Of Fish and Toddlers

[cheerful_deviant]

Saturday I brought my 2 year old daughter to a birthday party. The parents hired someone to come in and give the kids a little show on animals, mostly small ones.

The kids loved it. They all got to see mice, hamsters, chinchillas, hedgehog and other rodents. Then came the lizards and snakes. The kids all (well most) loved these as well. Last was the puppies and kittens. Of course they were the biggest hit.

Then after all was said and done, the host announces he has a surprise for everyone. He has fish! Every child got a small fish to take home. Not a stuffed toy, not a plastic fish… the real thing. Little gray things about an inch and a half long.

I suspect that if you went to the pet store these little gray fish would be in a big tank labeled “BAIT” or “PARAINA FOOD” or something similar. They are probably sold by the pound. But I digress.

They were handed out in little plastic bags and the kids proudly carried off their new friends. However there was still cake and ice cream to go. So in the intervening 30 minutes or so, several of the bags were left out on tables in the sun. I noticed several “floaters” and more than a few unceremonious burials via the Rubbermaid trashcan. My daughter’s new friends managed to survive the ordeal, mainly because I placed them in the shade and kept an eye on them. (We inherited a second one from a parent who was going to flush it the moment she got home)

So, now as I sit here typing, one of the little gray whatever’s is staring at me from inside his (her?) little plastic tank. (One of the little suckers already kicked off and I don’t know why) I feel so bad for the little thing. I keep thinking of the movie “Free Willy”.

The fish thing must have seemed like a good idea to someone but I just can’t see it.

Sorry for my rant, I just needed to tell someone.

CD

 

[cloudy]

I think it's kind of, I dunno....inconsiderate to give out pets to kids whose parents haven't been consulted. Even something as small as a fish.

Kids get attached in like 5 seconds, and then have the tragedy of untimely death to deal with.

I think having someone to talk with them and do a show and tell, of sorts, is a great idea, but I think the party favors should have been left behind.

Just my two cents.

 

[cantdog]

Sorry about that, Deev. What a numb ass thing to have done.

Sounded like a good thing entirely, right up until the bags o fish, though.

sympathy

cantdog

 

[Boxlicker101]

Sorry about that, Deev. What a numb ass thing to have done.

Sounded like a good thing entirely, right up until the bags o fish, though.

sympathy

cantdog

I have to agree. All the little critters would make it a very pleasant party for the kids but they should never give out live animals to toddlers like that. It would be a lot worse to have given out bunnies or kittens or other animals but live fish are bad enough.

 

[Guest]

I think it's kind of, I dunno....inconsiderate to give out pets to kids whose parents haven't been consulted. Even something as small as a fish.

Yes - bad idea. (Though the rest of the party sounded great for the kids!)

 

[SensualCealy]

I could understand giving the little fish to kids more in the age of 4-5yrs old, they at least could help with taking care of them.

Toddlers Im surprised didnt shake the crap out of the bags killing them before the party ended.

At 4-5 yrs old, when the fish die is easier to explain where the fishy went and why, its actually a good time to introduce the meaning of life to a child, even if the child had become attached you can explain what happened and if you so choose get a new one.

I agree the parents should have been consulted before the party or even on the invitation to say yes or no when replying. That in itself was poor planning.

Like they always say, never give a pet as a gift for Christmas or special occasion.

Cealy

 

[Guest]

Jeez, talk about irresponsible behaviour!

Those poor little fish. I hope the kids grow up with a respect for all living things, and not see them as disposable party gifts. I'm sure yours will, Cheerful, because you, at least, displayed caring and responsible behaviour.

Bloody hell, all I've ever put in my kids' party bags are things like bouncy balls, plastic whistles and chocolate bars.

Where will the insanity end?

Lou

 

[dr_mabeuse]

It's kind of stupid, but things like that break my heart. I mean, here I am, a carnivore, and I know that these little guys die by the ton in their natural habitat too, but seeing anything suffer like that just drives me nuts.

I'm one of those disgusting softies who takes lady bugs out of the lake and puts them in the grass and used to free the minnows in my dad's bait bucket when he took me fishing. I even feel bad when I have to weed the garden. It's a major source of embarrassment to me but I can't help it.

---dr.M.

 

[cheerful_deviant]

It's kind of stupid, but things like that break my heart. I mean, here I am, a carnivore, and I know that these little guys die by the ton in their natural habitat too, but seeing anything suffer like that just drives me nuts.

I'm one of those disgusting softies who takes lady bugs out of the lake and puts them in the grass and used to free the minnows in my dad's bait bucket when he took me fishing. It's a major source of embarrassment to me but I can't help it.

---dr.M.

I'm with you Dr.M. Just the other day I stopped my car and moved a turtle across the road before it got flattened, almost got my own ass flattened in the process. The drivers didn't even stop for me, never mind the poor turtle.

And just for the record, I consider caring for other living things a positive trait, not a source for embarassment.

CD