So Friday night, I am wrestling with both this "pet" request and the lump known as McDonald's Value Meal #7 in my gut.

I volunteered to take Laurel and Rachel to dinner on Friday night--quality girl time at McDonald's.  Laurel hit me with this one on the drive over:  "I really want a pet...a hamster.  Daddy told me to ask you about it."

I am known to be cranky but I do not want to play bad cop on this one.  I do tell her that we need to have the family discussion about this request.  While I have put this potential shit show of a screaming match on hold until (probably) Sunday, I do stew about the potential of having a rodent in my house. (Rats, mice, gerbils, hamsters, even freakin' ferrets...all rodents to me.  Christ, why don't we invite one of Ching's God damn squirrels in the house?)  So Friday night, I am wrestling with both this "pet" request and the lump known as McDonald's Value Meal #7 in my gut.

Immediately, I want to turn this into my agenda.  I don't want to be stuck the cleaning the cage, scooping food pellets and spreading wood shavings.  I am sure there is a funky smell that I can't even comprehend yet.  I am all ready cleaning enough things around here.  I don't need another one.  

I also want to hunt Ching down.  Why the hell did he defer to me?  I am not going to look like the meany (like he was hoping) and I insisted on a family discussion.  Ching and I do strategize...stress cost, smell, care, noise, etc.  (The noise is a cheap shot.  While Laurel is generally a heavy sleeper, if she is close to being awake, anything can spook her--rain, wind, Ching's gas and perhaps a creak of a hamster wheel.)

Laurel goes first and explains what she needs to do to care for the hamster.  She is pretty thorough and is genuinely prepared for this discussion.  (Wow, look who got the spreadsheet gene.)  I am also quite impressed that she doesn't get screamy when we don't initially agree.

I explained (albeit a touch screamy) that I can't justify giving her a pet when she doesn't pick after herself.  I explain what I do and her request of a pet isn't another task for me.  But for some reason, I can't help but side with her.  I don't immediately say no but Ching and I don't say yes for now.

Ching jumps on the research wagon and they are going to figure out how much all of the hamster gear will cost.  Laurel has assured us that the noise will not be an issue and she will care for this pet.  She is willing to prove her point but taking the next few months and picking up after herself.  

I can't believe I didn't shut this down.  And I have been Googling hamster pictures, I can't find one that doesn't give me the creeps.