We kept awfully busy since June, but nothing "life-changing." We kept our days simple and very filled. Somehow the unwanted life "biggies" avoided our home this summer.
So we had plenty of chances to explore Life's Little Lessons.
I am typing this anecdote on my computer housed in our relatively new shabby chic french armoire that somehow managed to consolidate all my home-office sh...stuff from a prior 8x8 foot cluttered space. As I type this, I can see a name... graffiti-ed in permanent green ink... on the half-inch facial side of the cream shelf just above eye-level. Every day I notice it, and make a note of it. Permanent green ink. My son's "need to improve" handwriting reads
" r u d y "
Aaah, Rudy...
On the last day of preschool for my little Sophia, we "accidentally" landed in the local pet shop. And wouldn't you know, they had some new little hamsters for sale. And, coincidentally, there were also "Hamster Habitrails," shavings, and rodent feed all ready for purchase. But we just wanted to hold a hamster, not take one home. (Ha!) Ten minutes later, Sophia had named our new hamster Rudy.
"Why is your hamster called Rudy?" I asked her.
"Because that's the name of the boy who put the hamster house in our car!" she answered, matter of fact. Duh, Mom!
Yes, folks, our new hamster was named after the pet store clerk. Classic.
Rudy, like all hamsters, provided a very positive pet responsibility experience for all three of my kids. Hamsters are very sweet when given love and affection and a big plastic ball with which to ram into solid walls. Aidan, age 8, and always calm, just let Rudy cruise all over his shirt, shoulders, and head. Tristan, age 7, liked to create elaborate obstacles for little Rudy. Never tired of this. Sophia, the original proud owner, played with Rudy probably way too much but had the best giggles when Rudy was happily hiding in her dress pockets. This also made laundry time interesting. Shriveled carrots and the like.
All fun aside, Rudy arrived in our house with big responsibilities for my kids. Play. Water. Food. Clean. And always lock him in his cage at night. Always. Do all these things, Kids, and Rudy should live 2-3 years, text book style.
At this point, I shall remind you that we have two cats. The younger cat, Rocket, is an avid hunter. Rocket often leaves "gifts" of bird head or rodent stomach at our kitchen door. Always at the kitchen door.
Well, summer days passed by. One night Rudy was rocking out techno-style in his plastic ball. I admit, I was kinda jealous. Just throw me into a big friggin' plastic ball where I can go anywhere I want—but not too far—in my own plastic bubble with air holes. So Sah-weet! Sunflowers seeds, fresh water, and a fluffy bed... what's not to love about a hip n happenin' hamster's lifestyle? Anyhoo, it was everyone's bedtime, and Sophia's "responsibility" was to put Rudy in his cage, that we kept in our garage.
The next day, alas, Rudy is missing, the cage door is wide open. I weighed all my options knowing beloved Rudy had likely met his demise overnight. Do we "wait" for Rudy to reappear? Do I buy another twin hamster? Do I explain the bitter facts of life? While I worried and fretted behind a stoic mother's calm face, my 3 kids revealed each of their different personalities thanks to MIA Rudy.
Aidan, just like his father, assumed from the get-go that the cat ate the hamster, and he can now go play wii. Done.
I found Tristan, just like his mother, quietly crying, and he said it was because he missed Rudy so much. Lots of hugs.
Sophia, just like Sophia, was adamant that she indeed put Rudy in his cage, she locked it, and that it was not her fault. Although, please note, that no one has blamed anyone at this point. The following night, little Sophia did confess to her Daddy that she forgot to close Rudy's cage. GUILTY!!!
But we all knew this.
What closed the Mystery of Rudy's Disappearance was the little blob of rodent stomach placed carefully and very intentionally in front of the door—not of our kitchen—rather, of our garage, the garage door to the haven that held Rudy's little hip n happenin' hamster condo.
I never told the kids what I knew to be true. I don't have to. Aidan thinks Rudy got eaten by Rocket. Tristan still misses Rudy. Little Sophia has not looked back and has returned to dressing up with her stuffed animals.
Little lessons disguising building blocks to big lessons.
For my kids. For my Hubby. For Oh-So-Selfish-Me.
Speaking of ME...
XOXO Breeze
PS: R.I.P. Rudy the Hamster • May ye rest in an eternal bed of fluffy shavings • June 2011-July 2011
