Childhood Pets

Growing up I had all kinds of pets… Everything from dogs, cats, to ducks, rabbits, lizards, a hedge hogs, and a rat. That list doesn’t even count the endless number of frogs, snakes, turtles, and fish my brother and I would catch and bring home. It was alway fun having a different animal to care for and to watch grow. Our mom was never a fan of the pets we would “find” but we somehow always got away with finding a way to keep them, even if it was just for a few weeks.

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I think it’s so important for kids these days to get to experience the fun of having different animals. It not only teaches them to care for something but it also encourages them to explore the outdoors and to gain a respect for animals and their habitats. The memories I have of my childhood pets are priceless. Especially the time we came home from a family vacation to find three rabbits in our laundry room (grandpas easter gift for us). Of course my parents weren’t very fond of this gift and I think it was more of a joke on them but to look back on it now and all the fond memories I have of my brother and I chasing our rabbits around the backyard, or trying to jump on the trampoline with them, those poor rabbits!

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We spent this past weekend out the farm and while I was chasing around some pet ducks, yes it was pretty funny to watch, but it made me think to myself how important it is for me to make sure my kids get to one day experience having pets the way I have. These day too many kids sit around playing video games and watching TV. When I was a kid my parents had to make me come inside at night, now you’ve got to force your kids to go outside! I hope one day I’m able to teach my kids how to raise chickens or how to show a pig like my husband did when he was a kid. I think it’s so important not to get to caught up in all the technology and hype behind closed doors. Life is to short and your kids will be grown up before you know it so why not help them build memories around the outdoors.