On rare occasions you may get a sneak peek of me minus my make-up if I'm working out or just waking up. But I am all about getting up and putting myself together, from head to toe. So you can imagine how excited I am after spending an hour on my hair and make-up to find out my kiddos want me to go frog hunting with them. It could entail anything from hiking through tall weeds to traipsing through creeks. Not exactly my idea of a swell time. But I try hard to encourage their interests and passions, however much I may dislike them.
This is one of those times.
See, a toad or frog is a coveted, prized possession in this home. (I'm still unclear what the differences are, but I'm sure the kids could give you a full report.)
The capture of such a creature can evoke jealousy or fits of rage, particularly if only one is found.
Everywhere we go they are searching and listening. Always on the hunt.
"Mom, do you see that frog at the end of the log there?"
"Mom, isn't this one cool?"
"Mom, look what I can do."
And Pokey wants in on the action just as much as Little Man. We recently were at a soccer tournament where she found a toad. You would have thought it was Christmas morning. Her excitement was at it's peak and becoming almost annoying as she frantically searched for a container to house the critter. After I refused her my water bottle and cooler she found a friend who had an empty large mouthed bottle and then proceeded to stuff him in. After the game she immediately wanted to share her find with little man.
She finds inventive ways to entertain herself and the toads she captures. This is her taking "toady" for a stroll in her miniature doll house wagon. Not to worry, the toad was unharmed for the most part and was actually released back to the wild shortly after.
Just this week Little Man went fishing with daddy. He caught a few fish, but it wasn't the fish he was excited about. No, it was this humongous bullfrog that looks almost as big as him.
While other children are playing video games mine are on the internet researching "why toads shed" or "what toads eat" or "the lifecycle of frogs". I couldn't be more thrilled at their thirst for knowledge. But it doesn't stop there. Oh no.
Little Man has taken up a recent infatuation with the idea of breeding toads. As much as I would love to support him, I cannot have him housing them and producing mass quantities of them. Need I remind you they are stinky, nasty amphibians? He has already bought a small container and is constantly talking about buying bigger ones.
HELP!! (I'm a bit outnumbered over here.)
I am getting pretty good at changing the subject when he brings this up, but I fear that it is not just a phase. He is doing a wonderful job of keeping his current one fed and watered. He catches his own crickets, beetles and/or grubs daily. He even cleans out the container without being asked, but I can't foresee that I could ever be excited about more than one of these living in my house.
So, I ask- how did I ever get so lucky as to have not one, but two children that love amphibious creatures?
AHHHHHhhhhhhhh.