I don't do pets. But as Joe and I were talking about something meaningful to get Madison for Christmas we talked extensively about her love for animals. At first we considered getting her one of those "fur real" pets that you put batteries in and they walk and bark and pant. But, honestly, she has so many stuffed animals that I am constantly sneakily stuffing them in plastic garbage bags. When we rented out the house we are in--we actually asked the owner to add "no pets" to the contract so we would have a good excuse to give the kids every time they asked for a cat or dog. But then Joe suggested a fish and I thought maybe I could handle a fish. We got permission from the landlord and bought Madison a fish tank for Christmas.
One month later. . . I took Madison to Pet Smart last Saturday and talked to a nice employee for about an hour. I kept emphasizing that we needed something that "was hard to kill" and would "stay alive easily." I don't know if he thought I was nuts, but he helped us through buying a different fish tank*, getting gravel, chemicals to add to the water, bacteria to add to the water, fish food, and most importantly: fish.
It's been over 72 hours and they are still alive.
I'm feeling pretty good about this.
Madison is getting ready for school faster than she ever has in her life because if she isn't ready for school by 7:20 then someone else gets to feed the fish. The ultimate threat.
If the fish stay alive for a few more weeks we will go back to get a live plant to put in the box at the bottom.
Can you find all the fish? I tried to figure out a way to circle them, but it was taking too much time.
And, finally, Madison let Logan and Grant name 2 of the fish. Can you guess who chose which names?
*The fish tank we originally got was less durable and did not have a light. I decided to spend a little more on this one because it actually looked decent, and since it would be living on our kitchen counter I wanted something that looked nice. . . but then I got home and realized that maybe an open fish tank (in the kitchen, no less, which is messy. . . and then I read that fish in the kitchen are "bad chi." oops) with four little kids might not be my most brilliant act. Time will tell.
