-Frog kit and mailed in the gift certificate, and until today I've listened to multiple despairing questions regarding Squirmy's ETA. Fortunately for my sanity, a small styrofoam package came with today's mail, and our pet owning adventure has begun.
I anticipate this will be an interesting experiment on three fronts. First, I look forward to watching a tadpole turn into a frog. I've never seen this metamorphosis up close and personal, and it intrigues me. Second, I can't wait to see my kids' reactions. They totally dig this kind of learning. Already they've shown so much excitement over Squirmy, and as s/he changes, I imagine my children will bring an energy and joy to the process that will fuel my own. And third, this experiment will show us how well the kids can care for a pet. Who knows--if they show themselves to be unlike most other children and truly take the responsibility they've promised to take with Squirmy, the pet restrictions around here may lift, and we'll actually be able to own a higher maintenance pet...like a sea monkey.
Time will tell...
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