So, Isabella still keeps asking me for a dog and I still keep saying “Someday…” But I was beginning to feel bad that I kept turning down her passionate pleas. This isn’t just a phase. The girl reeeaaallly wants a puppy.
But, baby steps. I decided get her a hamster first, so that she could learn how to take care of a pet—one that isn’t as high-maintenance as a dog.
In the days leading up to the Great Hamster Purchase, Isabella chatted excitedly about all the fun she would have with her hamster and what she would name it (Honey), all while knots in my stomach formed at the thought of a rodent living inside our home.
When we arrived at the pet store, there wasn’t a single honey-colored hamster to be found—only black ones. We picked the cutest one, and Isabella still insisted we call it Honey, even though it looks nothing like the light brown gooey stuff. Just another reminder that, in a child’s mind, things don’t have to make sense. Makes me wonder how often I try to make sense of things that I don’t need to.
I digress.
Honey is a girl, but for some reason, Isabella and I have troubles wrapping our minds around that. We often refer to her as a “he”—or occasionally an “it.” Sometimes I’ll correct Isabella for misidentifying Honey’s gender, and other times she corrects me. There is no rhyme or reason. It’s just been ingrained in my head that all pets should be boys, and Isabella must have inherited that same mindset.
I don’t know what most hamsters are like, but Honey is kind of lazy. We got this bright, colorful, highly entertaining cage for her, but all she does is sleep, really. When she wakes up, it’s to move to a different spot and sleep. She rarely spins in her wheel; instead, she makes a bed inside of it and—you guessed it—sleeps. Somehow, though, in the midst of all of that sleeping, she’s still managed to escape four times. You can tell when this happens because Isabella and I have to turn our house upside down trying to find her.
Maybe a puppy’s not so bad after all.
Oh, and Honey definitely does not smell like honey. Rather, she smells like pee and just that general animal smell. I never thought I’d have a house that smells like animals.
But as much as I detest the thing, Isabella loves her with all of her heart. As soon as she comes home from school, she makes a beeline for Honey’s cage, wakes her up, and carries her around the house. (”Look, Honey, this is a toothbrush. And THIS is a computer…”) When Isabella is sad, she cuddles up with Honey until she feels better. She even brings Honey with her on the long car ride to her dad’s in Michigan.
It’s definitely something when you see the person you love more than anything in the world, the person you are devoted to nurturing, show her own love and nurturing toward another creature. I never knew Isabella was capable of such love—especially for an animal, of all things.
The funny thing is, no matter how much I wish I could go back to having a sweet-smelling, pet-free home, Honey and I have a unique bond, formed because of the person who comes between us. We share in common Isabella’s unconditional love. And for that reason, I suppose I’ll let Honey stay a while.
September 12th, 2009 at 9:09 pm
I truly enjoy envisioning Bella’s loving & nurturing devotion towards Honey. I’m sure you have made her life a little more fulfilled because she definately enjoys playing the “Mom” and “house” and that is because she has such a good example. My hat goes off to you as you continue to grow and be an awesome single Mom!!
September 14th, 2009 at 9:31 am
Julia, can you pleeeasssseee get a dog? I will feed him and water him and babysit him if you need me too (Thursday-Sunday, of course). Please…. I promise to take good care of him….
In all seriousness, I didn’t know what kind of love I was capable of until we got our dog. I could actually learn a few things about dealing with people when I’m angry from how I treat my dog when I’m upset with him. I can scream and yell at the PEOPLE I love, but the dog gets a “stern talking to” or sometimes just a bit of silent treatment when he does something bad. Actually I had a long conversation with him about dragging me across the yard to bark at the neighbor dogs. I told him how embarrassing it was. I know he understood that he was in trouble because he listened intently the whole time that I was talking to him and making a sandwich.
See, even adults can learn important lessons from having a dog! Granted I may be a bit crazy, but I get the feeling that Bella wouldn’t think so.
Dogs ARE harder to take care of than hamsters, but they’re so much more lovable! Also, I’ve been bitten a whole let less by my dog than I have been by hamsters. Hamsters-5, Dog-0, Me-0.
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