-
9
Oct
While pregnant with our 9mo, I took our boys, then 3 and 1, to a pet store. I promised to buy them a fish. They discovered shopping carts just their size, and put whatever they thought our fish would need — leashes, chew bones and squeaky toys — in them.
“Can I help you?” a salesperson asked, as my kids shrieked from aquarium to aquarium.
“We’d like to buy a fish,” I said.
“You’ll need to take care of it,” she said, eyeing my kids. “They’re not old enough.” And suddenly I felt defensive, like she was saying I couldn’t control the two I had, what was I thinking adding a fish to the mix? “He’ll live up to a year, if you take good care of him.” She poured him as well as his water into a plastic bag, and then tied it.
Now, here we are, two years later, and the fish is still alive, despite being fed (in addition to fish food) coffee beans, Rice Krispies and flaxseed. That fish, who my boys named Fish Goes to Space, just won’t die.
We take good care of him: we feed him daily and clean his bowl. Sometimes I sing to him; sometimes I talk to him. And sometimes I think he listens. But I signed on for one year of maintenance, and now my contract is up.
Yesterday, I read an article that mothers’ shouldn’t express breast milk at one time, and feed it at another time. I felt tired reading it. Now that I’m on my third child, I’m done using “scientific studies” as report cards on my parenting.
Because while I do many things right, I also do some things wrong, and still, my kids survive. They’re hardwired for it. In fact, like the fish, they thrive.
Even on coffee beans and badly timed expressed breast milk.
When do you listen to “the experts,” and when do you listen to yourself?
Related posts:
- Bundled Green Beans welcome us home While traveling out East, I couldn’t figure out how to...
- Life’s Regrets, and How to Use Your Leftover Ham It’s great to be home, back in Minneapolis, but it...
- Good friends and Oatmeal Pumpkin Cranberry Scones Today my friend, Liz, from The Kitchen Pantry Scientist, stopped...
Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.
- Published by Jennifer Jeanne Patterson in: Food Parenting
- If you like this blog please take a second from your precious time and subscribe to my rss feed!
Recent accomplishments: three wonderful children and a shower. Former accomplishments: author of 52 Fights, creative consultant on its ABC pilot, and a firm stomach.
– Jennifer Jeanne Patterson
6 Responses to “Fish go to heaven”
Half the time, you find out that the “experts” findings have been completely reversed five years down the road. I think you have to pay attention to what the experts are saying, but ultimately, you just have to listen to yourself. Your child is better off having you home than institutionalized as the result of never going out so that they won’t have to drink breast milk that has been frozen.
Oh my gosh, great post, Jennifer.
Oh….the joys of being an MOT! (Mother of 3)Funny he, we survive. I say to myself that the art of being a good mum is knowing when to buy a pizza,as opposed to baking one! While we have said NO to dogs, cats and all, we would give in to fish…as soon as we find some space!
As for the experts, I listen when it suits me. At other times, I consult my friends who have more kids than I do
It’s the bowl, I swear! We have that exact same fish bowl and our Betta fish is approaching her 2nd birthday. Everyday when I wake up and she’s still swimming around, I am surprised. My 10 month old even pulled the bowl down once and it took me about 20 seconds to locate the poor, flopping fish under the couch and she has still made it!
Leave a Reply