When The B Man turned 5 he got a dwarf hamster for his birthday. That was just a little over two years ago.
Then the week or so before Easter (of this year) Tim and I started to notice that he/she (gender never determined) wasn’t doing so well and we’ve been on “hamster watch” ever since.
I won’t go into all the not-so-pleasant, sickly rodent details but it was physically obvious that he/she was quite ill.
So, since we were leaving town for Easter and weren’t sure just how bad off “Hamsty” was, we let The B Man know that he/she wasn’t doing so well and made sure he paid his tearful respects before we got on the road.
Upon our return Hamsty was still kickin’.
That was not the case when we got home from school pick-up TODAY.
I noticed last night that he/she was breathing REALLY slowly and not moving from the same spot in his/her cage. I figured the end was near. And fortunately, it was.
I say fortunately because I can only guess how much pain that poor little soul was in and frankly I’m relieved that he/she is now pain free and on to hamster heaven. I can see that little buggar going a million miles a minute on his little wheel up there now…
Anyway, The B Man was too busy reading a book when we got home to notice so I Tim and I IMed back and forth about how to handle it.
I ultimately decided to break it to him just before we left the house for an out-of-the-norm weeknight dinner at the local diner – the one that serves awesome chocolate milkshakes. Nothing like a milkshake to lessen the blow, right?
He cried really hard and looked at him/her in its cage and then I carried my sweet boy to the car with his tears dripping on to my shoulder.
(p.s. 7 year olds are pretty heavy)
At dinner The B Man asked me (because he’s pretty ‘quick’), “Mom, did you just get me a milkshake to make me feel better about Hamsty?!”
Pretend response: “No honey, I also got it so that I could have some!!”
Real response: “Well, that’s not the only reason but I did think it might make you feel a little better.”
He smiled at me and said it did.
It made me want to buy us him another one.
Don’t judge. They are really good.
Anyway, we got home and gave the little guy/gal a proper burial in a check book box (thanks to my MIL for that suggestion) out in the backyard. We put some stones above the dirt and placed a tiny bouquet of flowers on top of his/her grave.
I was reminded of that one Cosby Show when their fish died and they all gathered around the toilet. Anyone else remember that one?
Rest In Peace Hamsty. You’re already missed.
Yes, even by me.
Have you ever lost a pet that your child/children were really attached to? If so, how did you deal with it?
Seriously one of my favorite Cosby Show episodes. So funny! Poor hamster. Such a great story.
Aw, so sweet. 🙁
Well I have a pet away one time because she wouldn’t ever play with her or go in the back yard because of the jumping. She still gets upset with me about it.
They have such big insight in those tiny bodies. When my son was 3, We had to put down an elderly dog and a cat within about 4 mos of each other. The cat was the first to go. I remember explaining it to him, telling him to say his last goodbye. as I drove to my inlaws to drop my son off before heading to the vets, I thought he either didnt understand or was taking it really well. I pull up to the house and he burst into tears. He got it. A few months later he asked if the dog and cat were good in heaven if God would let them come back here.
We lost our dog a few weeks ago and I thought the world was going to end. So sorry about Hamsty.
Awwww. I’m so sad for The B Man. I was just looking at hamsters in the pet store the other day wondering if I should get the kiddos another pet.
When I moved into my first apartment I got myself a dwarf hamster and named him Freddy. He was so sweet. He would sit in my hand. I would let him run around my apartment and he actually came to me when I called him (I’m NOT lying!). It was a pretty harsh and lonely time in my life in that apartment and Freddy was a good little dude. Then I met Todd and we got engaged. Right before we got married I moved out of my apartment and back with my mom and dad for a couple of weeks before the wedding. The week before I moved out Freddy died. It was so bizarre. Like he knew I would be okay now (he lived for almost 4 freaking years!).
ANYWAY…
Hope The B Man’s little heart heals. Great job for thinking of the milkshakes! Way to go, mom! 🙂
Oh, and yes, I LOVE that episode of The Cosby’s. Such a classic! 🙂
Oh Boo. I wrote an incredibly long comment and it was wiped out during the whole Blogger fiasco of the last two days.
ANYWAY…
Poor B Man. I feel so badly for him. You are a smart mama to lessen the blow with a milkshake. 🙂
When I moved into my very first apartment (in a town where I knew no one, and at a very dark time in my life) I decided to get a dwarf hamster (Freddy) to keep me company (there were no pets allowed in my building, but I thought I could keep a tiny hamster hidden if I needed to). He was the BEST. He used to sit in my hand and he would run around my apartment and actually COME when I called him. NO LIE.
Then I met Todd and we got engaged. A week before I moved out of my apartment (to go live with my folks for a couple weeks before my wedding) Freddy died. It was like he knew I was gonna be okay or something. The little guy lived for 4 YEARS. Crazy.
ANYWAY… I hope The B Man is able to continue healing his little heart. Maybe with some more milkshakes. 🙂
Milkshakes do help, good job Momma, you handled this perfectly.
It is better to have loved and lost!
Our dachshund passed away earlier this year but she was very, very old and the kids weren’t terribly attached to her. BUT, a couple of months ago my daughter walked in on her kitten having seizures. It was HORRIBLE. By some miracle, the kitten made a full recovery and is fine now, but it was a bad, bad night.
I’m glad Hamsty is out of pain now & B man is okay!