Each of my kids got a fish. They were so happy. I didn't have my camera there to capture the happiness on their faces. But they were happy. Brooklyn's fish is little and brown and she named her Julia. Jacob's fish was gold and white splotchy, and he named his fish Larry. The kids named Nathan's big gold fish Harold.
Well, I don't think gold fish were made to last. Jacob's wasn't at least. Yesterday, after the kids fed them, (very large pinches of fish food) I noticed Jacob's fish was starting to go belly up. I told Jacob what was going to happen, to warn him. He felt bad and started crying, so I tried to save Larry. I got a new container and put new water in it. I scooped Larry out and put him in the new container, which I was afraid would kill him on it's own. (I remember something about the same temperature of water.....) I took a spoon and kept trying to get him to swim. ("Don't give up Larry!!")
I stopped after awhile and kept preparing Jacob for the worst. He felt really bad and cried while I held him. I know I said a silent prayer for Larry to live. I'm sure Jacob did too. I just hoped they would counter-act the silent prayers Robert had probably been saying, asking for the fish to die, since we brought them home.
In his grief, Jacob asked me, "why can't we ever have any pets". I thought, "Because I don't think I can handle sad kids like this when they die." I mean he had this gold fish for less than 24 hours!!! Of course, for those of you who know me...Jacob is a chip off the old block.
About 30 minutes later, Larry looked fine. We went to my parents house for dinner and when we got home, Larry was still alive and swimming. Disaster averted.
But this morning...poor Larry. I wasn't awake to save him. He's moved on to that big fish pond in the sky.
Jacob cried all over again. It was very traumatic for him. In my effort to console him, I may have told him we'd get him a new one. Sorry Robert.
Yes. That is Jacob's fish floating. I think we'll go today to get a real bowl and a new fish.
3 comments:
Poor little Jacob. I agree about not letting your kids have pets so you don't have to watch them cry their hearts out when they die. I'll never forget that experience with our little dog Tippy.
Maybe you could get him a rat?
I agree with you, those fish weren't meant live very long.Both of ours have joined Larry in the big fish pond.
We all have similar fish stories with our kids, so sad. Zack does seem to get over it quickly though, hopefully yours will too.
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