Lucy on the Loose!

Anyone who ever even considers getting a hamster knows the inevitable will happen: It will get loose. There are many possible scenarios to such an event, the worst of which is that the little ball of fur may end up stuck in your walls, die of starvation, begin to decay releasing a stench that won't leave until you end up having to break into your wall to clear out the offending corpse, not pleasant. Can you tell that I have mulled that one over in my mind. My fears came true on Wednesday--well kind of. . .

While I was visiting my dad in Oceanside, and right in the middle of the Presidential debate, I got a phone call from Emma:

"Mom," says a small voice.

"Yes Emma?" I am a concerned something is wrong.

"Mom, I have some bad news,"

"What honey? what happened?"

"Kiki Lila got into our room and knocked down Lucy's cage and she is missing." Emma's voice is beginning to raise. Her words are quickening and building into a crescendo "Mom, I miss her. We can't find her, we looked every where, we don't know where she is!"

"Emma, don't worry, you will find her. She's okay. Did you look in your closet?"

"Yes, she wasn't there."

"Did you look under your bed?"

"Yes we looked under the bed and behind the book case and EVERY WHERE! What if we can't find her. I miss her. I love her so much." It is evident due to Emma's shaky voice that tears are about to well up in her eyes.

"Don't worry you will find her. Did you say a prayer?"

"No, I will say a prayer."

"Okay and I will say one too."

"Mom, if we can't find her can we get another hamster?"

"Keep looking Emma, you will find her."

"Yeah but if we can't can we go to the pet store and buy another one," that's all I need are two dead hamster corpses in my walls, "Can we mom, Daddy said we could." What is she thinking, losing a pet is not like replacing piece of gum if it falls out of your mouth onto the ground. You don't just go out and buy another one willy nilly. "Oh mommy I miss Lucy, I want to find Lucy." That's what I want to hear.

"And you will Emma, you will find her. Keep looking and don't stop."

"Okay mama, we'll keep looking."

Back at home the hamster hullaballo continues. Richard is the real hero here. The kids were frantic, looking everywhere, cleaning out closets, dismantling beds, moving bookcases. He had a lot to clean up. Lucky for Richard, little girl furniture from ikea is not that heavy. Sadly they couldn't find her.

When Richard came out of the room he happened upon Emma who was sitting at the computer.
She is viewing a web page and comments to Lily, "We can spread flour on the floor so that we can see her little foot prints and know where she went." INGENIUS, (well not the flour idea but that the girls got on the internet and typed into Google: How To Find Hamsters,) You can find anything on the internet! I am amazed and tickled to see them problem solving and finding solutions on the internet.

Here are the step by step How To Find A Hamster Instructions:

1) Survey house looking for possible hiding places (check. there are way too many hiding places)

2) Look under any boxes or inside boxes (check)

3) Place food in each room and then place tin foil all around so that you can hear the hamster walking. (really, foil? check)

4) Place flour around possible hide outs so that you can see their little foot prints. (no way)

5) Clean out hamsters cage making her bedding comfy so that she wants to return to her home. (check)

6) Sprinkle some of your hamsters favorite foods like sunflower seeds or yogart drops or peanut butter around to entice the hamster to come out. (great idea except for the peanut butter)

**5-6 crack me up. It is like the Hamster is sitting out demanding better food and cage conditions.

In the end, Richard found Lil Lucy nearly four hours later on the stairs cleaning herself. Triumphant children all cheer the return of Lucy to her cage safe and sound. Mom cheers because I don't have to buy another hamster!

Lil' Lucy

Children have the most amazing power of persuasion. . . I mean, don't they?. . . is it just mine? Or is it that I am a big push over? I will tell you the story and let you be the judge.

I think it was about the first of August that one little Ems decided. . .

"Mom, I want my own, pet, one that is only mine. I don't want to have to share it with anyone else."
"So you want a pet huh? I understand, but Ems we already have two pets that need to be cared for and loved. Let's take care of our own pets."

Well, I thought that I handled that well. I didn't stutter. I spoke plainly. I felt I listened, validated and then gave an answer that was direct. Score one for MOM!

The next day.

"Mom, guess what I am thinking about?. . ."

"What's that Ems?"

"My new pet. I know what I want. . .," a long pause, "don't you want to know what I want?"

"What pet do you want Ems?"

"I want a hamster. Casey and Lindsay say that it is only $10 for the hamster and only $20 for the cage. I am going to buy a hamster with my allowance. I am going to save up and buy the hamster myself." I was stunned. She could buy the hamster by herself? That just about takes me out of the loop. I found myself scrambling for something to say--some form of rebuttal.

Ah Ha!

"Well, Emma, if you want to buy your own hamster, you will have to take care of it entirely. That is a lot of responsibility. You need to prove that you can take care of your current pets before you will be able to have permission to purchase one on your own." Phew! That was a close one, I am sure it bought me some time.

"Okay mom. I can take care of Kiki Lila! I will feed her and give her water every day. And if I do that can I get a hamster?" At this point Emma's enthusiasm is building and she is speaking in high pitched shrieks while jumping up and down shaking her hands.

"Emma, now calm down, don't get too excited. I have to see that you can be a good pet owner, all on your own. You have to show me that you are responsible. By the way you will also have to change the kitty litter every day."

"WHAT? the kitty litter. Moooommmmmmm, that's GROSS!"

"Emma, you will have to change the hamsters cage etc, so you must do this to show that you are mature enough for all that responsibility."

"Okay, I will do it!" She said it with confidence and determination. She'll do it? She wasn't discouraged? It's not that I wanted her to fail, I just didn't really want to have another pet!

Score one for Ems

Emma went right to work taking care of our Kiki Lila. She fed her and gave her water every day. She changed the kitty litter every day and she did all this WITHOUT BEING ASKED!

All the while, each day, every day, many times through out the day, Emma would approach me and say, . . .

"Hey Mom, do you know what would make me happy?"
"What Emma?"
"If I got a hamster!"

"Hey mom, I got an idea,"
"What's that Ems?
"Let's go to Petsmart and look at hamsters"

"Hey Mom, I have something important to tell you,"
"Really Emma? is it about school?"
"No, it's that I want a hamster."

"Mom, can I tell you something?"
"Does it have to do with a hamster?"
"No,"
"What is it Emma?"
"Can I get a bonus on my allowance so that I can buy a hamster."

"Mom, if I can get a hamster, I will wash the dishes every night forever!" Looking back now, maybe I should have taken her up on that one.

"Mom I have a great idea for a birthday gift for daddy!"
"What Emma?
"Let's get him a hamster and I will take care of it for him!"

These are just a few of the tactics that she used on me INCESSANTLY. I was finally glad when school started so that I could have a reprieve from her hammering rapid fire hamsters messages into my consciousness. However, I was very impressed with her work ethic. She did everything she was supposed to do and she did it well.

While putting Emma to bed, the lights were off and I was kissing her good night, Emma wrapped her arms around my neck and whispered, Mom, it would make me so happy if I could have a hamster. It would make my dreams come true."

"Ems, I must admit, you are proving to be very responsible. I will talk to dad and we shall see. There is no guarantee however. I am not saying we will get one tomorrow, but we will talk about it."

"Thank you mom. I love you."
"I love you too."

I thought that the talk to dad tactic would buy me at least a few more months, but Emma went right to the source herself and began working on him. Before I knew it, he was checking out cages on craigs list. Daddys have a hard time saying no to their little girls.


Score one for Ems

A week later, Lil Lucy was a part of our family

So, are all kids this persuasive, is it just my kids, or is RICHARD a big pushover! HA!