a pet for a year.
Perhaps you've noticed over the past weeks my gift giving opinion leans toward the active and educational. Especially to unplug kids from video games, movies, computers and cell phones. And encourage outdoor fun such as boarding, skating, biking as well as reading and hand projects.
All of this comes from personal experience of course. I have a tween son who would play computer games 24/7 if I let him. But goes through books like water and is a very practiced drawer because I make him.
We have a medium size adopted dog from the shelter who needed us more than we needed him, and while we are very glad to love him, he has not turned into a big huggable teddy bear for the kids.
My son used to have a guinea pig, also adopted from the shelter, who was alot of work for me, but was with us for only about a year or two. (My DD9 has a long lived guinea pig but that is a different story).
Everytime we visit a shelter or farm with smallish pups that my son hugs and plays with, he wishes he had a pet to cuddle.
So yesterday when we stopped in the store for cat litter (which I use in the guinea cage), he announced, "I'm getting a mouse."
Ok. He had enough gift cash to do it all, including the cage, animal, food and bedding.
We discussed it long enough, mostly that from now on on Saturdays he will change the cage and vacuum his bedroom floor.
So that is what he did with $37.04. Welcome Sasha, a little grey and white female. I completely approved of this choice. Not only is there no electronics involved, but the compassion and responsibility is built in.
She is happy, settled in, and he is walking around with her half the day.
WOOT, he is not even thinking about the computer this morning.
But yes, I confess, he got a cell phone for Christmas for a gift.
Good Things Come in Little Packages
Tiny Pearl Rimmed Hoop Earrings
Classic 1 1/4" hoops dressed up in gold and white. At a classic price.
My DS11 turned $37.04 into...
December 31st, 2009 at 03:41 pm
December 31st, 2009 at 03:45 pm 1262274332
Just a couple thoughts based on experience. They are social creatures and prefer a same sex friend. Unfortunately, they smell more than other rodents. We cleaned our cage twice a week.
Enjoy!
December 31st, 2009 at 04:04 pm 1262275492
December 31st, 2009 at 06:04 pm 1262282645