Two nights ago the kids found a teeny tiny gecko in our little bathroom closet. Didn’t bother me one bit. Welcome to desert living.
Somehow 3 people in our family got the idea that this little creature would become our pet. As of this morning, the baby was still safely kept in a red plastic cup with a few scraps of what my kids thought my be good food. Um, are those onion peelings? Why, yes. I do believe they are. Um, nice.
So this morning was one of those mama-knows-best moments. I had a pep talk with the kids. Explained that the two options were: 1) we keep the gecko and it will die — because my gut tells me that it absolutely will die. I’m sure of it. We’re not in a stage of life where taking care of pets is our best skill or interest.
Option 2) we let the gecko go where he can survive and thrive and enjoy desert living the way he should. There was much resistance at first but after I explained that geckos have families too, my kids’ hearts softened. And then it was a quick, “Okay!”
Okay!? Just like that? Sweet. So off we went to the backyard where we released our little baby gecko friend.
The kids wanted to name him Jaxon. After all, whether you have a pet for 10 years or 36 hours, you still give him a name, right? So … farewell, Jaxon. Hope to see you around. Thanks in advance for eating whatever little critters around here that we’d prefer to keep out of the house.
Apologies for the interruptions, I just wanted to let you know that it’s 2pm Eastern – and Project Life is up on Amazon! Just purchased mine for Saturday delivery. Can’t wait!
That was a really cute story!
Yeah kids are hilarious like that. I kid you not, when I was a kid I named all the squirrels. And I was convinced I could tell them all apart!
Awwww, what a sweet story. TFS!
Sweet story! Good choice Mama and Higgins kiddos- I’m sure Jaxon thanks you!
Sweet… liked how you captured this story.
That sounds like the same conversation, basically verbatim, that we’ve had at our house many times — about geckos, snails, snakes, toads, etc.
That’s correct! When you have a creature–whether it’s actually yours or not–you simply must name it immediately! (At least that’s what my children think, especially the one who, for several months, named every pill bug she found “Junior” and who named the horse-that’s-not-ours in the field next to ours.)
So cute. Are you using a 50 mm 1.8 on your Nikon for these photos? Just curious if it was that one or another.
Cute story and gorgeous photos!!
that is the same true story i tell mine for frogs lizards ,turtles and anything else .they have a family and will be dearly missed
So glad your kids got a chance to get up close and personal with Jaxon. I am sure Jaxon is grateful for the experience too and happy to be back outside with his family.
Very cute…& I am almost certain “any creature” that found it’s way into my house would probably have died also..mainly b/c momma is afraid of all those things that crawl or slither! Your kids have a good heart and a fast thinking mother! I must be very far behind the times but was wondering if you could explain to me how you put the writing on your pictures. I am hoping that someone else also would like to know this and I won’t feel so silly! Thanks for all your inspiration!
Too cute. We recently found our own little desert pet… a tortoise. It was cruising around our front yard (gotta love Arizona) so we kept him for a week, named him Myrtle the Turtle, fed him strawberries, etc. Finally convinced Savannah that Myrtle had a family and missed them. Hate to admit it, but I kind of liked the little guy and was fighting back tears when we let him go!!
cute,Our kids it was frogs and poywogs. A neat learning time about families. Doesn’t always have to be of the human kind.
We had a pet for three months, a Yellow Lab. it was more difficult for me to let go than it was for the kids. I still cry and it has been 3 years. He was too big of a dog for our small yard, luckly we were able to give him to a co-worker and get updates.
Yeah – I am proud of your mom decision and that the kids picked well. They did right by Jaxon!
Luck little Jaxon was found by your kids, I had a gecko get in our apt and my CAT was the first to find it. @_@ Fortuniatly my cat, adorable as he may be, is not a very good hunter. My boyfriend and I saved the little guy from my visous fuzzy monster, took some pictures, and put him back out side.
I must say, Jaxon is a much prettier color then our little gecko.
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=160169&l=53477c1284&id=100000854255228
There his is on my boyfriend’s finger.