Let me tell you about my dilemma. A year ago, I got my kids a dog but they still want more pets. The youngest one requested a unicorn, but we all know how that goes. The middle one wanted an otter, but watching videos of them was enough. But all three of them persistently ask for a hamster pet.
I can see why they want one. After all, the “World According to Humphrey” series by Betty Birney makes those little critters look like fun companions. However, let’s not forget that they are still rodents.
A friend of mine tried to convince me that guinea pigs are better than hamster pets, but I lost him at the word “rodent.” You see, I’m not against making compromises with my kids.
Just this morning, I sent my 5-year-old to school in a Superman Halloween costume to meet his demand of going to school in a cape. But when it comes to hamster pets, I have concerns about their stinky cages and the responsibility of cleaning up after them.
Sure, my children might be able to handle the responsibility of having a hamster, but I don’t want to risk weekends cleaning up messes.
As the ancient Chinese philosopher Lao Tzu once said, “give a dad a fish and he will eat for a day; give his children a rodent and he will spend weekends cleaning messes.”
DO’H! – A Final Thought on Hamster Pet?
So, fellow rad dads, what do you think? Have you ever had a hamster pet? Do you think they make good companions for kids? Share your thoughts and experiences in the comments below. Maybe your insights can help me decide if I should give in and get my kids a hamster after all. Or should I not?
